Jeff Bezos in Talks to Join Bid for Stake in Liverpool FC

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has reportedly engaged in discussions regarding a potential investment in Liverpool FC, a prominent English soccer club.

Bezos is exploring an opportunity to join a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, a former co-owner of Queens Park Rangers. This group has reportedly submitted a provisional offer of 1.35 billion pounds, approximately $1.8 billion, to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for a 30% stake in the club. The proposed deal would value Liverpool FC at an estimated $6 billion.

FSG confirmed that an investment consortium led by Bhatia has expressed interest in a strategic minority investment in Liverpool FC, but the group declined to comment on specific individuals involved. Amazon has not immediately responded to requests for comment.

This pursuit marks Bezos's latest exploration into sports team ownership. He has previously considered bids for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders without finalizing a deal. The interest in Liverpool represents his first known foray into acquiring a stake in a Premier League club, a league recognized for its global viewership and significant financial power.

Bezos, with a net worth of $252.6 billion according to Forbes, joins a trend of newly wealthy individuals investing in major sports franchises. Other notable figures include Bernard Arnault, whose family acquired a majority stake in Paris FC, and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who purchased the Los Angeles Clippers. Walmart heir Rob Walton bought the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion in 2022, and tech billionaire Vinod Khosla is reportedly nearing a deal to buy the Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion.

As Bhatia's consortium seeks further funding, it is reportedly drawing financial backing from Bhatia's father-in-law, Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. Bhatia recently stepped down as director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers, transferring his shares to fellow owner Ruben Gnanalingam, to reportedly focus on the Liverpool bid.

Fenway Sports Group sold a 3% stake in Liverpool to private-equity firm Dynasty Equity in 2023. Bezos currently serves as the executive chairman of Amazon, having previously held the CEO role. In recent years, Amazon has increased its investment in sports broadcasting rights for its Prime Video streaming service, holding rights to Premier League games in the UK, Champions League games across Europe, and NFL games in the US.