The world of football is awash with money, and the owners of the biggest clubs are some of the richest people in the world. Here is a list of the top 10 richest owners in football in 2023, ranked by their estimated net worth:
- Public Investment Fund (PIF) – Newcastle United (£343bn)
- Francois-Henri Pinault – Stade Rennais (£31.6bn)
- Mark Mateschtiz – RB Leipzig, & New York Red Bulls (£27.4bn)
- Jim Ratcliffe – OGC Nice (£18bn)
- Sheikh Mansour – Manchester City (£17bn)
- Andrea Agnelli & family – Juventus (£19.1bn)
- Dietrich Mateschitz – FC Red Bull Salzburg (£20.7bn)
- Stan Kroenke – Arsenal (£12.9bn)
- Todd Boehly – Chelsea (£5.3bn)
- Robert Kraft – New England Revolution (£10.6bn)
The PIF is a sovereign wealth fund owned by the government of Saudi Arabia. It acquired Newcastle United in 2022 in a deal worth £305 million. The PIF is the richest owner in football history, and its takeover of Newcastle has led to speculation that the club could become a major force in the Premier League.
Francois-Henri Pinault is the chairman and CEO of Kering, a luxury goods group that owns brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga. He is the son of François Pinault, who is the richest person in France. Pinault acquired Stade Rennais in 2018.
Mark Mateschitz is the co-founder of Red Bull, an energy drinks company. He owns RB Leipzig, a German club that has won the Bundesliga title twice in the past four seasons. Mateschitz also owns New York Red Bulls, a club in Major League Soccer.
Jim Ratcliffe is the chairman and CEO of Ineos, a chemical company. He is the richest person in the UK. Ratcliffe acquired OGC Nice in 2019.
Sheikh Mansour is the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. He is the owner of Manchester City, which has won the Premier League title five times since he took over the club in 2008.
The other owners on the list are all billionaires who have made their fortunes in a variety of industries, including finance, real estate, and technology. Their investment in football has helped to make the sport even more competitive and glamorous.
It will be interesting to see how the ownership of these clubs changes in the years to come. The influx of money from wealthy owners has led to concerns about the growing gap between rich and poor clubs. However, it has also helped to raise the profile of football around the world and make it a more attractive proposition for players and fans.
