Jeff Bezos, Eduardo Saverin Join Consortium Buying Stake in Liverpool FC
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin are part of a group acquiring a minority stake in the English Premier League club Liverpool.
A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has agreed to purchase a minority stake in Premier League club Liverpool. The deal was announced Friday by the English soccer club's owner, Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
The investor group, led by British-Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, has acquired more than 30% of the 20-time English champion. Sky News reported the deal values Liverpool at approximately $6 billion.
FSG, which is based in Boston, purchased Liverpool in 2010 for 300 million pounds (about $400 million) and also owns the Boston Red Sox baseball team. In July, FSG had confirmed it was in talks with the Bhatia-led consortium about a strategic minority investment.
"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," FSG president Mike Gordon said in a statement. Bhatia added, "We are making this investment because we believe deeply in Liverpool and its leadership, and we look forward to supporting the club’s continued success for years to come."
This marks the first investment into soccer for Bezos, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes to be around $280 billion. Saverin, a Brazilian businessman, is reportedly worth about $36 billion, according to Forbes.
Bhatia previously co-owned the second-tier English team Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before stepping down.
Under FSG's ownership, Liverpool ended a 30-year league title drought by winning the Premier League in 2020 and secured their sixth Champions League title in 2019. The club has since added another Premier League title, tying Manchester United with 20 top-flight championships.
The Premier League's financial rules, which relate on-pitch spending to a club's revenue and net profit from player sales, are in place to maintain competitive balance and ensure financial sustainability. The investment from Bezos and Saverin is expected to enhance the club's commercial revenue and profitability rather than leading to unchecked spending in the transfer market.