• January 29, 2007
• Vol. 67
• No. 4

Posh & Becks Go Hollywood

By Marisa Wong

Tomkat Welcomes David and Victoria Beckham, as An Estimated $250 Million Contract with the L.A. Galaxy Brings the Soccer Star to the U.S.

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From PEOPLE Magazine

The British are coming, and they're not just sweeping major categories at our awards shows. Now they are staking out land next to our biggest celeb couples—and the neighbors couldn't be happier. The latest British invasion consists of soccer star David Beckham and wife Victoria, a.k.a. Posh Spice. On Jan. 11 news that Beckham, 31, had signed a five-year deal with Major League Soccer's L.A. Galaxy—worth a potential $250 million—set Hollywood abuzz. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, planning a party for the Beckhams, "are thrilled," says the couple's rep. Also thrilled are Galaxy fans: A day after the announcement, 4,000 season tickets had sold. "We'll welcome him with open arms," says Brooke Shields, who sat next to David at TomKat's wedding rehearsal dinner. "I've never seen him play, but I'm sure seeing him in any kind of athletic gear would set your mind at ease," she jokes. MLS commissioner Don Garber is more direct: "He can take [soccer] to a level here as never before. They are one of the world's power couples. David is not just about the sport; he and Victoria are about fashion and trendsetting."

But first, homesteading. Posh arrived last week to look at schools and houses in Beverly Hills, where she and Becks plan to raise sons Brooklyn, 7, Romeo, 4, and Cruz, 23 months. (They'll keep their London-area manse, dubbed Beckingham Palace, but sell their Madrid place.) "They are really looking forward to the L.A. lifestyle," says a family friend. That includes parties: With Becks back in Spain (he's under contract with Madrid's team until June 30), Posh, 32, hit a Golden Globe bash with Jennifer Lopez and later met up with Holmes at Prince's private fete. But don't expect to find her on the circuit every night. "She will be concentrating on her fashion business," says the friend, who dismisses rumors of a reality-TV show and Spice Girls reunion. "Victoria and David are extremely family oriented. They won't be out on the town like Paris, Lindsay or Britney."

• Contributors:
• Pete Norman/London,
• Courtney Rubin/London,
• Lorenzo Benet/Los Angeles,
• Jenny Sundel/Los Angeles.

More From This Article

Inside the Beckham Empire

From the time Beckham, then the star of England's Manchester United team, courted the Spice Girl in 1997, the couple have lived large:

• ENDORSEMENTS Sponsorship deals with Pepsi, Adidas, Gillette and others helped. Becks net $20.6 million in 2004.

• FASHION & BOOKS Posh heads her DVB Style line, which includes jeans, fragrances and sunglasses. She has also written two books, published only in the U.K.

• PROPERTY Their 24-acre "Beckingham Palace" outside London is worth more than $13 million. They also own pads in Madrid, Dubai and the South of France.

• CARS Becks owns two Ferraris, a Lamborghini, Porsche, Bentley and Hummer; Posh drives her own Porsche and Bentley.

• CHARITY The couple have donated nearly $1 million to their foundation, which benefits disabled children.

The Welcome Wagon

Leading the celeb housewarming committee—which includes new pals like Jennifer Lopez—are Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. "David speaks to Tom quite a bit," says a source. More about soccer than Scientology: Rumors that the Beckhams will join the church are "rubbish," says a friend. "You can be friends without signing up to the same beliefs."