It’s apparently a week for wealthy business moguls to buy sports clubs: Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder who is among the richest people in the world, is acquiring a minority equity stake in Liverpool Football Club, a team in the English Premiere League. Fenway Sports Group, the majority owner of Liverpool FC, announced Friday that it sold a piece of the club’s ownership to K5 Sports, an investment consortium for which Bezos is the lead investor. It’s the first time Bezos is investing in a sports team.
Bezos, 62, currently ranks as the third-wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of nearly $272 billion (trailing only Elon Musk and Google’s Larry Page), according to Forbes. Among Bezos’ business interests, he is the owner of the Washington Post and space-rocket company Blue Origin. He serves as executive chair of Amazon.com after relinquishing the CEO role in 2021.
Earlier this week, former Disney CEO Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, the younger brother of White House adviser Jared Kushner, announced a deal to buy the Los Angeles Lakers that is worth $12.5 billion. FSG is also selling a minority equity stake in Liverpool FC to 1892 Holdings, a consortium led and managed by U.K.-based investor Amit Bhatia, and EE Capital, which manages the financial assets of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and his wife, Elaine. Financial terms of the deals weren’t disclosed.
FSG’s deals to sell about one-third of the interest in Liverpool FC value the club at more than $7 billion, both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported. FSG, which also owns the Boston Red Sox, continues to retain majority ownership and operational control of Liverpool FC. Mike Gordon, president of FSG, said in a statement: “Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club’s long-term interests in mind. … As we considered this opportunity, it became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special.
Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place, and we look forward to working together.” Bhatia, on behalf of 1892 Holdings, said: “We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG. We have the utmost respect and admiration for FSG as owners and for everything they have achieved at Anfield. To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege.” Closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customer closing conditions.
According to FSG, Corestone Capital Advisors introduced the parties and brokered the sales. Liverpool FC, founded in 1892, has won 20 championship titles, including two Premier League titles, eight FA Cups, 10 League Cups, six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four European Super Cups, 16 Charity Shields, two Women’s Super League titles and one Women’s Championship.
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