Money has been spurling in the Premier League over the last fifteen years since Roman Abramovich kick-started it all.
Russia entrepreneur Roman Abramovich kick-started a new wave of overseas billionaire buying Premier League clubs when he purchased Chelsea FC from the hands of Ken Bates in 2003.
That move from the Russian proved a massive hit – enticing other foreign billionaires to invest their huge lump of money on the Premier League clubs, which is an attractive destination for a majority of the players. Businessmen all over the world are keen to help themselves to a slice of the Premier League pie.
There are 12 billionaires owning Premier League clubs currently – all of whom The Sports Rush has ranked by their net worth according to Forbes and The Sunday Times.
Here are the top five Premier League’s richest billionaires owning a club in the England top-tier.
#5 Aston Villa owner – Nassef Sawiris – $6.4 billion
Age: 58
Nationality: Egyptian
Nassef Sawiris was born and brought up in a wealthy family. The Egyptian took over his father’s company Orascom Construction in 1998 as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Upon taking over the company, he split it into two – with one side being construction and other is one of the leading products in the world of nitrogen fertilizers. Sawiris is also the supervisory director of Adidas.
Nassef Sawiris along with Wes Edens bought Aston Villa in January 2018. The Premier League club won promotion to the Premier League in 2019.
Record signing: Wesley — $27.2 million (Club Brugge, 2019).
#4 Wolverhampton Wanderers owner – Guo Guangchang – $6.7 billion
Age: 52
Nationality: Chinese
Guo Guangchang is the founder and chairman of Fosun International, which does business all over the world – their portfolio covering from real estate to pharmaceutics. He donates millions to charity and calls himself the ‘Chinese Warren Buffet’.
The English side were bought by this businessman in 2016. The Molineux has witnessed their side gaining promotion two years later and attracting talents like Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.
Record Signing: Raul Jimenez — $41.2 million (Benfica, 2019).
#3 Arsenal owner – Stan Kroenke – $8.7 billion
Age: 72
Nationality: American
Stan Kroenke married Walmart heiress Ann Walton in 1974, and shortly founded a real estate development firm that built most of it’s properties near Walmart. In the late 1990s, Kroenke ventured into sports when he bought the first sports franchise Denver Nuggets, and owns the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids soccer team, and LA Rams.
The American initially became a shareholder in 2007 and bought the whole of Arsenal last year.
Record Signing: Nicolas Pepe — $87.1 million (LOSC Lille, 2019).
#2 Chelsea FC owner – Roman Abramovich – $12.4 billion
Nationality: Russian
Roman Abramovich made most of his money in oil and metals industry, with the Russian selling his 73% stake in Sifnet to Gazprom for $13 million in 2005.
Today, he still owns stakes in steel giant Evraz and Norilsk, and he’s also the owner of the world’s longest yacht, the 533-foot Eclipse. He bought Chelsea for $140 million in 2003. The Blues are one of the most successful clubs in England ever since, winning the Premier League four times and Champions League once.
Record signing: Kepa Arrizabalaga — $87.1 million (Athletic Bilbao, 2018).
Age: 48
Nationality: Emirati
Sheik Mansour is a member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi and deputy president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Aside from the huge lump of money inherited, Mansour also has stakes in Sky Sports Arabia and Virgin Galactic. He owns numerous soccer clubs including Melbourne City FC, New York City, and Manchester City. He bought the Citizens for $250 million and helped them grow into one of the most attractive clubs in the world by winning several trophies in the process.
Record signing: Rodri – $78.05 (Atletico Madrid, 2019)
