Hollywood star worth £95m becomes part-owner of Leeds United as they aim for return to Premier League
RUSSELL Crowe has become part-owner of Leeds United as the club aims for a return to the Premier League.
The Whites announced their takeover by the 49ers Enterprises last summer.
Swimmer Michael Phelps, who won 23 Olympic golds, and golf superstar Jordan Spieth were among the names who joined in the buy-out.
But now it has emerged that the Hollywood actor, 59, also has a financial stake in the club.
Leeds announced the Oscar winner’s summer gig at the Brudenell Social Club in Hyde Park on X, formerly Twitter.
In response one user suggested Crowe “put his money” into League Two outfit Wrexham – owned by fellow Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The Gladiator actor then denied being associated with Wrexham instead saying he put money into his beloved Leeds.
He replied: “I don’t have any part of what’s going on in Wrexham man.
“I’m really impressed with Ryan and Rob, and what they are achieving, but I’m not part of that.
“I do however have a very small connection now financially to LUFC via the 49er family. So, yeah, exactly… but opposite.”
Crowe is a huge fan of the Elland Road club, having been hooked watching Match of the Day as a kid in his native New Zealand.
He even considered buying the club in 2015, calling them a sleeping dinosaur at the time.
But after weighing up the family sacrifice he would have to make, the Beautiful Mind actor decided against it.
The superstar has a net value of almost £95million.
The American group – the business arm of NFL team the San Francisco 49ers – have gradually increased investment in the Elland Road club since 2018.
It follows Wrexham’s transformation – and return to the EFL – after Reynolds and McElhenney took over in February 2021.
Leeds United currently sit third in the Championship table behind league-leaders Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
Move over Ryan Reynolds…
Jade Thirlwall – South Shields FC
Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall was among more than 750 fans who invested in South Shields FC, which raised more than £280,000 for the club in 2020.
She was also named as an honorary president – alongside ex-politician David Miliband – and her involvement in the club hasn’t stopped there.
The Power hitmaker designed a limited edition football strip for the club and joined LGBTQ+ inclusion workshops at the stadium.
Stormzy – Croydon Athletic
Rapper Stormzy joined a consortium with Crystal Palace’s former striker Wilfried Zaha and kit manager Danny Young to buy Croydon Athletic last year.
Fans were thrilled, including one eager supporter who told news site Inside Croydon: “This could be our ‘Wrexham moment.'”
The site reported the team was ‘purchased’ for “a token sum” but they believed Stormzy and his pals would “be providing the kind of investment which the club’s fans, players and backroom staff could, until now, only dream about”.
Michael B Jordan – AFC Bournemouth
Famed for starring in the Creed and Black Panther film franchises, many were surprised when Hollywood star Michael B Jordan invested in AFC Bournemouth.
He’s part of a consortium led by American businessman Bill Foley, who purchased the club from Maxim Demin in December 2022.
The following year, Michael revealed getting involved with the Cherries was “crazy and amazing” but he knew there was “so much potential there”.
LeBron James – Liverpool FC
Lebron James is considered among basketball’s greatest-ever players, so in 2011, some were surprised by his decision to invest in an English football team.
He was revealed to have purchased a 2 per cent stake in Liverpool FC, reportedly for around £5.1m ($6.5m).
Just over a decade later, LeBron and business partner Maverick Carter exchanged their stake for a part-ownership of Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for an undisclosed fee.