Football's Wealthiest Owners and Top-Earning Players
When it comes to football club ownership, a mix of individuals and investment funds dominate the financial scene. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, leads with assets estimated at around £696 billion, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. This institutional wealth far surpasses individual fortunes but is worth noting here.
Red Bull GmbH also features prominently. They own several clubs worldwide, including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls, while holding minority stakes in clubs like Leeds United and Paris FC. Their valuation stands near £21.8 billion.
Sheikh Mansour, owner of Manchester City and part of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates, is valued individually at about £22.6 billion. His football empire includes clubs across multiple continents, such as Melbourne City and New York City FC.
On the UK front, Sir Jim Ratcliffe holds partial ownership in Manchester United. Despite recent adjustments cutting £6.5 billion off his net worth, he's still worth roughly £17 billion. Meanwhile, David Tepper, owner of Charlotte FC, is estimated at £16 billion.
- PIF (owners of Newcastle United and other clubs): £696bn
- Sheikh Mansour (Manchester City and others): £22.6bn
- Red Bull GmbH (multiple clubs worldwide): £21.8bn
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Manchester United part-owner): £17bn
- David Tepper (Charlotte FC): £16bn
Top Earning Footballers Right Now
Cristiano Ronaldo stands out as the highest-paid player globally. InsiderMedia reports his earnings at an eye-watering £218 million, with Forbes ranking him top across all sports disciplines.
Lionel Messi follows, bringing in approximately £103 million. After them, the order becomes less clear but generally includes Neymar and Karim Benzema, who earn £84 million and £79 million respectively.
Kylian Mbappe has climbed the ranks following his move from PSG to Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer, now earning around £69 million.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: £218m
- Lionel Messi: £103m
- Neymar: £84m
- Karim Benzema: £79m
- Kylian Mbappe: £69m
