In 2011, Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James invested $6.5 million for a 2% stake in Liverpool, a team that advanced to the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in 11 years yesterday by beating AS Roma by an aggregate score of 7-6.
According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, LeBron's 2% stake is now worth roughly $32 million, as Liverpool's worth has risen to $1.6 billion, on the conservative side. In other words, LeBron's investment has grown nearly five times in just seven years.
About a year ago, Forbes labeled Liverpool the eighth-most-valuable soccer team in the world at a value of $1.49 billion, but their trip the UEFA Champions League final will guarantee an award of more than $100 million to Liverpool.
Rovell writes:
"This isn't the first investment that has turned out well for James. In 2014, he made more than $30 million when Beats by Dre sold to Apple. A $1 million investment James and his team put into fast-casual pizza chain Blaze Pizza has turned into at least $25 million on paper and more likely closer to $45 million, according to sources with knowledge of his deal."
Liverpool will take on Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid squad, who have won the last two championships, on May 26 in Kiev, Ukraine.
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