The story of potential investment in Liverpool took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when Jeff Bezos’ name was unexpectedly thrown into the mix, adding a fascinating new dimension to what had already been an intriguing week at Anfield. Barely 24 hours earlier, it had emerged that a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia had expressed interest in buying a stake in the Premier League club. The 46-year-old, son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, had been a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before relinquishing his stake on Tuesday, apparently paving the way for him to lead a group of investors seeking to purchase a reported 30% stake in Liverpool. Now reports suggest Amazon founder Bezos has been approached about joining the consortium, though sources close to Bhatia declined to comment when asked by BBC Sport, saying only that discussions had been held with a number of potential investors.
Bezos, the fourth-richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $256.9 billion according to Forbes, would represent a seismic shift in the Premier League’s financial landscape if he were to come on board. The 62-year-old stepped down as Amazon’s chief executive in 2021 to become executive chairman but still owns 8% of the company, while also owning The Washington Post and aerospace firm Blue Origin. Although he has yet to invest in sport, Bezos has come close on more than one occasion, having been linked with a takeover of the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023 and previously exploring the possibility of buying the Seattle Seahawks, though he ultimately decided against submitting an offer for either franchise.
For Liverpool supporters, the developments raise more questions than answers about what Fenway Sports Group’s long-term strategy might be. Since completing their takeover in October 2010, FSG has established itself as a steady and reliable custodian, overseeing sustained success both on and off the pitch with Liverpool winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Super Cup and Club World Cup since 2019. Neil Atkinson, CEO of The Anfield Wrap, told BBC Sport that questions should be asked whenever anyone is interested in paying money for an involvement in any Premier League club, particularly regarding what very wealthy individuals stand to gain when Liverpool’s yearly turnover would barely make a dent in their fortunes. Almost four years after FSG first explored the possibility of selling the club entirely, the prospect of new investors inevitably raises the question of whether this could be part of a longer-term strategy towards an eventual exit from Anfield — or simply a fresh injection of capital designed to keep pace with an increasingly competitive landscape at home and abroad.