The day Elton John saved Dean Jones from losing $10m

Dean Jones was always an entertainer, but it took one of the greatest entertainers of all to save him from losing his house.

Dean Jones’ business interests included an event management company

Dean Jones was always an entertainer, but it took one of the greatest entertainers of all to save him from losing his house.

The year was 1999 and Jones was about to go all-in with his event management company on a multimillion-dollar investment to bring David Beckham’s all-conquering Manchester United to Australia.

Jones’ three-man consortium had recently brought the FIFA World XI down under to play the Socceroos and had got INXS back together following the passing of Michael Hutchence to officially open Sydney’s Stadium Australia ahead of the 2000 Olympic Games.

Despite the mega event turning over $15m, Jones vowed never to take such personal risk again, after the stress of putting his house on the line for a $5m loan, which was in doubt until the morning of the show, with members of INXS considering pulling out at the last moment.

Dean Jones pictured with Elton John. Source: Deano — My Call

But following that success, Manchester United came knocking, eager for an Australian tour after winning European football’s Triple Crown. And they wanted Jones’ company to put up over $10m for the privilege.

Jones says he was on the verge of signing on the dotted line to take one last plunge, before he excused himself from a meeting with Manchester United heavies to visit long-term friend Elton John in his hotel room at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

“I said, ‘I’ll tell you what, can we do this tomorrow, because I’ve got an appointment’,” Jones recently recalled on a podcast hosted by fellow cricket great Shane Watson in June.

It was moments later in John’s room he received a bombshell tip-off from the music icon that he says saved him from financial ruin.

“I told Elton what date they were playing (in July) and he said, ‘Dean, I’ve got a confidentiality agreement so I’m going into the next room. You need to look on my desk’,” Jones recalls John telling him.

“I walked across to the desk and there was the invitation for him to play at Beckham’s wedding which happened to be the same (time).

“And I’ve gone, ‘ohhhh, so half the team is going to be with Beckham!’”

Manchester United’s Jaap Stam takes on the Socceroos in 1999

Plenty of superstars still came out for matches in Melbourne and Sydney in front of massive crowds, but half of the famous Manchester United starting team – including coach Sir Alex Ferguson – were absent, with Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Gary Neville and of course Beckham not making the trip, as well as recently departed keeper Peter Schmeichel.

Jones says he quickly sold the rights to businessman Rene Rivkin and believes John’s subtle tip about the date of Beckham’s nuptials saved him from potential financial ruin.

David and Victoria Beckham at their wedding in 1999. Picture: Instagram

“I went back to them (United management) and said, ‘is that date right?’ I said, ‘you’ve got nothing on?’ They said, ‘no.’ And I knew they were lying,” Jones told the Watson podcast.

“They didn’t care. Not worried about advertising these guys’ names and they don’t turn up.

“Rene Rivkin was also trying to bid for it and I gave it to him for $200k and he ended up taking the heat.

“And half the team never turned up. You know what? I would have lost my house and everything … event management is a lot of fun, but it comes down to your networking.”

With John as a friend, Jones couldn’t have been better connected.

The bond between the legendary performer and cricketer was mutual.

Elton John paid tribute to Jones following his tragic death from a heart attack last Thursday, posting on Twitter “Life is unfair” next to a smiling photo he had recently received of Jones and Brett Lee.

“Only last week I was sent this lovely photo of Dean Jones and Brett Lee in Mumbai,” John wrote.

“Now Dean has gone. Life is unfair. He was a great cricketer and a wonderful father. My love and condolences to Phoebe, Janey and Gussie. #RIP.”

The Daily Telegraph