Fans watch on, billionaires cash on – such is the unspoken rule of the football world. There’s no shaking off the football worship culture that prevails today. Revered players get paid millions of dollars to do their job – not just on the field but off it, as well.
But the real winners of the game are not on the field. The real winners are the ones raking in the billions – the football club owners. Let us take a look at the F.C. owners with the biggest bank balances.
Francois Pinault – $37.2 Billion
The French businessman owns Stade Rennais F.C. Francois Pinaultis also the founder of the luxury group Kering and the investment holding company Artémis.
He once described his love for the game, saying, “When I was young, I was a ball-boy.”
Sheikh Mansour – $30 Billion
Emirati businessman Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, also called Sheikh Mansour, is the deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs of the United Arab Emirates. He is also the owner of the famous Manchester City football club.
His investment company, Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), acquired Manchester City in September 2008.
Philip Anschutz – $13.3 Billion
Philip Anschutz, the owner of Anschutz Corp, is the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
He operates across numerous industries, from energy and real estate to sports and entertainment.
Stanley Kroenke – $12.2 Billion
Another American businessman to make it in the top 5 is Enos Stanley Kroenke, often referred to as Stanley Kroenke. He is the billionaire owner of Arsenal F.C.
The American businessman is also a real estate mogul and is the proud owner of some 60 million square feet of real estate through Kroenke Group and T.H.F. Realty.
Robert Kraft – $10.6 Billion
Coming in close is the owner of New England Revolution, American billionaire businessman Robert Kraft.
Kraft is the founder and C.E.O. of Kraft Group, L.L.C., a group of privately held companies in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, and real estate development.
He had once said, “After the love of my family, there’s nothing more important to me than winning football games.”