SerpApi.Org
Amazon owner and billionaire Jeff Bezos has never owned a professional sports franchise after over three decades in business at the highest level, and his most recent opportunity to change that fact could happen with one of the most prestigious football clubs on the planet.
Bezos has been reportedly approached to join a potential ownership group led by businessman Amit Bhatia that is in preliminary talks to acquire a minority stake in Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group.
Talks are still in the early stages, according to Sky News, and there is no guarantee Bezos will decide to invest. Liverpool has a massive following, with 20 English league titles, six European trophies, and more than 500 million fans worldwide as of 2023.
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Reports say Bhatia's group could buy up to a 30 percent minority stake in Liverpool. The club is valued at over $6 billion in these talks, making it the second most valuable in England after Manchester United.
An FSG spokesperson confirmed Bhatia's group is interested but the owners are not looking to sell the club outright. Instead, the deal would be similar to FSG's 2023 sale of a minority stake to Dynasty Equity, not a full takeover.
Bhatia made his intentions clear by giving up his 18-year ownership and board seat at Queens Park Rangers. He handed control to Ruben Gnanalingam, clearing the way for a possible Liverpool investment.
Bezos is currently the fourth-richest person in the world behind Elon Musk, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin. Despite being linked to several NFL and NBA teams in the past, he has never owned a major sports franchise.
The Amazon founder was previously tied to possible ownership moves with the Washington Commanders in 2023 before Josh Harris' group bought the franchise for $6.05 billion.
Bezos has also been connected to the Seattle Seahawks, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Chargers, but has never closed a deal. Amazon is already a big player in sports with exclusive Thursday Night Football rights on Prime Video.
Buying a minority stake in Liverpool would put Bezos close to one of the most famous football brands in the world without making him run the club or be its public face.
FSG's current structure features multiple investors around John W. Henry and Tom Werner's controlling investment. FSG President Michael Gordon has retained his role since 2014
RedBird Capital holds a significant 11 percent stake in the parent company, Dynasty Equity owns a direct Liverpool minority position, and smaller partners including NBA icon LeBron James make up FSG's broader investment group.
