As CEO of the eight-team Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), Rabil wants to revitalize the oldest sport in North America. He’s off to a good start: The league has the best players in the world—including members of the last two world championship teams—and will likely feed the U.S. Olympic team competing in Los Angeles when the sport returns to the Games in 2028.

In 2018 Rabil and his younger brother, former pro lacrosse phenom Paul, cofounded the league, which is based in Los Angeles. Two years later they acquired its rival, Major League Lacrosse, in which two-time NCAA champion Paul had starred and won MVP awards. The brothers secured a broadcast (ABC) and streaming deal (ESPN+), raised capital, and nabbed partnerships with sponsors such as Gatorade. 

Michael, an All-American lacrosse player in high school and government major at Dartmouth, previously ran a gym franchise in Maryland, among other enterprises.

The league pays players and provides healthcare. It also gives them equity in the league and even provides edited video highlights for players to post on social media. “It all starts with the players,” says Rabil. Late last year the PLL asked fans to get involved by voting on home cities for each of its teams. Nearly 50,000 people weighed in. The  season starts in June.