Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Becomes Minority Owner of Liverpool Football Club

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the world's third-richest person, has made his first significant foray into sports team ownership by acquiring a minority stake in the renowned football club Liverpool. The investment was confirmed through the consortium 1892 Holdings.

While Bezos is now a part-owner, the Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool's current owners, will continue to hold the majority share and maintain control over the club's operations. The exact size of Bezos's stake has not been disclosed, but reports suggest it could be around 30 percent, or up to one-third of the club.

Bezos is investing in Liverpool through his K5 Sports fund. Although he will not be directly involved in the club's board meetings, Elaine Saverin, wife of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, and Bryan Baum from K5 Sports will join the board. The main role within the 1892 Holdings consortium falls to British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia, who will serve as Liverpool's vice-chairman.

This move signifies a new direction for Bezos, who has previously focused on investing in sports broadcasting rights through Amazon. While he has previously been linked to potential ownership of NFL teams like the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks, those deals did not materialize. Bhatia brings extensive experience in football management, having been associated with Queens Park Rangers for nearly 19 years, serving as both president and vice-president. Saverin also has prior involvement in English football, having been part of a consortium that attempted to buy Chelsea in 2022.