Anyone who follows soccer knows the massive sums of money the sport generates. You only have to look at the enormous transfer fees clubs spend on acquiring elite players and the astronomical salaries those players command. It is not only the top-tier clubs and players swimming in cash because some of the world’s wealthiest individuals and organizations own soccer teams. In fact, the top five richest soccer team owners have a combined net worth of $744.5 billion! Here are those five mega-wealthy people.
Public Investment Fund (Newcastle United) – Net Worth: $620 billion
In 2021, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is backed by Saudi Arabia made headlines when it purchased an 80% stake in English Premier League team Newcastle United. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairperson of PIF manages approx $620 billion in assets which makes it one of the largest sovereign wealth funds.
After the PIF takeover, Newcastle United club instantly became one of the wealthiest clubs in soccer history. The best online sports betting sites slashed the odds of Newcastle winning a major title despite “the Magpies” being perennial underachievers. The new owners invested a hefty amount in improving the team but the Premier League’s financial rules have hamper PIF’s ability to pump obscene sums of money.
Although Newcastle has yet to challenge the Premier League’s elite, the club from the North East’s future is bright, and foundations are being laid to help Newcastle become a dominant European force one day.
Francois-Henri Pinault (Stade Rennais) – Net Worth: $42 billion
The second super-rich soccer club owner may surprise many because Francois-Henri Pinault owns a team that is not considered glamorous or successful. Pinault is one of France’s most powerful businessmen, with a net worth of $42 billion. His company oversees brands such as Balenciaga, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent. He has also owned Stade Rennais since 1998.
Despite being owned by one of the wealthiest individuals in France, Stade Rennais has never won the French league title. They only have the Coupe de France (2018-19) and one appearance in the UEFA Champions League to show for their efforts and vast investment. However, Pinault has spent a small fortune establishing one of France’s best youth academies, and it has produced several notable talents over the years, including several who have gone on to represent France at international level.
Mark Mateschitz (RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls) – Net Worth: $34 billion
Mark Mateschitz is the son of the late Dietrich Mateschitz. After his father’s death, Mateschitz inherited a massive fortune, which increased the Red Bull co-founder‘s fortune to approximately $34 billion. He now oversees Red Bull’s involvement in sports, including RB Leipzig in Germany, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, and the New York Red Bulls in the United States.
Although RB Leipzig rose from the lower divisions of German soccer to compete in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League, Red Bull’s involvement in soccer clubs has been controversial. Red Bull changes the name of the clubs it purchases, plasters its logo on the team shirts, and renames the historic stadiums where those teams play. This blatant disregard for a soccer club’s history has fans of English Championship team Leeds United worried because Red Bull recently bought a minority stake in the club.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed AL Nahyan (Manchester City) – Net Worth: $30 billion
When it comes to wealthy soccer club owners, none have done as good as Sheikh Mansour at the Premier League’s Manchester City. Sheikh Mansour has a personal fortune of $30 billion, mainly derived from the oil industry and his role in the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
Sheikh Mansour took over Manchester City in 2008 and has overseen one of the most incredible rises in soccer history. Manchester City is now one of world soccer’s powerhouses, having won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups, and the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City excels not only on the pitch but also off it. Sheikh Mansour has turned the club into one of the most commercially successful clubs in the world. He has invested millions in local infrastructure, ensuring nearby residents benefit daily from having a successful team on their doorsteps.
David Tepper (Charlotte FC) – Net Worth: $18.5 billion
David Tepper is one of the United States’ wealthiest individuals, with a net worth of $18.5 billion. He has owned the NFL’s Carolina Panthers since May 2018, after he paid $2.2 billion to take control. Many consider Tepper the worst NFL owner in history because the Panthers have endured a torrid time since his ownership began.
In July 2019, Tepper won the right to launch an expansion team in Major League Soccer (MLS). He has always wanted to bring an MLS franchise to Charlotte, and he achieved his goal with a $325 million bid, which is an MLS record. Tepper founded Charlotte FC, and they began competing in the MLS in 2022. The team finished 19th out of 28 in its debut season and 18th out of 29 teams in 2023. Charlotte FC has not improved this season.
Conclusion
Soccer club ownership has evolved from wise businesspeople with strong contacts in the business world to billionaires and powerful investment groups that use their vast wealth to shape teams’ futures.
While Manchester City’s Sheikh Mansour is a stand-out example of how to run a soccer club, other mega-rich owners need to improve.
Newcastle United is the richest club in world soccer, but the Premier League’s rules prevent them from spending silly money on the best players. Stade Rennais has an owner with a $42 billion fortune, but he prefers to invest in youth rather than pay over the odds to improve the French team’s squad.
Then you have David Tepper, who fires head coaches like they are going out of fashion, all while overseeing a dramatic falloff in results in his NFL endeavors while watching his MLS soccer team fail to improve during its three-season existence.
While having more money than you know what to do with can be helpful in the soccer world, having all the money in the world does not always guarantee success.
