It's called a grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT) and more than beng able to retain the initial investment at the end of a period of time, he would be able to take loans against the principal itself in the meantime (LALs).

However -

> The USPOC currently supports ~4500 athletes, or ~$22,222 each.

Machinations of the uber rich and the morality of them aside, they would've gotten nothing and now they're getting something.