LeBron James Leads the Way for US Stars in Premier League Investments
In the world of football, LeBron James was way ahead of the curve. The four-time NBA champion and all-time leading scorer blazed a lucrative trail in 2011 that the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Tom Brady, and J.J. Watt have since followed.
James paved the way for many US stars to invest in Premier League clubs. In 2011, he purchased a two percent ownership stake in Liverpool FC, which was sold to American John W. Henry’s Fenway Sports Group (FSG) the previous year for $478 million (£300m). Fast forward to 2021, and James converted his stake in Liverpool to a one percent share in FSG’s global empire, following the Reds’ 2019 Champions League victory and Premier League title a year later.
This business relationship proved mutually beneficial. On the pitch, Liverpool experienced one of their most successful periods in decades under Jurgen Klopp. Off the pitch, the six-time European Cup winners became the fourth most valuable soccer team in the world ($5.37b, £4.07b) in 2024, according to Forbes. James, meanwhile, turned his initial $6.5 million (£4.9m) investment in Liverpool into a one percent stake in the $10 billion (£7.5b) valued FSG, a stake that could be worth up to $100 million (£75m) for the Los Angeles Lakers star.
The King’s involvement in English football created a domino effect for equally hungry American athletes-turned-entrepreneurs. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased Wrexham, while NFL legend J.J. Watt and his wife, former United States international soccer player Kealia Watt, acquired a minority stake in Burnley. Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady also became a minority owner of Birmingham City.
The trend of American investment in English football continues to grow, with the owners of the San Francisco 49ers assuming control of Championship outfit Leeds United and actor Michael B. Jordan becoming a minority stakeholder in AFC Bournemouth. The Premier League’s global appeal and the opportunity to grow their personal brands have proven irresistible for US celebrities and athletes alike.
LeBron James remains the shining example of the perfect, financially-driven marriage between a US athlete and an English football club. His pioneering investment in Liverpool has paved the way for a wave of American involvement in the Premier League, a trend that is here to stay.
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