Boxing legend Muhammad Ali and the iconic band The Beatles crossed paths several times at the height of their fame. However, not many people know that Ali actually tried to reform The Fab Four in the late 1970s and probably came closest to pulling off this “impossible” feat.
Despite becoming the most successful band in history, the Beatles members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—decided to part ways in 1970. Several factors played a role in the breakup, but the most important were the strained relationships between the four musicians and the death of their manager, Brian Epstein.
Shortly after The Beatles disbanded, all sorts of promoters tried to get Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr back together. However, despite proposing enticing offers, some of which ranged upwards of $100 million, the former bandmates were determined to continue their separate ways. That is until Ali stepped in.
At the suggestion of inventor Alan Amron and businessman Joel Sacher, Ali decided to get involved in the duo’s efforts to reunite The Beatles in 1977. After all, he was the perfect person to try the unlikely feat, being among the most famous people in the world, a fan of the band, and already having a connection with the band members.
Ali, then named Cassius Clay, and The Beatles met for the first time in 1964 at Miami Beach, coming together for a photoshoot. Ali was preparing to fight Sonny Liston for the Heavyweight Champion title at the time while The Beatles were fresh from their famed appearance at The Ed Sullivan Show.
Amron and Sacher proposed the idea of The Beatles’ reunion as a charity event. Their goal was to collect $200 million that would be used for a charity fund. Ali was on board, and he soon reached out to representatives of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr while also making his efforts public and creating a media frenzy.
While Ali didn’t get an immediate response, he managed to chat with Lennon, which made him quite optimistic. The two attended the inaugural gala for new U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and Ali made his pitch. Lennon didn’t accept on the spot, but he did invite Ali to meet him at New York City’s The Dakota, where he was staying with his wife Yoko Ono.
Ali was convinced that the Beatles reunion was close to happening that night, but unfortunately, things didn’t turn out that way. The representatives of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr quickly got involved, which led to a series of behind-the-scenes meetings that eventually ended the entire plan. As a result, Ali and Lennon never got to have their meeting at The Dakota, and the Beatles never reunited.