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English Premier League is the one of the richest sports leagues in the world. As a result, it has no shortage of billionaire investors looking to cash in and enjoy the limelight that comes with owning an EPL club. Billionaire ownership has often resulted in the respective clubs securing huge cash injections improving the club’s performance to the delight of supports. However, that’s not always the case.
Keep on reading to find out more while we all eagerly wait for the new EPL season to start:
Stan Kroenke & Alisher Usmanov – Arsenal
Image Source: thesun.co.uk
Arsenal is owned by parent company Arsenal Holdings plc. The club’s parent company was traditionally owned by descendants of the Bracewell-Smith and Hill-Wood families. However, from 2007, two billionaires Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov began to purchase huge stakes of the company. Currently, 67.09% of the club is owned by Kroenke, 30.4% by Usmanov and 2.87% by minority shareholders. Both Kroenke and Usmanov have made and rejected numerous buyout deals but the club’s ownership battle continues.
Kroenke and Usmanov’s ownership of the club has not been received well by Arsenal faithful. The pair have been fingered as the cause for increased ticket prices while the team’s overall quality declines.
Roman Abramovich – Chelsea
Image Source: skysports.com
In July 2003, Roman Abramovich began purchasing a majority stake of Chelsea. After the dust had settled, the Russian billionaire had forked out £140 million for a more than 90% stake in the club. Passing the 90% threshold, Abramovich delisted the club from AIM on 22 August 2003 and took on the responsibility of £80 million in debt, which he quickly paid.
Chelsea entered a golden era under Abramovich’s ownership securing five league titles, four FA cups and a Champions League title.
Abramovich’s ownership could, however be at risk. A recent standoff between the billionaire and the United Kingdom’s Home Office has seen Abramovich unable to renew his visa. The move has forced the billionaire to put the club’s £1bn stadium upgrade plans on hold leaving many to question whether he’ll look to sell the club.
Sheikh Mansour – Manchester City
Image Source: dailyrecord.co.uk
Manchester City is owned by the richest man in football, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It’s estimated that the Sheikh has an individual bet worth of around £17 billion with over £1 trillion in family wealth. Sheikh Mansour purchased Manchester City in August 2008 for £210 million adding to a portfolio of football clubs that includes Melbourne City F.C and New York City F.C.
Since Sheikh Mansour purchased Manchester City, the club has accumulated annual losses of £535 million. However, £200 million was spent on facility upgrades and additional investments have been made to secure talent. As a result, it’s estimated that the club could be worth as much as £1 billion. Since Sheikh Mansour assumed control of the club, Chelsea has won a respectable 3 Premier League titles and 1 FA cup.
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