There have been millions of investments in world football in recent times. Many billionaires have gotten into football, which has become a very lucrative business nowadays. Along with money, owning a football club brings you prestige and respect from the public.
If a football club is backed by a rich owner, it can reach new heights. Take, for example, Premier League club Manchester City. Manchester was known for their Red Devils. The blue part of Manchester was less known to the world.
Since billionaire Sheikh Mansour took over Manchester City in 2008, he has completely transformed the situation. With substantial investments in the club, Manchester City has emerged as a dominant force in the Premier League in recent years, securing consecutive Premier League titles in the past two seasons.
Let’s take a look at the top 11 richest football club owners–
11. Nasser Al-Khelaifi (PSG)
Net worth: £6.3 billion
Yes, the rich PSG owner whose arrival saw the club shattering transfer market records is not even in the Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list! Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a Qatari businessman, studied Economics at Qatar University and played for the Qatari tennis team for 5 years. He was a professional tennis player, and after finishing his career in 2002, he was ranked 995th in the world rankings.
In 2011, Qatar Sports Investments bought Paris Saint-Germain. Nasser al-Khelaifi was elected as its chairman. He bought big stars such as Neymar, Ibrahimovic, Cavani, and Killian Mbappe for the club but is still unable to win the Champions League title.
10. Stan Kroenke (Arsenal, Colorado Rapids)
Net worth: £7.1 billion
Stan Kroenke, an American billionaire entrepreneur, owns the Kroenke Sports Company (KSE), which includes a number of teams from different sports and leagues. The Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL, Lacrosse), Colorado Rapids of the MLS, Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the St. Louis Club of the National Football League (NFL, American Football).
According to SportMob, Kroenke “entered a new arena in April 2007 and bought a 9.9% stake in Arsenal from Granada Ventures, and for the first time pursued a business outside the United States. Stan Kroenke currently is the main shareholder of Arsenal and is close to acquiring 100% ownership of the England club.” He is tentn in our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World in 2023
9. Philip Anschutz (LA Galaxy)
Net worth: £8.6 billion
Philip Anschutz, another American billionaire entrepreneur on the list, owns many companies in many industries including railroads, sports, theatres, arenas, and music. Anschutz bought his father’s drilling company, Circle E. Drilling, in 1961 and made a lot of money in Wyoming.
Anschutz initially invested in stocks, real estate, and railroads. Gradually, he went on to invest in entertainment companies and co-founded Major League Soccer, as well as numerous teams like the Los Angeles Galaxy Football Club, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Chicago Fire, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars Football Club, and the Houston Dynamo Football Club. He is ninth in our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list.
8. Shahid Khan (Fulham)
Net worth: £9.5 billion
Fulham owner Shahid Khan, worth £9.5 billion, ranks eighth on our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list. Khan is known for his eccentric looks and moustache. He also owns the NFL franchise Jacksonville Jaguars and the All Elite Wrestling organization. However, he built his wealth through Flex-N-Gate Corporation while studying at the University of Illinois. In 2013, he made a reported deal worth £150 to £200 million to acquire Fulham. His investment has helped the Cottagers return to the Premier League. He is eighth in our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list.
7. Dietmar Hopp (Hoffenheim)
Net worth: £10 billion
Dietmar Hopp, a German billionaire and entrepreneur, is the eighth richest person in Germany thanks to a fortune from his software company SAP ((Systems, Applications, Products). Dietmar studied telecommunications engineering in Karlsruhe after high school then he worked as a software developer and system consultant at IBM. He left IBM in 1972 and co-founded the software company SAP, with four of his colleagues.
Hopp is one of the main shareholders of the German Hoffenheim football team, which was initially a local team, that grew with his significant investments, and eventually, in 2008, this team entered the Bundesliga. However, Hopp was hated among German football fans as they believed that he bought his team’s success in football. But, in March 2023, Hopp gave up the majority voting rights of Hoffenheim but remained the club’s majority shareholder.
6. David Tepper (Charlotte FC)
Net worth: £14.6 billion
David Tepper, the owner of the Carolina Panthers NFL team, recently entered the world of football with his MLS expansion team, Charlotte FC, which debuted in 2022. Despite being relatively unknown to football fans worldwide, Tepper has earned a spot on our list.
The billionaire hedge fund manager from the United States founded and leads Appaloosa Management, a global hedge fund located in Miami Beach, Florida. In 2019, he ventured into football ownership and acquired Charlotte FC, which began playing in 2022 at Bank of America Stadium. According to ESPN, the expansion fees paid for the franchise by Tepper amounted to $325 million, setting a current record in the MLS. He is sixth in our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list.
5. Sheikh Mansour (Manchester City, Melbourne City, New York City)
Net Worth: £17 Billion
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is an Emirati politician and with an estimated net worth of around $30 billion, he is the richest football club owner in the world. As well as Manchester City in England, he owns New York City in the United States, Melbourne City in Australia, Mumbai City in India, and Montevideo City in Uruguay.
Sheikh Mansour, the deputy prime minister of the UAE, owns stocks in many companies in the UAE, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. After his acquisition of Manchester City in 2008, he reformed the club and changed its financial situation while also making it the most successful English club since his joining.
4. Jim Ratcliffe (OGC Nice)
Net worth: £18 billion
James Ratcliffe, who’s not only the head of INEOS but also considered a possible bidder for Manchester United, has become a well-known figure among Premier League fans recently. It’s likely reassuring for the Red Devils community to hear Ratcliffe’s got previous experience owning sports teams too – he’s got Ligue 1’s OGC Nice and Swiss club Lausanne-Sport under his belt.
British billionaire entrepreneur Sir James Ratcliffe wagered his own home back in 1992 to spearhead a buyout of a BP chemicals business. This wasn’t his first venture with the company – he had earlier bought a plant from them, setting the stage for the establishment of INEOS, now a major force in the chemical industry. Ratcliffe’s estimated net worth is an impressive £18 billion and is ranked at number four in our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list.
3. Dietrich Mateschitz (Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig, NY Red Bulls)
Net worth: £27.4 billion
Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian billionaire, owns Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg and MLS side New York Red Bulls. He studied marketing at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and graduated at the age of 28. After graduation, he worked as an International Marketing Director in a German cosmetics company.
During one of his trips to Thailand, a sweet and savoury drink largely relieved his fatigue, caused by flight delays. He searched for its owner and in partnership with this Thai man, the Red Bull was founded. He rarely speaks out in public and keeps himself out of the reach of the media. He is in the third position on our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list.
2. Francois-Henri Pinault (Stade Rennais)
Net worth: £31.6 billion
Francois-Henri Pinault, who owns Stade Rennais in Ligue 1 is quite well-off. They also have the respected title of honorary chairman at Kering, a luxury group. This group is the parent company for high-end brands like Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen.
Despite his net worth of £31.6 billion and significant investment in Stade Rennais, Pinault hasn’t seen the success he was hoping for from the club in recent years. Even with his financial support, their performance has remained somewhat lacklustre.
Pinault established Kering back in 1963, originally concentrating on wood and construction materials. But in 1999, he pivoted the company’s direction, deciding to focus on luxury items instead.
1. Public Investment Fund (Newcastle United)
Net worth: £343 billion
Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, purchased Newcastle United in October 2021. The acquisition was made using the country’s sovereign wealth fund. He is at the top spot in our Top 10 Richest Football Club Owners in the World list.
The Public Investment Fund, or PIF, boasts over £343 billion in assets. This impressive portfolio was primarily built through strategic investments in key companies and projects worldwide. On top of that, PIF has a direct hand in the Saudi Pro League, owning four clubs: Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli.
Who is the Richest Football Club Owner in the World?
Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and owner of Premier League club Newcastle United, is the Richest Football Club Owner in the World.
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