George Gillett, an American entrepreneur and former co-owner of Liverpool Football Club, died on September 22, 2026, at the age of 87. Gillett’s tenure in British football was marked by significant financial challenges and legal disputes, culminating in a high-profile exit from the club after four turbulent years.

Gillett, born in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1938, entered the sports industry early in his career, initially investing in American teams such as the Miami Dolphins and the Harlem Globetrotters. He later expanded into media ownership and other businesses, including meat-packing and golf courses. His interest in European football grew in the early 2000s alongside his Texan business partner, Tom Hicks. Together, they acquired Liverpool in February 2007, a period when foreign investment was reshaping English football.

The pair saw potential in capitalizing on the growing global popularity of the sport and its lucrative television rights. However, their ownership quickly revealed financial difficulties. Relying heavily on bank loans, they structured the deal so that Liverpool’s revenues covered interest payments, limiting funds available for player acquisitions and club development. The onset of the 2007 credit crisis further hampered their plans, including building a new stadium.

Liverpool supporters, known for their passionate loyalty rooted in the club’s storied history, grew increasingly dissatisfied with the owners’ management. By 2008, many fans openly demanded Gillett and Hicks step down, accusing them of treating the club as an asset rather than a sporting institution. Attempts to sell the club were complicated by disagreements between the owners and resistance from Hicks, who ultimately assumed greater control over the partnership.

In 2010, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the club’s principal lender, took over governance and appointed a new board that sold Liverpool to New England Sports Ventures—now Fenway Sports Group—led by American investors. Gillett and Hicks challenged the sale price legally in both London and Dallas courts, but their claims were dismissed.

Gillett’s experience with Liverpool contrasted with earlier successes. He had turned a profit selling the Montreal Canadiens in 2009 but ultimately lost approximately £72 million on his Liverpool investment. Hicks criticized the outcome, describing it as “an epic swindle.”

Throughout his career, Gillett was recognized as a pioneering figure in sports investment, bringing attention to the commercial value of broadcast media and international sporting assets. His partnership with Hicks at Liverpool symbolized both the opportunities and pitfalls of foreign ownership in English football during the early 21st century.

He is survived by his wife, Rose, and three of their four sons.