Hotel mogul eyes Rabbitohs stake two decades after losing bid to Russell Crowe
Two decades after being pipped at the post by Russell Crowe, hotel mogul Jerry Schwartz says he would be open to having another shot at owning a piece of the South Sydney Rabbitohs – if the price was right.
Crowe and Peter Holmes à Court famously paid $3 million for 75% of the club in 2006, but Schwartz was also in the running back then.
“I tendered against Russell Crowe and Holmes à Court for the club, but I was outbid,” Schwartz said. “I like a full plate, but I couldn’t afford it at the time. As for the future, I have a simple philosophy in business: if the price is right, I might be interested. It could align nicely with my Sydney Brewery brand.”
Speculation about Crowe’s stake has been swirling again, although in January the Oscar winner dismissed the talk, telling AAP: “Just tell them all it’s bulls, and advise them to enjoy the summer sun.”
Schwartz is no stranger to backing sport. As owner of the Fairmont Resort – the NSW Blues’ training base – he has poured hundreds of thousands into facilities and owns 15 hotels with over 4,000 rooms, alongside Sydney Brewery and Blue Sky Airlines.
For now, the Rabbitohs remain split between Crowe, James Packer, Mike Cannon-Brookes and members – but Schwartz might just be waiting on the sideline for his chance.
Jonathan Jackson, 13th August 2025
