Frieze, the art fair and media company, has been sold to Ari Emanuel, the former CEO of Endeavor, in a deal valued at around $200 million. The acquisition, reported by the Financial Times, covers Frieze's seven global fairs, its magazine, and its London exhibition space, No. 9 Cork Street. Emanuel, who stepped down as Endeavor CEO in March following the $25 billion acquisition of the conglomerate by Silver Lake, will own Frieze through a new company backed by a consortium of investors. Simon Fox will remain CEO, and the deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.
The sale matters because it represents a major consolidation of the art fair market under a powerful entertainment industry figure, coming amid a prolonged art market contraction and just days before Frieze New York opens. Emanuel's deep ties to Hollywood and private equity could reshape Frieze's strategy and global reach, potentially blurring the lines between contemporary art and entertainment. The transaction also signals continued investor interest in art-fair assets despite broader economic headwinds, and it raises questions about the future independence of Frieze's editorial and curatorial voice under new ownership.