Football club owners are not only investors in a team but also decide on development strategies, future orientations and have a great influence on the success of the team. In the modern football world, with the strong development of tournaments, clubs are increasingly attracting the attention of billionaire investors from all over the world. So who are the richest football club owners in the world? They not only own huge assets but also have significant influence in both sports and the global economy. Let’s find out with Bestsoccertips through the article below!
Top 8 richest football club owners in the world
1. Carlos Slim controls the fate of Real Oviedo
Carlos Slim, the 77-year-old Mexican businessman and owner of the Carso real estate group, is, according to the latest report from Forbes magazine, the sixth richest person in the world with an estimated fortune of 50,000 million euros. One of his passions is football, so he is the largest shareholder of Mexican football clubs such as Pachuca and León. Since November 2012, he has also been a shareholder of the Spanish football club Real Oviedo, which currently plays in the second division. Real Oviedo is a historic club that has existed for 91 years, but in 2012, the club encountered such serious financial difficulties that it was on the verge of disappearing. Slim bought a stake in the club for a total of 11 million euros and gradually became the largest shareholder, helping to solve the Asturian club’s difficult financial situation, reduce its debt and give the team a chance to win promotion to La Liga.
Slim’s involvement in Real Oviedo was not only a strategic move in business but also demonstrated his love for football. His investments helped change the financial situation of the club, helping Real Oviedo overcome the crisis and continue to develop, preserving a club with a rich history.
2. Sheikh Mansour is the owner of Manchester City, which Guardiola coached
Carlos Slim, with his investments in football clubs in Spain, opened the door for foreign capital to enter the sector. However, in the UK, the participation of foreign investors has grown stronger in recent years. Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family and worth an estimated €20 trillion, is the owner of Manchester City, a team coached by Pep Guardiola that features stars such as Sergio Agüero and David Silva. At 46, Sheikh Mansour is not only a prominent politician but also a member of the Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council.
In addition to Manchester City, Sheikh Mansour owns several other teams, including Melbourne City in Australia and New York City in the United States, both in Major League Soccer (MLS), with Spaniard Ferrán Soriano as chairman of New York City. The team has also attracted famous players such as David Villa from Asturias, expanding Sheikh Mansour’s influence globally.
3. Stanley Kroenke is the owner of Arsenal
Richest football club owners in the world Stanley Kroenke, a 69-year-old Missouri billionaire, spent €900 million to own 66% of Arsenal Football Club, the London team famous for names like Arsène Wenger, Héctor Bellerín and Santi Cazorla. Kroenke is a real estate tycoon and owner of Sports Illustrated magazine. With an estimated fortune of €11,000 million, he has a passion for buying sports clubs, not just in football but in many other sports.
In addition to owning Arsenal, Kroenke also owns many other famous sports teams, including the St. Louis Rams (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL) and Colorado Rapids (MLS). These investments not only expand his influence in the sports world but also demonstrate the strong investment strategy of a wealthy businessman.
4. Francois Pinault is the largest shareholder of Stade Rennais
Apart from England, the phenomenon of billionaires buying football clubs has also become popular in many other countries. In France, François Pinault, the owner of 60 large companies such as Puma, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, is a major shareholder of Stade Rennais, a famous Ligue 1 team with a 116-year history. At the age of 55, Pinault is not only a prominent billionaire in the fashion and sports industry but also an active investor in the football field.
In Paris, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a former Qatari tennis player and current chairman of Bein Sports, has been the owner of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) since October 2011. With an estimated fortune of €12,000 million, Al-Khelaifi has helped make PSG one of the most powerful teams in France and Europe, through heavy investment in the club’s squad and infrastructure.
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5. Nasser Al-Khelaifi is the owner of Paris Saint Germain
In Italy, major football clubs have also attracted strong interest from international investors. Inter Milan, one of the top clubs in Serie A, is currently owned by Indonesian businessman Erik Thohir, who bought 70% of the club for €270 million in 2013. Under Thohir’s leadership, Inter Milan has continued to grow and become one of the most powerful clubs in France and Europe. back to a strong position both domestically and in Europe.
Recently, one of the most sensational deals in Serie A was when Silvio Berlusconi, the long-time owner of AC Milan (a team with 7 European Cup titles), sold the club to Chinese businessman Li Yonghong for 740 million Euros. This was a major move for Milan, with the expectation that Li Yonghong and his investment group would bring the team back to the glory days of the 2000s.
6. Lakshmi Mittal is also the chairman of Queens Park Rangers
In Austria, Dietrich Mateschitz, the Croatian tycoon and founder of Red Bull, is not only famous in the beverage industry but also the owner of the Red Bull Salzburg football club. Mateschitz has brought a strong investment strategy to this team, helping Salzburg become one of the top clubs in Austria and Europe. In addition to Salzburg, Mateschitz also owns the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, which has won several major titles.
In England, Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, chairman and CEO of Mittal Steel Company, the world’s largest steelmaker, is the head of Queens Park Rangers (QPR). Mittal, with his huge fortune, invested in QPR to help the club gain more resources to compete in the Premier League. Mittal’s involvement in QPR demonstrates the influence of international investors in raising the level of football clubs in England.
7. Peter Lim runs Valencia from afar
Spain has not been left behind in the boom of foreign investment in football, although the two strongest teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, have maintained their position thanks to their independent, non-corporate club structures. However, other clubs in La Liga have been quickly moving into the hands of international investors. In addition to Carlos Slim, who has been mentioned for his ownership of Real Oviedo, one of the notable investments is Valencia. The club has been owned by Peter Lim, a powerful Singaporean businessman, since 2014. Lim bought 82% of Valencia’s controlling shares for €94 million.
Under Peter Lim’s leadership, Valencia has undergone a number of significant financial and strategic changes, aiming to restore its position in Spanish and European football. His investments in infrastructure and squad have helped the club stabilize and compete strongly in La Liga.
8. Malaga is run by Qatari Sheikh Al Thani
Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, a Sheikh and member of the Qatari royal family, has been the majority shareholder and president of Malaga since 2010. Under his leadership, Malaga has enjoyed a period of remarkable growth, including reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2012–13 season, although the club has since faced financial difficulties.
Chen Yasheng, a Chinese businessman and owner of the Rastar Group, a company that manufactures toys and video games, has been the chairman and owner of Espanyol in Barcelona since January 2016. In addition to his business interests, Chen Yasheng also holds the position of executive director of the China Listed Companies Association. Under his leadership, Espanyol has sought to increase its financial strength and compete in La Liga.
In addition, Wang Jialin, one of China’s richest men with an estimated fortune of $24,000 million thanks to his business interests in Wanda Group, has also entered Spanish football. He owns 20% of Atlético de Madrid, worth 40 million Euros. Wang Jialin has helped Atlético Madrid maintain its competitive position in La Liga and Europe.
Final Thoughts
The richest football club owners in the world are not only financial investors but also visionaries and influential people in the sports industry. With a strong increase in brand value and income from sponsorship contracts, television rights, and ticket sales, these billionaires have not only helped their clubs succeed but also contributed to shaping modern football. This proves that football is not only a sport but also an industry with great potential and opportunities.
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