US billionaire eyes Lonely Planet, report says Brad Kelley, who is also ranked as one of the five-biggest landowners in America, is prepared to pay about $100m for a controlling stake in Lonely Planet, according to travel blog Skift. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the broadcaster, acquired a majority stake in Lonely Planet for 88.5m pounds in 2007. The deal proved controversial as critics argued the deal went far beyond any connection with the BBC's programming. In early 2011, BBC Worldwide handed over another 42.1m pounds to take complete ownership of Lonely Planet, which was founded by an Australian couple in Melbourne in 1972. It is not clear what Mr Kelley, who could not be reached for comment, intends to do with Lonely Planet if he secures a majority stake. The acquisition would add to an investment that the American businessman has in OutwildTV, a site that promotes video documentaries by travel writers, Skift reported. Best known for its travel guides to individual countries, Lonely Planet has been investing in technology to be able to allow its writers to update information on a country's hotels, restaurants and sites directly online for readers. Any sale of Lonely Planet is likely to leave BBC Worldwide with a loss on a deal that is still the biggest in its history. Mr Kelley, who is from Kentucky, founded cigarette manufacturer Commonwealth Brands in 1991 and it prospered selling brands such as Sonoma, Country Value and USA Gold. A decade later, he sold Commonwealth Brand to Houchens Industries, a US conglomerate, for $1bn. "We have been exploring strategic options for Lonely Planet for some time now but no deal has been done," a spokesman for BBC Worldwide said. Mr Kelley could not be reached for comment.