Amazon's founder has become a co-owner of Liverpool Football Club
A consortium of investors has acquired a 33% stake in one of the world's most successful soccer clubs
According to the WSJ, Amazon's founder will make the largest investment among all investors for a minority stake in the club / Photo: MD_Photography / Shutterstock.com
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, one of the world’s richest people, has become a co-owner of one of the world’s most successful soccer clubs. A group of investors led by Bezos has agreed to buy about 33% of England’s Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group. The deal values the Premier League club at more than $7 billion, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources.
The consortium of investors is led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. Bezos is participating in the deal through the investment firm K5 Global. The buyers also include Facebook co-founder Eduardo Severin and his wife, Elaine. Once the deal closes, Bhatia, Elaine Severin, and Baum will join Liverpool’s board of directors, but Bezos himself will not take a seat on the board.
The exact amount of the Amazon founder's investment has not been disclosed, but the WSJ previously reported that he is expected to make the largest contribution among all consortium members. For Bezos, this is his first experience owning a professional sports team.
Fenway Sports Group, which also owns the Boston Red Sox baseball club, will retain a controlling stake in Liverpool and continue to manage the team’s operations. The company stated that the sale of the stake is intended to support Liverpool’s long-term development.
Context
The deal serves as yet another confirmation of the world’s wealthiest individuals’ interest in top-tier sports clubs, notes the WSJ. A day earlier, a consortium led by former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Joshua Kushner agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team for $12.5 billion.
"Liverpool" is one of England's most successful clubs, having invested hundreds of millions of dollars in strengthening its roster in recent years. The team won the Premier League in the 2024–2025 season, but finished only fifth last season. With a valuation of over $7 billion, the club ranks among the world’s most valuable soccer teams, according to Forbes—with Spain’s Real Madrid remaining at the top with a valuation of $9.5 billion.
This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor
