Ranking of the richest football team owners in the world, 2023

Football, like any other sport, is more than just what happens on the field; there are commercial operations taking off the field to maintain the pitch’s greenness. The game’s increasing marketability and widespread acclaim virtually guarantee that its money component will keep expanding.

Here come the commercial moguls and magnates, the real puppeteers who control the purse strings behind the scenes. Dynamic individuals whose wealth matches the astounding popularity of the game they finance, their financial choices frequently determine a club’s destiny and have a profound effect on the collective mentality of their fan base.

The distinction between football as a sport and its business has blurred in recent years, and prominent football team owners have become well-known figures who use their wealth and sports passion to propel their teams to new heights.

1. Public Investment Fund, Newcastle United – $776 Billion
   With estimated total assets of $776 million, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is the largest sovereign wealth fund globally. Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the consortium underwent a reform aimed at promoting economic diversification in the nation. The English soccer team Newcastle United experienced a significant shock when the PIF acquired an 80% majority ownership in the club in 2021.

   With its increased financial support, the team has strengthened its roster and qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the top club competition in Europe. The PIF is the wealthiest fund on the list, with approximately $776 million in assets; nevertheless, some may argue that a public wealth fund shouldn’t be on the list.

2. Groupe Artémis S.A. (Francois-Henri Pinault), Stade Rennais – $37.9 Billion
   Francois-Henri Pinault is a French businessman and the CEO of a luxury goods international company with headquarters in France that operates brands like Balenciaga and Gucci, among others. The rich Frenchman is wed to Salma Hayek. Pinault used Artemis, his holding company, to invest in his interests and acquire full ownership of the French soccer team Stade Rennais FC in 1998. At $37.9 million, he is the second-wealthiest soccer owner in the world. His enormous resources and relentless commitment make him a force to be reckoned with in both business and athletics.
3. Red Bull GmbH (Mark Mateschtiz), RB Leipzig, And The New York Red Bulls – $33 Billion
   Mark Mateschtiz, the youngest person on the list at age 31, is a co-owner of Red Bull, an energy drink firm that his late father, Dietrich Mateschtiz, co-founded. His father established the German soccer team RB Leipzig in 2009, and the team made its debut in the German soccer league’s bottom division. The team advanced swiftly to the top division and participated in the European Premier Club Championship.

   Red Bull Salzburg in Austria and the New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer (MLS) were also acquired by Dietrich Mateschtiz. Mark is renowned for being a shrewd businessman who knows how to create long-lasting sporting enterprises. He inherited his father’s franchises and watched them grow.

4. Ineos Group Limited (Sir Jim Ratcliffe), OGC Nice – $22 Billion
   Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is ranked fourth on this list and the second richest person in the UK, is the CEO and chair of INEOS, a multinational company specializing in energy and chemicals that he formed in 1998. Ratcliffe reportedly paid $105 million to acquire the French team OGC Nice.

   His engagement with the team has fueled their ambition to emerge as a major force in the French league.  His approach places a strong emphasis on long-term growth through investments in youth and infrastructure. Forbes estimates that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is worth $20.8 billion. He has received praise for his charitable endeavors, which demonstrate his desire to have a beneficial influence outside of athletics.

5. City Football Group Limited (CFG) (Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan) , Manchester City – $20.8 Billion
   Sheikh Mansour, who is arguably the most powerful owner on our list of the wealthiest soccer club owners, took Manchester City from a mid-table team to a European powerhouse, dethroning rival Manchester United in the process. It is evident from his vision, vast resources, and unwavering commitment to always purchase the greatest quality available that the sports business side is essential to success on the field. In addition to being the vice president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansour is a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. Mansour established City Football Group, a holding company that manages a number of soccer teams, including Melbourne City, Mumbai City, and New York City.
6. David Tepper, Charlotte FC – $17.1 Billion
   David Tepper has had a revolutionary impact as FC Charlotte’s principal funder; his investments signify a dedication to developing soccer as a prominent sport in the United States. His enthusiasm for the game and financial sense portend an exciting future for the team.

   In 2019, Tepper was given the possibility to create an expansion team, and he seized the chance to establish FC Charlotte.  It is alleged that he paid an MLS record $325 million in expansion fees for the franchise. David Tepper is renowned for his astute business sense and amassed wealth of over $17 billion, making him one of the wealthiest soccer magnates. He first acquired his millions as a hedge fund manager.

7. Dietmar Hopp, Hoffenheim – $12.2 Billion
   Dietmar Hopp was one of the fortunate few who could afford the things he loved as a child. He played youth football for the German team Hoffenheim and had no idea that his early involvement would set the stage for his future business dealings with the team. When Hoffenheim was relegated to the nation’s bottom league, the German millionaire bought the team.

   The club received consecutive promotions and developed into one of the top clubs in the nation’s top divisions as a result of his financial assistance. Hopp’s devotion for the team is evident in the approximately $100 million stadium he built, which holds 30,000 seats.

8. Shahid Khan, Fulham – $12.2 Billion
   Fulham FC is a soccer team located in London. Shahid Khan purchased the team in the summer of 2013 for a fee over $180 million. The sports executive, who is Pakistani-American, made his fortune in the automotive sector by founding the auto part company Flex-N-Gate.

   Khan’s strong commitment in and care for Fulham is a testament to his love of the game; his goal of taking the team to the next level and establishing them among the best is gradually coming to pass. With a net worth of $12.2 million, he is able to rank among the world’s wealthiest soccer club owners.

9. Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) Philip Anschutz, LA Galaxy – $10.5 Billion
   With a net worth of more than $10.5 billion, Philip Anschutz, the founder and chair of Anschutz Entertainment Group, is well-known in the sports industry. Anschutz gained his money through investments in oil, real estate, railroads, and entertainment. He made significant bets in Hollywood and performance spaces including Staples Center and The 02.

   Philip Anschutz, who once owned many clubs and was instrumental in the founding of Major League Soccer, is a prime example of his passion for sports. The league suffered huge financial losses prior to its restructuring, but Anschutz provided a sizable amount of funding to support it, enabling it to acquire teams like the LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire, and Houston Dynamo.

10. Stan Kroenke, Arsenal And Colorado Rapids – $8.6 Billion
    The name Stan Kroenke is well-known not only among soccer supporters but also in the American and European sports industries. Before focusing on sports (and soccer), Kroenke amassed a fortune in real estate in the US and Canada. In 1999, he established Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, which serves as the parent corporation for all of his sports teams. He first purchased a 9.9 percent position in Arsenal Holding PLC in 2008.

    He then continued to buy more shares in the company until completing a takeover in 2018, following the acceptance of his $670 million offer by Russian billionaire and previous majority shareholder Alisher Usmanov. The American entrepreneur went on to buy Colorado Rapids, a Major League Soccer team, and he also owns other non-soccer clubs.

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