Football's Wealthiest Club Owners and Highest-Paid Players
Some of the wealthiest individuals and groups in the world have invested heavily in football clubs, turning the sport into a playground for big money. Among these owners, a few stand out for their massive fortunes and extensive club portfolios.
- Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF): Owners of Newcastle United with an estimated $696 billion in assets, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. They also own clubs like Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr.
- Sheikh Mansour: The man behind Manchester City and several other clubs including Bahia, Girona, Lommel, Melbourne City, Montevideo City Torque, Mumbai City, New York City, Palermo, Shenzhen Peng City, Troyes, and Yokohama F. Marinos. His personal wealth is estimated at around $22.6 billion.
- Red Bull GmbH: This company owns or holds stakes in multiple teams worldwide such as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, Leeds United, Paris FC, FC Liefering, TV Omiya Ardija, and Red Bull Bragantino. Their net worth is around $21.8 billion.
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Part-owner of Manchester United, listed as the UK's seventh-richest man with a net worth of roughly $17 billion, despite recent adjustments.
- David Tepper: Owner of Charlotte FC with an estimated fortune of $16 billion.
Highest-Earning Current Players
The financial rewards for current football players reflect their global appeal and commercial power. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the pack by a wide margin.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: Tops the list with total earnings around $218 million, making him the highest-paid athlete across all sports according to Forbes and InsiderMedia.
- Lionel Messi: Comes in second with estimated earnings of about $103 million.
- Neymar: Holds third place with approximately $84 million in earnings.
- Karim Benzema: Fourth on the list with close to $79 million.
- Kylian Mbappe: Rising fast, especially after his transfer from PSG to Real Madrid, with earnings near $69 million.
