Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly considered involving Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos in financing his purchase of Manchester United shares before finalizing his investment.
In December of last year, Ratcliffe agreed to pay £1.2 billion for a 27.7% stake in the club, with the deal completed earlier this year. He has since increased his shareholding, spending approximately £79 million to acquire an additional 1.24%, bringing his total stake to 28.94%.
According to The Athletic, prior to purchasing his initial shares, Ratcliffe explored private financing options and floated the idea of Musk, CEO of Tesla, and Bezos, CEO of Amazon, contributing funds during one meeting. Ratcliffe reportedly believed the allure of owning a stake in Manchester United might appeal to the two billionaires, given their vast resources.
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates Musk’s net worth at $486 billion and Bezos’s at $246 billion. Despite their wealth, it is unclear whether either showed interest or if the discussions progressed further.
Musk, who has never been involved in sports ownership, has been speculated as a potential investor in an English football club, potentially following the example set by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Meanwhile, Ratcliffe’s increased stake will not be used to bolster Manchester United’s squad in the upcoming transfer window, as the club continues to endure a challenging season.
The Red Devils suffered their seventh league defeat of the season with a loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford last Sunday. Currently 13th in the Premier League table with 22 points, manager Ruben Amorim’s side faces two more league fixtures this year: Wolves on Boxing Day and Newcastle United on December 30.
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