US billionaire Kenn Ricci's Flexjet just bought TikTok's most famous aircraft broker

Flexjet, the global fractional jet ownership company valued at $4 billion, has acquired The Jet Business, the London-based aircraft brokerage founded by Steve Varsano, and named him president of the combined company focused on product innovation and international growth.

The acquisition was announced on June 12, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. Varsano founded The Jet Business in 2011 as the world's first street-level corporate aviation showroom, operating from a prominent location at Hyde Park Corner on Park Lane in London. The showroom features an Airbus Corporate Jet cabin mock-up visible through the window, used as a client meeting room.

Varsano has built one of the most recognisable personal brands in the private aviation industry through a social media presence that includes 2.5 million TikTok followers, 1.26 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 400,000 Instagram followers. His content, which takes viewers inside the process of buying and selling private jets, has made him what Corporate Jet Investor describes as the world's best-known aircraft salesperson.

Under the deal, The Jet Business will continue to operate under its existing brand while benefiting from Flexjet's resources, infrastructure and global reach. Flexjet's existing FXSolutions brokerage entity will share back-office functions with The Jet Business under a single global platform. The Jet Business will support the acquisition of aircraft entering the Flexjet fleet and the transition of aircraft exiting service, providing market intelligence, transaction expertise and advisory capabilities that strengthen Flexjet's long-term fleet strategy.

"When I set out to build The Jet Business, my goal was to change how aircraft are bought and sold," Varsano said. "Through social media, it evolved into something even greater — a brand built on education, mentorship and trust, anchored by an immersive London experience that reimagined how clients engage with private aviation."

Varsano will work alongside Kenn Ricci, who chairs Flexjet. Ricci's Directional Aviation Capital acquired Flexjet in 2013 after it had originally been established as an arm of Bombardier 18 years earlier. Last year, Flexjet raised $800 million at the $4 billion valuation in a round led by L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by LVMH.

"I truly enjoy working with competent professionals who have created a unique competitive advantage, bring energy to the room and share a passion for aviation," Ricci said. "Steve and The Jet Business truly check all the boxes."

The timing of the acquisition aligns with Flexjet's broader European expansion. The company is expected to open a private terminal at London Farnborough Airport before the Farnborough Airshow in July 2026, and its European headquarters sits a short distance from The Jet Business showroom in Mayfair.

Clients of The Jet Business will gain access to Flexjet Solutions for operational support, maintenance, AOG emergency response and aircraft management services. The acquisition reflects a broader consolidation trend in the private aviation brokerage sector, as independent brokers are increasingly absorbed into larger operators that can offer sellers expanded access to fleet relationships, operational infrastructure and institutional capital.

Flexjet operates a fleet of more than 340 aircraft and serves clients across North America, Europe, the Middle East and other regions. The company caters to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients who want guaranteed access to private aircraft without the full cost of ownership.