May 5, (THEWILL)- Hollywood A-lister, Will Ferrell, has become the latest high-profile name to invest in Championship club, Leeds United. According to reports on Sunday, the 56-year-old comedian has acquired a “large” stake in 49ers Enterprises, the US-based group that owns the Elland Road outfit.
Ferrell’s investment sees him join an illustrious group of celebrities with a financial interest in Leeds. Fellow actor, Russell Crowe, Olympic swimming great, Michael Phelps, and professional golfers, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, had previously bought minority shares in the former English champions.
The Anchorman star’s foray into English football ownership comes hot on the heels of his venture into Major League Soccer, where he is a co-owner of Los Angeles FC. During a trip to watch Manchester City beat Aston Villa last season, Ferrell revealed himself as an avid fan of the English game, also taking in matches at Wrexham and QPR.
Wrexham, recently promoted to League One, is owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, part of a growing trend of celebrities investing in British clubs. Other examples include Michael B. Jordan at Bournemouth and Tom Brady’s stake in Birmingham City.
With an estimated net worth exceeding £100 million from his iconic film roles in comedies like Elf and Old School, Ferrell’s investment provides a timely boost for Leeds’ promotion push. Daniel Farke’s side missed out on automatic English Premier League promotion and will contest the playoffs, starting with a semi-final first leg against Norwich next Sunday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
