⚈ Liverpool’s $6B valuation and strong revenue growth have fueled the return.
⚈ James now owns part of FSG’s broader portfolio, including the Red Sox and Penguins.
NBA star LeBron James’ initial $6.5 million stake in English Premier League club Liverpool has skyrocketed to over $100 million in under 15 years, driven by the club’s success both on and off the pitch.
James’ involvement with Liverpool dates back to 2011, when he acquired a 2% minority stake in the club, which was valued at around $325 million.
It’s worth noting that a decade later, in March 2021, the Los Angeles Lakers forward became a partner in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s parent company, converting his initial 2% Liverpool investment into a 1% stake in the broader FSG portfolio.
Liverpool’s valuation has surged to $6 billion following the club’s win of the 20th Premier League in April which created a record breaking social media engagement, according to Forbes estimates.
Therefore, if James had retained his original 2% stake in the club, it would now be worth approximately $120 million.
LeBron James ROI with FSG stake
However, his 2021 conversion to a 1% stake in FSG shifts the focus to FSG’s overall valuation. FSG was valued at $12.95 billion in 2024, a 25% increase from the previous year, as per Forbes calculations.
Therefore, a 1% stake in FSG would now be worth $129.5 million, meaning James’ initial investment has grown nearly 20-fold.
However, it’s important to note there is no publicly available information on James investing additional funds when he became an FSG partner.
Liverpool’s financial success under FSG remains central to James’ massive return on investment and the general club valuation. Having secured 20 domestic league championships, the Merseyside outfit generated annual revenues of $719 million and operating income of $102 million in 2024.
Its revenue streams include $628 million from matchday earnings, $28 million from broadcasting, and $1.9 billion from commercial activities, all while maintaining a debt-to-value ratio of just 3%.
Finally, by being an FSG shareholder, James also has ownership exposure to the group’s other investments, including the MLB side Boston Red Sox, NHL side Pittsburgh Penguins, NESN, real estate assets, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, and Fenway Sports Management.
Featured image via Shutterstock
Source: https://finbold.com/how-much-is-lebron-james-initial-6-5-million-investment-in-liverpool-fc-worth-today/