Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has joined a consortium that agreed to buy a 30% minority stake in Liverpool FC for $7.1 billion, marking the billionaire’s first investment in a sports property and underscoring a broader surge in ultra-wealthy investors acquiring stakes in major sports franchises.
The deal, announced Friday, values Liverpool at approximately $6 billion as a whole club. The consortium, formally called 1892 Holdings and named after Liverpool’s founding year, is led by businessman Amit Bhatia, who will become the club’s vice-chairman and join its expanded board.
Bezos is investing through K5 Sports, his lead fund, which is contributing more than $1 billion to the transaction. The consortium also includes Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and his wife Elaine, whose family office EE Capital is a financial backer, and the Mittal family trust. Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, led the negotiations with Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s majority owners since 2010.
Fenway Sports Group will retain operational control of the Premier League club and remain the majority shareholder. Bezos, with a net worth of $272 billion, will not have a seat on the board but is considered a passive investor. Bryan Baum from K5 Sports and Elaine Saverin will join Liverpool’s board alongside Bhatia.
A key component of the deal is a clause giving the consortium an option to purchase a controlling majority stake within the next 12 months at a valuation around $8 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. This option is not controlled by FSG and does not compel either party to proceed, but it gives 1892 Holdings a pathway to majority ownership if FSG eventually decides to sell further shares.
The investment aligns with a dramatic shift in billionaire wealth deployment toward sports franchises. A J.P. Morgan survey of 111 billionaire families released in November 2025 found that 20% now own controlling stakes in sports teams, up from just 6% in 2022. Private equity and venture capital-backed deals in sports services totaled $31.64 billion in 2024, representing a 259% growth from the previous year, according to S&P Global data.
Bezos has previously explored ownership in NFL teams, holding talks with the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks, but this Liverpool deal is his first completed investment in a major sports franchise. Liverpool, valued at $6 billion by CNBC in May 2026, ranks as the fourth-most valuable soccer club in the world. The club won its most recent league title in 2025.
FSG emphasized that the deal reflects the consortium’s long-term philosophy rather than any exit strategy. “Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club’s long-term interests in mind,” FSG President Mike Gordon said in a statement. “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.”
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval, which could take up to 90 days. The investment will have no immediate impact on Liverpool’s transfer budget or summer strategy, as Premier League and UEFA financial regulations tie club spending to annual revenue. However, the commercial opportunities presented by Bezos, Saverin, and the Mittal family’s global networks are expected to help Liverpool grow its annual revenue significantly. The club’s revenue reached a record £703 million in the year ending May 2025.
Sources
- CNBC — confirmed the $7.1 billion valuation, consortium composition, the 12-month majority option at $8 billion, and Bezos’s net worth and prior NFL exploration.
- The Guardian — reported the £1.65 billion deal value, £5.5 billion club valuation, consortium member roles and board appointments, FSG’s operational control, and Liverpool’s revenue figures.
- J.P. Morgan — provided 2025 survey data showing 20% of billionaire families now own controlling stakes in sports teams, up from 6% in 2022.
- S&P Global — reported $31.64 billion in private equity and venture capital sports deals in 2024, a 259% increase from 2023.
- CNBC 2026 Global Soccer Team Valuations — valued Liverpool at $6 billion and ranked it fourth-most valuable in the world.
