Although he’s now best known for his work as owner of Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as holding a fearsome reputation in the world of poker, Tony Bloom’s foundation on the way to billionaire status was with an SME he founded in a unique space.
Established in 2006, Starlizard – set-up by Bloom in an office space in London’s Camden Town – uses data to analyse and predict the outcome of sporting events.
Although that niche is bustling these days, back then Bloom and his team had hit upon something unique; using proprietary software, Starlizard were (and still are) able to wager significant sums on sports… with evidently excellent results, given that the entrepreneur is now said to have a net worth of £1.3 billion.
The success of Starlizard has enabled Bloom to branch out into other areas of interest…
Racehorse Ownership
Bloom has long held an interest in horse racing, turning that love of the sport into racehorse ownership over the years.
Two of his standout horses, Energumene and Ile Atlantique, have been placed with champion trainer Willie Mullins, who has turned Bloom’s charges into top chasers.
Energumene won the Champion Chase double-header at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in 2023, netting Bloom more than £300,000 in prize money for those two victories alone.
🟦⬜ Energumene leads them home in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
💪 @PTownend & @WillieMullinsNH have done it again!#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/fWfdxnomNX
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2023
And Ile Atlantique, with an official rating as high as 148, could yet make up to be a chaser as talented as Energumene.
With success over the fences, Bloom has now turned his attention to Flat racing – teaming up with industry specialist Patrick Veitch.
Veitch, a professional punter nicknamed the ‘baby-faced assassin’ for his big wins at the bookies, has now spread his wings into purchasing horses that he considers to have significant potential.
He will work alongside Bloom to create a stable of champions, alongside his work with various syndicates; in which any aspiring owners can purchase racehorse shares and get a taste of what ownership is really like.
A successful entrepreneur, Bloom has taken that form with him to the racetrack.
Brighton in Bloom
When Bloom acquired a controlling stake in Brighton back in 2009, the Seagulls were languishing in the third tier of English football.
But using similar cutting-edge analysis and data science that powers Starlizard, he was able to turn around their fortunes almost immediately. They were promoted out of League One that first season under Bloom’s stewardship, before reaching the promised land of the Premier League in 2017.
By 2022/23, Brighton were finishing in sixth place in the EPL, qualifying for European football for the very first time. The Bloom effect had well and truly taken hold.
Poker Prince
Horse racing was a passion that became something of a vocation for Bloom. And his love of poker has taken him on a similar journey.
In official, recorded events, the man known as ‘The Lizard’ on the felt has cashed just shy of £3 million in prize money, with big wins to his name all over the globe.
The Bloom Foundation
Aside from his business interests, Bloom is also a key figure in the development of Brighton as a city – he was awarded the MBE for his services to the community in 2024.
“I’m really proud. The football club is so important to my life and so many people in Brighton.” 💙
Tony Bloom gives his reaction after receiving an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours list to cap off a memorable 2023. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dF4kEirE16
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 31, 2023
His charity, the Bloom Foundation, also looks to tackle localised societal issues through educational programmes and other initiatives.
If anything, Tony Bloom is the model for any successful entrepreneur: ensure you create the time and space to enjoy your personal interests, while trying to give something back to the community too.