Sport is awash with cash these days; from lavish new stadiums to footballers commanding fees north of £100 million, it’s a rich person’s game.
However, even millionaires might struggle to compete with some of the names on this list, as the Daily Star Sport reports on the list’s 10 richest team owners. According to research by OBLG, all the names on this list have their net worth comfortably in the billions.
Four different sports are represented on this list, from Manchester City to the Los Angeles Clippers. Meanwhile, 50% of the owners have cut own some sports team in North America.
Steve Ballmer: £79bn — Hesmashed the record when he acquired the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 for £1.6bn – but that was just a splash in the ocean for the mogul. Ballmer is believed to be the eighth-richest man on the planet.
Carlos Slim: £67bn – Between 2010 and 2013, Forbes ranked Slim as the richest person in the world; these days, he’s been eclipsed by Elon Musk. At least he’ll have second-tier Spanish side Real Oviedo to distract him.
Mukesh Ambani: £60bn—The only cricket owner on the list, Mukesh Ambani, is the chief of the IPL heavyweights Mumbai Indians. And he recently parted ways with £1.5 million to bring English all-rounder Cameron Green to Mumbai.
Francois Pinault & family: £33bn – Yes, you read that right—the second richest football club owner on this list is Stade Rennais’ Francois Pinault—there’s no Manchester City or Newcastle in sight yet. Pinault made his money in fashion by founding Kering.
Sheikh Mansour: £32bn – Sheikh Mansour isn’t just the owner of Manchester City; the Emirati royal is the chief of the City Football Group. Also under his watch are New York City, Melbourne City, and Girona, among many others.
Mohammed bin Salman: £20bn – Mohammed bin Salman is the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns 80% of Newcastle. Bin Salman caused shockwaves last season when he acquired the Magpies, who look revitalised under their ownership.
Daniel Gilbert: £16bn – American businessman Daniel Gilbert owns the BVA side, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Most of Gilbert’s fortune comes from Rocket Companies, a home mortgage lender, where he is believed to own more than 14 billion shares.
Andrea Agnelli & family: £15bn – It’s not been plain sailing for Andrea Agnelli and Juventus in recent months. Away from football, Agnelli’s family holds a controlling position in the holding company Exor, Fiat’s largest shareholder.
David Tepper: £12bn – American billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper clearly loves Carolina, even though he was born in Pittsburgh. Tepper owns their NFL franchise, the Panthers, and MLS side Charlotte FC.
