
一众美国富豪正在开辟财富与影响力扩张的新赛道:不再局限于收购初创企业、购置价值数百万美元的豪宅,而是将目光投向欧洲足球俱乐部。如今,亿万富豪杰夫·贝佐斯或将加入这一投资阵营,圆自己的体育俱乐部老板梦。
这位亚马逊创始人正洽谈加入计划收购利物浦足球俱乐部约30%股权的财团。该财团由英印裔投资人阿米特·巴蒂亚(Amit Bhatia)牵头,已向芬威体育集团(FSG)提出13.5亿英镑(近18亿美元)的临时收购要约,以收购俱乐部少数股权。按该报价估算,这支英超俱乐部的估值约为45亿英镑(约合60亿美元)。
巴蒂亚曾联合持有英冠球队女王公园巡游者长达18年,目前他还在寻找其他潜在投资者,以筹措更多资金。全球第四大富豪、身家2670亿美元的贝佐斯,有可能参与此次投资。
据多家媒体报道,谈判知情人士透露,若巴蒂亚牵头的财团达成交易,这位亚马逊创始人将获得利物浦俱乐部相应股权。
这并非贝佐斯首次考虑体育领域投资。现年62岁的他曾考虑收购美国国家橄榄球联盟球队,包括西雅图海鹰队与华盛顿指挥官队,但最终均未正式出价。这是首次有报道称,贝佐斯正洽谈收购欧洲足球俱乐部股权。
贝佐斯的入局,正是当下美国富豪扎堆投资大西洋彼岸体育俱乐部热潮的缩影。得益于Apple TV+爆款剧集《足球教练》,以及瑞安·雷诺兹(Ryan Reynolds)、罗伯·麦克艾亨利(Rob McElhenney)高调收购威尔士雷克瑟姆足球俱乐部,欧洲联赛热度持续攀升,更多亿万富豪希望分一杯羹。
芬威体育集团发言人向《财富》杂志证实,巴蒂亚牵头的财团已表达对利物浦足球俱乐部进行少数股权投资的意向。《财富》杂志已联系贝佐斯寻求置评。
美国富豪收购欧洲足球俱乐部
长期以来,美国富豪通过策略性投资、兴趣型项目打理资产:从沃伦·巴菲特规模庞大的股票投资组合,到埃隆·马斯克斥资440亿美元收购X平台(原推特)。如今,随着俱乐部估值飙升、全球观赛球迷数量增长,越来越多美国资本转向海外,涌入欧洲足球俱乐部。
若传闻属实,财团成功拿下利物浦少数股权,贝佐斯将成为这支球队日益壮大的美国投资者阵营的新成员。2010年,投资大亨约翰·威廉·亨利(John W. Henry)以3亿英镑(近4亿美元)从两名美国投资人汤姆·希克斯(Tom Hicks)与乔治·吉列(George Gillett)手中收购利物浦俱乐部;如今这家俱乐部估值已达62亿美元。
让美国资本入主欧洲足坛真正声名大噪的标志性案例,是雷诺兹与麦克艾亨利2020年收购雷克瑟姆足球俱乐部。两位好莱坞明星——加拿大籍的雷诺兹与美国籍的麦克艾亨利,斥资200万英镑(约合250万美元)买下这支威尔士低级别联赛球队。此后雷克瑟姆实现三连升,四十多年来首次冲入英冠联赛;凭借热门纪录片《欢迎来到雷克瑟姆》(Welcome to Wrexham),俱乐部估值与全球球迷规模均实现爆发式增长。
“我现在深深迷上这项运动,却又因此备受煎熬。”雷诺兹2023年接受英国广播公司(BBC)采访时说道,“每场比赛我都像困兽一样来回踱步。”
其他知名俱乐部同样不乏美国资本。2022年,控股公司Eldridge Industries首席执行官托德·波利(Todd Boehly)牵头财团,以42.5亿英镑(当时约合52亿美元)收购切尔西足球俱乐部。这位身家约85亿美元的美国商人,从被迫出售球队的俄罗斯寡头罗曼·阿布拉莫维奇(Roman Abramovich)手中接手该球队。
身家268亿美元的美国地产大亨斯坦·克伦克(Stanley Kroenke),历时十年完成对英超豪门阿森纳的收购。2007年,克伦克首次收购阿森纳控股公司9.9%的股权;2011年持股比例达到62%,成为控股股东;最终在2018年实现全资控股。据估算,为收购这支球队,他累计投入约10亿美元。
克伦克2011年表示:“阿森纳是一家拥有独特历史与传统的伟大俱乐部。我们将在这份深厚底蕴的基础上再接再厉,带领俱乐部再创辉煌。”
据《福布斯》统计,阿森纳现已跻身全球最具价值足球俱乐部之列,估值约54亿美元,已连续三个赛季获得英超联赛亚军。(财富中文网)
译者:中慧言-王芳
一众美国富豪正在开辟财富与影响力扩张的新赛道:不再局限于收购初创企业、购置价值数百万美元的豪宅,而是将目光投向欧洲足球俱乐部。如今,亿万富豪杰夫·贝佐斯或将加入这一投资阵营,圆自己的体育俱乐部老板梦。
这位亚马逊创始人正洽谈加入计划收购利物浦足球俱乐部约30%股权的财团。该财团由英印裔投资人阿米特·巴蒂亚(Amit Bhatia)牵头,已向芬威体育集团(FSG)提出13.5亿英镑(近18亿美元)的临时收购要约,以收购俱乐部少数股权。按该报价估算,这支英超俱乐部的估值约为45亿英镑(约合60亿美元)。
巴蒂亚曾联合持有英冠球队女王公园巡游者长达18年,目前他还在寻找其他潜在投资者,以筹措更多资金。全球第四大富豪、身家2670亿美元的贝佐斯,有可能参与此次投资。
据多家媒体报道,谈判知情人士透露,若巴蒂亚牵头的财团达成交易,这位亚马逊创始人将获得利物浦俱乐部相应股权。
这并非贝佐斯首次考虑体育领域投资。现年62岁的他曾考虑收购美国国家橄榄球联盟球队,包括西雅图海鹰队与华盛顿指挥官队,但最终均未正式出价。这是首次有报道称,贝佐斯正洽谈收购欧洲足球俱乐部股权。
贝佐斯的入局,正是当下美国富豪扎堆投资大西洋彼岸体育俱乐部热潮的缩影。得益于Apple TV+爆款剧集《足球教练》,以及瑞安·雷诺兹(Ryan Reynolds)、罗伯·麦克艾亨利(Rob McElhenney)高调收购威尔士雷克瑟姆足球俱乐部,欧洲联赛热度持续攀升,更多亿万富豪希望分一杯羹。
芬威体育集团发言人向《财富》杂志证实,巴蒂亚牵头的财团已表达对利物浦足球俱乐部进行少数股权投资的意向。《财富》杂志已联系贝佐斯寻求置评。
美国富豪收购欧洲足球俱乐部
长期以来,美国富豪通过策略性投资、兴趣型项目打理资产:从沃伦·巴菲特规模庞大的股票投资组合,到埃隆·马斯克斥资440亿美元收购X平台(原推特)。如今,随着俱乐部估值飙升、全球观赛球迷数量增长,越来越多美国资本转向海外,涌入欧洲足球俱乐部。
若传闻属实,财团成功拿下利物浦少数股权,贝佐斯将成为这支球队日益壮大的美国投资者阵营的新成员。2010年,投资大亨约翰·威廉·亨利(John W. Henry)以3亿英镑(近4亿美元)从两名美国投资人汤姆·希克斯(Tom Hicks)与乔治·吉列(George Gillett)手中收购利物浦俱乐部;如今这家俱乐部估值已达62亿美元。
让美国资本入主欧洲足坛真正声名大噪的标志性案例,是雷诺兹与麦克艾亨利2020年收购雷克瑟姆足球俱乐部。两位好莱坞明星——加拿大籍的雷诺兹与美国籍的麦克艾亨利,斥资200万英镑(约合250万美元)买下这支威尔士低级别联赛球队。此后雷克瑟姆实现三连升,四十多年来首次冲入英冠联赛;凭借热门纪录片《欢迎来到雷克瑟姆》(Welcome to Wrexham),俱乐部估值与全球球迷规模均实现爆发式增长。
“我现在深深迷上这项运动,却又因此备受煎熬。”雷诺兹2023年接受英国广播公司(BBC)采访时说道,“每场比赛我都像困兽一样来回踱步。”
其他知名俱乐部同样不乏美国资本。2022年,控股公司Eldridge Industries首席执行官托德·波利(Todd Boehly)牵头财团,以42.5亿英镑(当时约合52亿美元)收购切尔西足球俱乐部。这位身家约85亿美元的美国商人,从被迫出售球队的俄罗斯寡头罗曼·阿布拉莫维奇(Roman Abramovich)手中接手该球队。
身家268亿美元的美国地产大亨斯坦·克伦克(Stanley Kroenke),历时十年完成对英超豪门阿森纳的收购。2007年,克伦克首次收购阿森纳控股公司9.9%的股权;2011年持股比例达到62%,成为控股股东;最终在2018年实现全资控股。据估算,为收购这支球队,他累计投入约10亿美元。
克伦克2011年表示:“阿森纳是一家拥有独特历史与传统的伟大俱乐部。我们将在这份深厚底蕴的基础上再接再厉,带领俱乐部再创辉煌。”
据《福布斯》统计,阿森纳现已跻身全球最具价值足球俱乐部之列,估值约54亿美元,已连续三个赛季获得英超联赛亚军。(财富中文网)
译者:中慧言-王芳
A wave of wealthy Americans are turning to a new way of expanding their wealth and influence beyond buying up start-ups and multimillion-dollar mansions: European soccer clubs. Now, billionaire Jeff Bezos may be joining the cohort of rich investors looking to live out their sports-owner fantasies.
The Amazon founder is in talks to join the consortium looking to buy around 30% of Liverpool FC. The group, led by British-Indian investor Amit Bhatia, has made a provisional offer of £1.35 billion (nearly $1.8 billion) to buy a minority stake from Fenway Sports Groups (FSG)—valuing the Premier League club at around £4.5 billion (around $6 billion).
Bhatia, who also formerly co-owned the English Championship team Queens Park Rangers for 18 years, is also looking to other potential investors in ramping up funding. And Bezos—the fourth richest person in the world, with $267 billion to his name—could throw his hat in the ring.
According to multiple outlets, sources who are clued in on the talks suggested that the Amazon entrepreneur would receive equity in Liverpool if a deal is struck with Bhatia’s group.
It wouldn’t be the first time Bezos has eyed up investments in sports. The 62-year-old has also looked into snapping up NFL teams, including the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, but never went through with an offer. This is the first time Bezos has been reported to be in talks to buy a stake in a European soccer club.
And he’s joining a growing trend of wealthy Americans spending their money on sports teams across the pond. As European leagues have gained popularity through hit Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso and Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s high-profile ownership of Welsh club Wrexham, even more billionaires are hoping to get in on the action.
An FSG spokesperson confirmed with Fortune that a consortium led by Bhatia has expressed interest in making a minority investment in Liverpool FC. Fortune reached out to Bezos for comment.
Wealthy Americans are purchasing European soccer teams
Well-off Americans have long parked their fortunes through strategic investments and vanity projects, from Warren Buffett‘s sprawling stock portfolio to Elon Musk‘s $44 billion acquisition of X (formerly Twitter). Now, more are looking overseas, pouring money into European soccer teams as valuations soar and more international fans tune in for matches.
If the rumors are true and the consortium succeeds in buying a minority stake in Liverpool FC, Bezos will be just one of the team’s growing list of U.S. investors. In 2010, investing mogul John W. Henry took over the club after purchasing it from fellow Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett for £300 million (nearly $400 million), with the team’s current valuation sitting at $6.2 billion.
One of the most publicized purchases that put American ownership of European soccer clubs on the map was Reynolds and McElhenney’s purchase of Wrexham A.F.C. in 2020. The two Hollywood stars—the former Canadian, and the latter American—shelled out £2 million (around $2.5 million) for the lower-league Welsh Club. Wrexham has since earned three consecutive promotions to reach England’s Championship for the first time in more than four decades, while the club’s valuation and global fanbase exploded thanks to their hit documentary Welcome to Wrexham.
“I’m now so much in love with this sport that I actually hate it,” Reynolds told BBC in 2023. “Each match I’m pacing around like a caged lion.”
Other household-name teams have major American backers. In 2022, the CEO of holding company Eldridge Industries Todd Boehly led a consortium that bought Chelsea F.C. for £4.25 billion—about $5.2 billion at the time. The American businessman, worth around $8.5 billion, snapped up the team from Russian business oligarch Roman Abramovich, who was forced to sell.
Stanley Kroenke, an American property magnate worth $26.8 billion, also bought up popular Premier League team Arsenal over the span of a decade. Starting back in 2007, Kroenke started off by acquiring a 9.9% stake in Arsenal holdings, becoming a majority owner in 2011 with 62% of shares under his name, eventually taking on full ownership in 2018. In total, it’s estimated he shelled out roughly $1 billion to buy the franchise.
“Arsenal are a fantastic club with a special history and tradition,” Kroenke said in 2011. “We intend to build on this rich heritage and take the club to new success.”
Arsenal has since become one of the world’s most valuable soccer clubs—worth an estimated $5,4 billion, according to Forbes—and has finished as the league’s runner-up in three straight seasons.