Top 10 richest football club owners in the world

Being one of the most watched sports worldwide, football is greatly sought after and extremely valuable. Thus, it's no surprise that some of the richest individuals in the world have made large investments in soccer teams, thereby altering the course of the game and proving the value of money in modern football's explosive development.

Most of these rich investors are either commercial magnates with hundreds of millions or even billions, family businesses, or sovereign wealth funds. These tycoons drive modern football's marketing and provide teams significant financial backing as well. 

This piece emphasises the financial origins, investment policies, and managerial skills of the richest football club owners in the world, all of which have helped to define the paths of their different clubs. At the same time, we will examine how their significant financial resources will affect the future direction of the football sector. 

1. Public Investment Fund (PIF)

Club(s): Newcastle, Al Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al Ahli, Al Nassr

Owners of Newcastle, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund valued at $925 billion, are the richest football club owners in the world. Among the several fields where PIF has made investments are energy, technology, real estate, and entertainment.

Following their acquisition of Newcastle United in 2021, PIF heavily invested in the Premier League team, launching a new era. Since the possession, the club's expenditure on transfers has risen and exceeded £130 million in the summer transfer window of 2022 alone.

Newcastle United now boasts a far stronger squad thanks to this large investment and now competes at the upper echelon of the Premier League.

PIF also owns several clubs in Saudi Arabia including Al Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Nassr. 

Beyond football, PIF's global diversification of its investing approach guarantees the fund's long-term viability. Consider, for example, its evolution into one of the top sovereign wealth funds worldwide through long-term investments in the software company Uber and the clean energy sector.

2. Mark Mateschitz (Red Bull Group)

Club(s): FC Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, RB Leipzig, FC Liefering, Red Bull Bragantino, RB Omiya Ardija

Mark Mateschitz, the world's second-wealthiest soccer club owner, inherited his fortune from his father, Dietrich Mateschitz, who was renowned for his success in the beverage industry and immense fortune thanks to co-founding the Red Bull Group. The football teams RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls found his bequest to be a lifeline even following his death. 

Currently managing assets of around $37.9 billion across several sectors, including sports, technology, and culture, the football business model of Red Bull Group is special in that it uses brand marketing to simultaneously link the company's image with its clubs. 

RB Leipzig, which has developed quickly since its 2010 debut to rank among the best Bundesliga teams and a multiple-time UEFA Champions League participant, exemplifies the group's growth. 

Crucially involved in Major League Soccer (MLS), the New York Red Bulls, on the other hand, are rapidly extending their influence over the North American market. 

Red Bull's worldwide branding approach and financial backing have helped the business to flourish. The Red Bull Group has improved its own market position by supporting its teams and using sports as a marketing tool. 

3. Sheikh Mansour (City Football Group)

Club(s): Manchester City, Girona, Palermo, Troyes, Lommel, New York City FC, Mumbai City, Melbourne City, Yokohama F. Marinos, Shenzhen Peng City, Montevideo City, Torque Bahia 

With a net worth of almost $22 billion, renowned member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, Sheikh Mansour, is among the most popular billionaires worldwide. City Football Group, led by the Arab magnate, bought Manchester City Football Club in 2008, making him the richest football club owner at the time. They are also the owners of Manchester City, Girona, Palermo, Troyes, Lommel, New York City FC, Mumbai City, Melbourne City, Yokohama F. Marinos, Shenzhen Peng City, Montevideo City, and Torque Bahia.

Manchester City have enjoyed an amazing comeback ever since, quickly rising to be a major player in the Premier League and Europe. The Cityzen's large expenditures on stadium building and player acquisitions have been greatly aided by Sheikh Mansour. For example, the club has invested funds in creating the modern youth training facility, "City Football Academy," which has produced stars like Sancho, Palmer, and Foden. 

Thanks also to Mansour's financial assistance, Manchester City have been able to maintain an active transfer market presence and attract outstanding players like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.  

Sheikh Mansour owns real estate and banks, but most of his riches are derived from the UAE's oil and gas sector, and continuous financial support of Manchester City is assured by this varied investment portfolio. 

Manchester City is today among the most valuable teams in the world thanks to Sheikh Mansour's direction towards hitherto unheard-of success. 

4. François-Henri Pinault

Club(s): Stade Rennais

François-Henri Pinault is the global CEO and owner of the Luxury company Kering and the French football team Rennes. Thanks to the Kering Group, comprising Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga, the Frenchman personally has a net worth of roughly $31.3 billion. 

The primary area of focus for Pinault on the long-term growth of the club is Rennes' youth training program. Stars like Ousmane Dembélé have been developed here thanks in great part to Pinault's financial contributions which have also improved the club's facilities, thereby raising team competitiveness. 

Despite Rennes's financial situation not matching those of elite powers, Pinault's meticulous management and resource backing have guaranteed the club's place in Ligue 1 and, to an extent, European competitions. 

5. David Tepper

Club(s): Charlotte FC 

David Tepper, owner of the Charlotte Football Club, is a well-known American millionaire and hedge fund manager who also ranks on the NFL franchise owners rich list. His personal net worth of $21 billion is mostly derived from Appaloosa Management, the business he founded. 

Launching Charlotte FC with his own funds in 2020, Tepper has been instrumental in ensuring the team's success ever since. From establishing a modern home stadium to increasing the club's appeal, he has mostly invested his funds in the facilities and business operations. 

Under Tepper's supervision, Charlotte FC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) affiliate, has rapidly become a strong emerging star in American professional soccer. 

6. Stan Kroenke

Club(s): Arsenal FC

Owner of Arsenal FC, Stan Kroenke, is estimated to be worth $16 billion, and by way of his company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), he owns several sports clubs, including the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, making him one of the world's richest sports team owners. Kroenke is also one of NFL's wealthiest owners and also features on the NBA owners rich list.

Kroenke gave Arsenal significant financial support when he formally bought majority ownership of the team in 2011. However, some supporters have questioned his dedication to long-term growth, and his management style has drawn criticism, particularly in light of dwindling team performance and transfer budget fluctuations. 

Over the past few years, Kroenke has increased his Arsenal ownership. One such is the summer of 2022, when Arsenal paid more than £110 million on three players, therefore building the foundation for a potential Premier League championship contendership comeback. 

Kroenke is seeking to establish Arsenal as a classic powerhouse in the Premier League by always pouring money into it and giving the development of the squad first priority. 

7. Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Clubs: Manchester United

With a net worth of $15.9 billion, Jim Ratcliffe, the British chemical magnate, has amassed his wealth on the success of the Ineos Group and is today the seventh richest football club owner in the world. Apart from his keen financial sense, he is well-known for his audacious sports sector investment approach. 

From Manchester United to Nice Football Club, Ratcliffe's impact covers the central stage of European football, although his choices and tactics have provoked rather varied responses. 

Ratcliffe formally entered the professional football scene in 2019 when he paid £91 million to buy the French team Nice. His objective was very clear: transform Nice into a team ready for regular European participation. 

In order to improve the team's strength, he extensively invested in infrastructure—including the construction of a modern training centre—and attracted seasoned players in the transfer market. 

However, this aggressive investment approach has not exactly turned out well on the pitch. Nice performed brilliantly in the 2022 French Cup final, but their league performance has been erratic, and six managerial sackings in six years have revealed weaknesses in strategic planning. These challenges have progressively undermined supporters' initial confidence in him. 

Ratcliffe's Manchester United investment has been even more complicated. He bought a 27.7% share in Manchester United for £1 billion in 2023 and promised to commit a further £245 million to upgrade facilities like the Carrington training ground. But this funding wasn't allocated to the transfer market; hence, the team's lineup did not receive instant reinforcement. 

As a result of these lapses, Manchester United's stock price has fallen drastically, and Ratcliffe's share value has dropped by almost half. He implemented a number of cost-cutting policies, including layoffs, pay cuts, and ticket price hikes, in place to handle the financial pressure, which infuriated supporters and resulted in demonstrations. 

Ratcliffe is, however, dedicated to his long-term plan, stressing the club's sustainable development and wanting to guide Manchester United back to the top four of the Premier League over the following four years.

8. Shahid Khan

Club(s): Fulham FC

Shahid Khan has over $11.8 billion in wealth overall and proudly owns Fulham Football Club and the Jacksonville Jaguars, two NFL franchises. 

Khan accumulated a fortune mostly through Flex-N-Gate, his self-founded global automotive supply chain behemoth. 

Shahid Khan revived the long-ailing Fulham Football Club in 2013 upon purchase. Among other infrastructural upgrades, Fulham was able to modernise their Craven Cottage stadium and raise its capacity to satisfy Premier League criteria with his support. 

Fulham might not have the scale or clout of Premier League giants, but Shahid Khan is resolved to keep the team competitive by smart management and investment. Long term, he wants Fulham to be a mid-table team and boost income for the club. 

9. Philip Anschutz

Club(s): Los Angeles Galaxy

Owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy football club, Philip Anschutz, is estimated to be worth $11.06 billion and is the world's ninth richest football owner. Anschutz's wealth comprises large real estate, railroad, and entertainment industry interests. He also founded American Entertainment Group, AEG.

Apart from running several sports teams, this company also manages several world-class venues, including the O2 Arena in London and the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

Having help establish Major League Soccer (MLS), Anschutz has been instrumental in the expansion of soccer in America. He also purchased the Los Angeles Galaxy, made a significant investment in the team, and helped it grow to be a powerhouse in North American football. 

Anschutz's addition of talents like David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimović improved the profile of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Major League Soccer's worldwide commercial value. With their audacious investment strategy, the Galaxy clearly became the best football team in America. 

10. Nasser Al-Khelaifi

Club(s): Paris Saint-Germain

Chairman of France's PSG, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, is estimated to be worth $8.1 billion and is football's tenth richest football owner. He is CEO of Qatar National Media Group as well as Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). 

Following QSI's buyout in 2011, PSG's transfer market spending skyrocketed, propelling them to become among the top powerhouses in Europe. 

Among the great players PSG has acquired are Neymar, Mbappé, and Messi. These additions have significantly raised the team's global impact as well as its competitiveness. 

Al-Khelaifi's management approach, which emphasises commercialisation and brand growth via measures such as digital media innovations and alliances with major sponsors, has helped PSG to become one of the most valuable teams in the world. 

Furthermore, he's working hard to increase Qatar's profile as a possible World Cup host, therefore supporting the nation's sporting objectives greatly.

Al-Khelaifi has employed some of football's wealthiest players including Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.