Frieze, the international art fair group, has been sold to Ari Emanuel, the Hollywood power broker who previously owned it through Endeavor. Emanuel acquired Frieze via a new, unnamed company from his former entertainment conglomerate, which was recently taken private by Silver Lake. The deal, valued at approximately $200 million according to sources, includes all seven fairs, Frieze magazine, and the No. 9 Cork Street exhibition space. Simon Fox will remain CEO. The sale comes just days before Frieze New York’s 2025 edition and follows months of speculation about the fair's future ownership.
The $200 million price tag has sparked debate about whether Emanuel overpaid or got a bargain, especially given the art market's recent contraction. The acquisition is significant because it consolidates control of a major global art fair network under a single, familiar owner, providing stability amid economic uncertainty. Emanuel’s backing by Apollo Global Management and RedBird Capital also signals continued investor interest in the art fair sector, even as rivals like Art Basel face their own financial challenges.