Ellison’s 2016 Villa Bid and Musk’s 2025 Liverpool Rumor Spark Premier League Ownership Fever

When Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle Corporation, first floated a purchase of Aston Villa Football Club back in 2016, the football world took notice; fast‑forward to January 2025 and Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, is being linked to a possible swoop on Liverpool Football Club. Both stories roiled fans, investors and regulators, because ownership of a Premier League club isn’t just a status symbol – it’s a cultural flashpoint. The Villa talks unfolded after the club’s shock relegation from the West Midlands in May 2016, while Musk’s alleged interest surfaced during a Times Radio interview on 8 January 2025, a moment that reignited speculation about tech moguls taking over English football’s most historic institutions.

Historical backdrop: Villa’s fall and the birth of a tech‑savvy takeover market

For 29 straight seasons, Aston Villa held a place in England’s top flight. The 2015‑16 season, however, ended with a 17th‑place finish and an automatic drop to the Championship – a humiliation that left supporters chanting “We want a new owner!”. The club’s then‑owner, Randy Learner, had purchased Villa in September 2006 for roughly £62 million. By 2016, the franchise was flirting with bankruptcy, its balance sheet thin and its fan base restless. That environment proved fertile ground for outsiders with deep pockets.

Ellison’s advanced talks: what happened and why it fizzled

According to a Daily Express scoop, Ellison entered “advanced talks” with Villa’s board in early 2016. The Oracle founder’s net worth had just ballooned after Oracle shares jumped more than 40 % on the back of lucrative cloud‑infrastructure and AI contracts. At the time, Ellison was flirting with the title of world’s richest person, briefly nudging past Elon Musk before the latter reclaimed the spot later that year by a $1 billion margin.

The proposed deal was rumored to be in the region of £76 million – the same amount the Chinese businessman Tony Xia ultimately paid in June 2016. While Ellison’s bid never materialised, the very fact that a Silicon Valley titan was on the table sent a signal: Premier League clubs were now on the radar of global tech investors.

Musk’s Liverpool wish‑list: fact, rumor, or marketing stunt?

Fast forward to 2025. When Errol Musk – Elon’s 79‑year‑old father – appeared on Times Radio, he let slip that his son “would like to, yes, obviously” buy Liverpool. The interview, recorded on 8 January 2025, sparked a frenzy of headlines. Liverpool, valued at $5.37 billion, sits at the top of the Premier League table and is owned by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the American conglomerate behind the Boston Red Sox.

FSG’s chief executive, John Henry, has consistently insisted the club “is not for sale”, though he acknowledges “no one owns a club forever”. Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol confirmed that no formal approaches have reached FSG, and that any bid would have to survive the Premier League’s owners‑and‑directors test, an independent regulator’s scrutiny, and, perhaps most challengingly, an angry fan base that prides itself on social‑justice activism.

Reactions from the pitch‑side and the boardroom

Villa supporters remember the 2016 saga with a mix of relief and lingering distrust. The club’s eventual acquisition by Xia led to a tumultuous three‑year stretch, ending in 2019 when the club was sold to NSWE (V Sports). “We were terrified we’d lose our identity,” said a long‑time Villa fan in a local forum, “but at least the new owners promised to keep the badge tidy.”

Conversely, Liverpool’s anthem‑singing crowd reacted more sharply to the Musk speculation. "Musk owns a car company that builds rockets, not a community club," murmured a supporter at Anfield on 12 January 2025. The sentiment mirrors a broader unease across English football: foreign billionaires can inject cash, but they may also clash with a club’s cultural DNA.

Potential hurdles: regulatory, financial, and cultural roadblocks

Even if a Musk‑led consortium offered FSG a premium – say $6 billion – the Premier League’s owners‑and‑directors test would scrutinise his suitability. The test examines criminal records, financial probity and, increasingly, social impact. Musk’s past tweets have landed him in hot water with regulators, making the “fit and proper” hurdle a steep climb.

Financially, a $5.37 billion valuation translates to roughly £4.3 billion at current exchange rates – a price tag that dwarfs the £76 million Villa deal by a factor of 57. While Musk’s net worth stands at $426.5 billion, most of that wealth is tied up in Tesla, SpaceX and private holdings, meaning liquid cash would need to be raised, likely through debt or equity partners.

Culturally, Liverpool’s fan base is famously vocal about community projects, anti‑racism campaigns and charitable work. A Musk takeover could trigger boycotts, protest banners, and perhaps a drop in season‑ticket sales – all factors that would give any potential buyer pause.

Broader implications for Premier League ownership trends

The two stories, separated by almost a decade, underline a slow but steady shift: technology moguls eyeing football as a global branding platform. When Ellison’s talks broke, the narrative was “tech meets tradition”. Now, Musk’s rumored interest adds a layer of controversy, reminding clubs that prestige comes with scrutiny.

If a high‑profile bid were to succeed, it could set a precedent for stricter vetting, perhaps prompting the Premier League to tighten its rules around foreign ownership. It could also nudge other U.S. or Asian investors to consider partnerships rather than outright purchases, mitigating fan backlash while still delivering capital.

What’s next? Watching the boardroom and the sidelines

For Aston Villa, the next chapter is already being written under V Sports’ stewardship, with plans for a new training complex and a push to return to the top flight by 2027. The club’s latest financial report shows a 15 % profit increase, suggesting the tech‑investor era may have finally arrived, albeit indirectly.

For Liverpool, the summer transfer window will be a litmus test. If FSG starts courting external investors – as it hinted at in late‑2022 – the club might open a controlled equity sale, allowing fans a say in future owners. Until then, the Musk rumor will likely linger as a talking point on sports podcasts and in Liverpool’s famed Kop chants.

Key facts

• Ellison’s advanced talks with Aston Villa took place in early 2016 after the club’s relegation.
• Villa was ultimately sold to Tony Xia for £76 million in June 2016.
• Elon Musk’s net worth in January 2025 was $426.5 billion; Liverpool’s valuation $5.37 billion.
• Fenway Sports Group has publicly stated Liverpool is not for sale.
• The Premier League’s owners‑and‑directors test could block any billionaire bid lacking “fit and proper” status.

Frequently Asked Questions

How would an Ellison takeover have changed Aston Villa?

Ellison’s deep pockets could have funded a rapid return to the Premier League, likely investing heavily in analytics and AI‑driven scouting. However, his tech‑centric approach might have alienated traditional fans, similar to concerns raised around other tech investors.

What obstacles does Elon Musk face if he pursues Liverpool?

Besides the $5.37 billion price tag, Musk would need to clear the Premier League’s owners‑and‑directors test, secure financing without over‑leveraging his existing businesses, and win over a fan base known for its social‑justice activism, which has publicly questioned his suitability.

Why are Premier League clubs attractive to technology billionaires?

Football offers global exposure, brand synergy with consumer tech, and a passionate audience that can translate into new markets for AI, cloud services, or electric vehicles. Ownership also grants a status symbol that few other industries can match.

Could Fenway Sports Group consider selling Liverpool in the future?

John Henry has admitted that no club is owned forever, but he emphasises that any sale would need to protect the club’s community ethos. As of early 2025, FSG has not received any formal offers and retains a long‑term strategic plan for the club.

What does the fan reaction tell us about future ownership models?

Supporter resistance, especially at clubs like Liverpool, suggests that any prospective owner must engage with community initiatives early on. Some clubs are now exploring supporter‑trust models or minority-shareholder schemes to balance capital inflow with fan influence.