Jeff Bezos at an NFL game between the Chiefs and Chargers
Jeff Bezos' fortune has become a talking point over recent weeks in the Premier League circle for the first time, as the Amazon founder could reportedly become a significant shareholder at Liverpool.
According to reports, Bezos is part of a consortium that is closing in on a deal to buy a roughly one-third stake in the Anfield outfit, alongside Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and a deal could be agreed as early as this week.
With reports suggesting that the deal is edging closer, here is what his wealth stands at what a stake in the six-time European champions would actually mean for the world's third-richest man.
How much is Bezos worth and why does it matter for a Liverpool deal?
Liverpool owner John W. Henry walking along the touchline at Anfield
Bezos' net worth is difficult to put a number on, given that most of his wealth is either tied up in Amazon stocks and other assets, meaning his fortune can fluctuate throughout the day.
According to the Forbes Real Time Billionaires List, his net worth sits at $280.6billion, placing him as the third-richest person in the world behind Elon Musk and Larry Page. The figure is a snapshot rather than a fixed number as it doesn't take into account the assets and stocks that are tied up.
Even a deal worth well over £1billion would represent a small fraction of Bezos' overall wealth, comfortably under 1% of his fortune, by most estimates. For a club-record investment by Premier League standards, it is, relatively speaking, pocket change for the Amazon CEO.
Reports of Bezos' interest in Liverpool first surfaced in late July, when it emerged he had been approached to join a consortium led by British-Indian Businessman Amit Bhatia. The group is seeking a minority stake in the club worth roughly 30%, which would value Liverpool at around $6 billion (£4.5 million), comfortably above the figure Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS paid for its stake in Manchester United.
Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners since 2010, confirmed last month that it had received an approach by investors, with chief executive Billy Hogan acknowledging the talks publicly. Crucially, a sale of this size would not hand over control, as FSG would remain the majority shareholder and continue to run the club, even as it banks what could amount to a huge return on their £300million investment from 16 years ago.
Bezos' history with sports and what his investment would look like
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Should the deal go through, it would mark Bezos' first direct equity stake in a professional sports team, though he is no stranger to the industry. He previously explored a bid for NFL teams, whilst Amazon Prime Video has become a major player in live sports, streaming Premier League fixtures as well as having a behind-the-scenes "All or Nothing" documentary series, following a single club across a whole season.
Unlike a full takeover however, a minority investment would primarily be a passive financial stake rather than giving complete boardroom control over the club, as FSG would remain majority owners. Bezos' investment would likely give him a hands-off position, with his money providing funds for the club rather than giving him a say in transfer policy or day-to-day operations.
For Liverpool, the appeal is straightforward. The deal would see the club be valued at almost £6billion, and would label themselves as one of the most lucrative clubs in world football, whilst FSG remain in control. For Bezos, even at the upper end of reported figures, the deal wouldn't burn a hole in his pockets, but would place him at the heart of one of English football's most prestige clubs.
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