Australian billionaire James Packer is part of a consortium backing Architect Capital’s purchase of a minority stake in OnlyFans. The San‑Francisco firm will acquire roughly 15% of the UK‑based platform for a $3.1bn valuation, sources say. Announcement could come as early as Friday, pending final paperwork.

The deal leaves control with the family trust headed by widow Katie Chudnovsky, who inherited the business after founder Leonid Radvinsky died in March. Radvinsky, who bought Fenix International in 2018, had previously explored a majority sale that would have fetched a higher price, but negotiations stalled amid his illness.

Architect’s financing comes via a special‑purpose vehicle funded by family offices, including entities linked to Packer and venture‑capitalist Sam Lessin of Slow Ventures. Lessin, an early Facebook employee turned seed investor, previously backed payment app Venmo. The investors hope to leverage Architect’s experience in asset‑backed lending to launch financial services for creators who struggle with traditional banking.

Beyond the cash infusion, the partnership could open a new revenue stream as OnlyFans pilots banking or proprietary payment solutions for its users. For investors, the transaction offers exposure to a high‑growth, controversy‑laden platform while keeping the majority ownership intact. The closing, expected later this week, will cement the first external equity stake in the company.