From oil tycoons to billionaire business moguls, the Premier League is home to some of the wealthiest and most powerful owners in world football. But who are these individuals behind the clubs we love to support? In this blog post, we delve into the lives and backgrounds of some of the most influential figures in English football.
Premier League Owners List
The Premier League is one of the most prestigious football leagues in the world, attracting top players and coaches from all corners of the globe. In this section, we will take a closer look at the current owners of all 20 Premier League clubs and delve into their backgrounds, net worth, and how they have impacted their teams.
1. Arsenal – Stan Kroenke
American businessman Stan Kroenke has been majority owner of Arsenal since 2018 after acquiring shares from other shareholders. With an estimated net worth of $10 billion, he also owns several sports teams including LA Rams in NFL and Denver Nuggets in NBA. Under his ownership, Arsenal has seen significant investment in players and infrastructure.
2. Aston Villa – Nassef Sawiris & Wes Edens
Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and American investor Wes Edens jointly own Aston Villa since 2018. With a combined net worth of over $10 billion, they have injected substantial funds into the club leading to their return to Premier League in 2019 after three years in Championship.
3. Brighton & Hove Albion – Tony Bloom
Tony Bloom is a British businessman who bought majority shares of Brighton & Hove Albion in 2009 when the club was struggling financially. Under his ownership, Brighton has gone through a remarkable transformation with promotions to both Championship and Premier League for the first time in its history.
4. Burnley – Mike Garlick & John Banaszkiewicz
Mike Garlick has been chairman at Burnley since 2016 while John Banaszkiewicz joined him as co-chairman in 2020 following major investment by ALK Capital group. The duo’s financial backing helped Burnley secure its position as a stable Premier League club despite limited resources.
5. Chelsea – Roman Abramovich
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and has since transformed the club into a European powerhouse with significant investments in players, coaches, and infrastructure. With a net worth of over $12 billion, he continues to be one of the most influential owners in the Premier League.
6. Crystal Palace – Steve Parish, Josh Harris & David Blitzer
Steve Parish is the chairman at Crystal Palace while American businessmen Josh Harris and David Blitzer became co-owners after investing in 2015. Their investments have helped stabilize the club’s finances and establish them as a solid mid-table team in the Premier League.
7. Everton – Farhad Moshiri
British-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri acquired majority shares at Everton in 2016 after selling his shares at Arsenal. With an estimated net worth of $2 billion, he has invested heavily in players and facilities to help Everton challenge for European qualification.
8. Fulham – Shahid Khan
Shahid Khan is a Pakistani-American billionaire who bought Fulham in 2013. He has since invested heavily in players and facilities, leading to the club’s promotion back to Premier League in 2020 after a year in Championship.
9. Leeds United – Andrea Radrizzani
Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani bought Leeds United in 2017 and has since overseen their return to Premier League after 16 years. With investments in players and infrastructure, he aims to establish Leeds as a top club in England once again.
10. Leicester City – Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is the son of late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who bought Leicester City in 2010. Following his father’s tragic death, Aiyawatt took over as chairman and has continued his father’s legacy by investing in players and guiding the team to their historic Premier League title win in 2016.
11. Liverpool – John W. Henry & Tom Werner
American businessmen John W. Henry and Tom Werner bought Liverpool FC through their investment company Fenway Sports Group (FSG) in 2010. Under their ownership, Liverpool has seen significant success on the field with investments in players and state-of-the -art facilities.
12. Manchester City – Sheikh Mansour
Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, bought Manchester City in 2008 and has since transformed the club into one of the biggest in Europe with heavy investments in players and infrastructure. With an estimated net worth of over $20 billion, he continues to be one of the most influential owners in European football.
13. Manchester United – The Glazer Family
The Glazer family, led by brothers Joel and Avram, acquired Manchester United in 2005 through their investment company Red Football Limited. Despite facing criticism from fans for their ownership model, they have overseen a successful period for the club with multiple Premier League titles and Champions League triumphs.
14. Newcastle United – The Mohammed Bin Salman Group (MBS)
Newcastle United is currently owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The deal was approved by Premier League in 2021 after several months of scrutiny and controversy.
15. Nottingham Forest – Evangelos Marinakis
Evangelos Marinakis, a Greek businessman, bought Nottingham Forest in 2017. He also owns Olympiacos in Greece and has invested heavily in players to help Forest challenge for promotion to Premier League.
16. Sheffield United – Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ed
Saudi Arabian businessman Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ed took over Sheffield United in 2013 after investing heavily in the club as part of his business portfolio.
17. Southampton – Gao Jisheng
In 2017, Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng acquired majority shares at Southampton and became the club’s chairman. He has since invested in players and infrastructure to help Southampton establish themselves as a stable Premier League club.
18. Tottenham Hotspur – ENIC International Ltd
Tottenham Hotspur is owned by ENIC International Ltd, an investment company founded by Joe Lewis in 1982. With major investments in players and their state-of-the-art stadium, they have established themselves as a top club in England.
19. West Ham United – David Sullivan & David Gold
David Sullivan and David Gold are British businessmen who acquired majority shares at West Ham United in 2010. Under their ownership, the club has seen significant investments, including moving to a new stadium and signing top players.
20. Wolverhampton Wanderers – Fosun International Ltd
Wolverhampton Wanderers is owned by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International Ltd, led by Guo Guangchang. The company acquired the club in 2016 and has since invested heavily in players, leading to their return to Premier League after six years away.
Top 5 Richest Premier League Owners
The Premier League is known for its high-intensity matches and star-studded lineups, but behind every successful club, there is a wealthy owner providing financial backing. In this section, we will take a closer look at the top 5 richest Premier League owners.
1. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan – Manchester City
The Emirati royal family member and half-brother of the current President of the UAE tops our list with an estimated net worth of $30 billion. He took over Manchester City in 2008 and has since transformed them into one of the most successful clubs in Europe. Under his ownership, City has won four Premier League titles and numerous domestic cups.
2. Roman Abramovich – Chelsea
Russian billionaire and industrialist Roman Abramovich purchased Chelsea FC in 2003 for £140 million. With a net worth estimated at $14 billion, he has invested heavily in players to establish Chelsea as a powerhouse in English football. Since his takeover, the club has won five Premier League titles and their first Champions League trophy.
3. Stan Kroenke – Arsenal
American businessman Stan Kroenke became majority shareholder of Arsenal FC in 2011 after acquiring shares from former director Danny Fiszman’s estate. With an estimated net worth of $10 billion, Kroenke has been criticized by fans for prioritizing profits over on-field success. However, under his ownership Arsenal has still managed to win three FA Cups.
4. Nassef Sawiris – Aston Villa
Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris became co-owner of Aston Villa FC in 2018 along with American businessman Wes Edens after purchasing a majority stake for £56 million. His investment helped the club return to the Premier League after being relegated to the Championship in 2016. With an estimated net worth of $8 billion, Sawiris is also the CEO of one of the largest construction companies in Egypt.
5. John W. Henry – Liverpool
American businessman and investor John W. Henry took over Liverpool FC in 2010 after purchasing it for £300 million. With an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, he has invested heavily in players and infrastructure, leading to the club’s first Premier League title in 2020 after a 30-year drought. Under his ownership, Liverpool has also won the Champions League twice.
Conclusion
Premier League owners play a crucial role in the success and growth of their respective clubs. It is important for these owners to prioritize long-term stability and sustainability rather than short-term financial gains. With responsible ownership, we can continue to witness the excitement and competitiveness that makes the Premier League one of the most popular leagues in world football.
FAQs
Club ownership can happen in various ways such as purchasing shares, buying out existing shareholders, or being gifted shares. However, the process is not easy and requires approval from the Football Association (FA), the governing body of English football.
No. The FA has strict regulations on who can own a Premier League club. Owners must undergo rigorous checks to ensure they have no criminal background or connections with illegal activities.
Yes, currently more than half of the clubs in the league are owned by non-British entities or individuals. This trend has been increasing over recent years with international investment becoming more prominent in modern football.