Aston Villa owner blackmailed for $1B after fling with Chinese divorcée

Federal prosecutors said Edens, who was recently divorced at the time, met 46-year-old Changli “Sophia” Luo after she contacted him on LinkedIn in 2022, Wall Street Journal reported.

Luo allegedly sent Edens a love letter after the pair spent the night at her Manhattan apartment, before later threatening him when he did not respond.

“I never told you I love you, and tonight I want to tell you that, I have been restraining my feelings for you, as I do love you from the bottom of my heart!” the New York Post quoted the letter as saying.

Luo then demanded $1.2 billion in a months-long blackmail campaign against Edens and was indicted last year for using compromising photos and videos of the pair to pressure him.

During a search of Luo’s apartment last May, authorities found two mobile phones hidden in a laundry basket and a tampon box. One of the devices contained pornographic images and videos with Edens’ face digitally edited onto other bodies.

Prosecutors said Luo also contacted Edens’ family members, ex-wife and business associates, and threatened to go to the media unless he apologized. Edens was reportedly willing to settle for $6.5 million, including an upfront payment of US$1 million, to avoid damage to his family and reputation. Luo later increased her demands to US$1.215 billion.

Luo was arrested at JFK Airport in June 2025 while preparing to board a flight to China. She faces four charges, including extortion and destruction of evidence. She denied the allegations and was released on a US$500,000 bond. She is currently under house arrest ahead of a trial scheduled for later this year.

Edens, 64, is also the co-owner of the basketball team Milwaukee Bucks and co-founder of Fortress Investment Group. His net worth is estimated at US$2.5 billion as of May 11 according to Forbes.