Jeff Bezos is reportedly attempting to join the club of very rich Americans buying stakes in U.K. soccer teams. Bezos, alongside others including Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, is looking to buy at least a 30% stake in the English soccer team Liverpool at a £1.35 billion valuation.
Liverpool is one of the most notable sports teams in Europe and is worth about $6 billion. The team has a strong brand recognition in the U.K., similar to the Dallas Cowboys in the U.S.
It seems no billionaire portfolio is complete these days without a mega yacht and a sports team, so Bezos’ interest is not surprising. There’s also something romantic about owning an English soccer team after the success of TV shows like “Ted Lasso” and Ryan Reynolds’ FX show “Welcome to Wrexham” about his experience owning that English team.
Other American billionaires in this club include Todd Boehly and Mark Walters buying Chelsea; New York Jets co-owner Woody Johnson buying Crystal Palace; Dan Friedkin taking a stake in Everton; and Bill Foley leading a group that also included Michael B. Jordan buying Bournemouth.
Owning a stake in a U.K. sports team has also become a celebrity cultural phenomenon. Besides Reynolds and Jordan, Tom Brady purchased a minority stake in Birmingham City. Ferrell has a minority stake in Leeds United, alongside Russell Westbrook and Michael Phelps.
Sky Sports had a story earlier this year mapping out why so many Americans seem to be taking over U.K. football. It found that 13 out of 20 Premier League clubs had American shareholders.
Soccer has become increasingly popular in the U.S., and many of the top sports franchises, like the NFL and MLB, are either too expensive or closed off to new buyers. It’s much more possible to buy into a Premier League team.
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Bezos has become seen as more of a cultural figure, rather than solely a tech mogul, over the past few years. With a net worth currently sitting at around $280 billion, Bezos has the means to invest in a sports team.
Amazon has also streamed some European soccer leagues in the past — and Bezos has growing interests in the U.K. His new AI company Prometheus is reportedly looking to sign a lease to move into London’s AI hub King’s Cross, which could be related to his interest in driverless fleet expansion.
As the trend of American billionaires buying U.K. soccer teams continues, Bezos’ potential ownership of Liverpool will be significant. Many top sports franchises in the U.S. are too expensive or closed off to new buyers, leading to a surge in American investment in U.K. football.
Liverpool’s strong brand recognition and valuation make it an attractive target for investors like Bezos.
The team’s worth is estimated to be around $6 billion, making it one of the most valuable sports teams in the world.
The potential deal between Bezos and Liverpool is still in the works.
