Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Britain's richest sports owners following Team Sky takeover

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his acquisition of Team Sky. With an estimated net worth of £21billion, the 66-year-old businessman is now the wealthiest owner of a sports team in the UK.

The petrochemicals tycoon was listed as Britain’s Richest Man by the Sunday Times in 2018 and leaps ahead of a number of British-based football club owners in the sporting rich list.

Ratcliffe has notably also donated £110million to Sir Ben Ainslee’s America’s Cup sailing team, and rumoured to be interested in buying Chelsea Football Club.

But how does his wealth stack up against other billionaire sports club owners?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe – Team Ineos (Cycling)

Net Worth: £21bn (Forbes)

The billionaire’s takeover of the Team Sky will see the team rebrand as Team Ineos after his successful firm.

Lakshmi Mittal and Family – QPR (Football)

Net Worth: £14.7bn (Sunday Times, 2018)

The Indian Steel magnate owns an 11% share in QPR having been involved with the club since 2007.

Mittal’s son-in-law Amit Bhatia was appointed club chairman in 2018.

Roman Abramovich – Chelsea (Football)

Net Worth: US$13.2bn (£10bn) (Forbes)

The Russian-Israeli businessman took control of Chelsea Football Club in 2003, ushering an era of unprecedented success at the club.

Abramovich is rumoured to be looking to sell up, with Ratcliffe reportedly interested in buying the club.

Stan Kroenke – Arsenal (Football)

Net Worth: US$8.8bn (£6.7bn) (Forbes)

The American businessman’s KSE holding company controls not only Arsenal but a number of US teams across a range of different sports.

Already owning 67% of the North London club, Kroenke struck a deal to buy Russian metals magnate Alisher Usmanov’s 30% stake last summer.

READ MORE: How Arsenal’s hierarchy remains rudderless after failing to reunite Emery with Monchi

READ MORE: Team Sky announces takeover by Britain’s richest man

Shahid Khan – Fulham (Football)

Net Worth: US$6.9bn(£5.2bn) (Forbes)

The Pakistani-American billionaire businessman is the owner of NFL franchise Jacksonville Jaguars as well as the Premier League strugglers.

Khan is also lead investor in professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling and has previously expressed interest in purchasing Wembley Stadium with possible view to establishing a permanent UK-based NFL franchise.

Joe Lewis – Tottenham Hotspur (Football)

Net Worth: US$5.2bn (3.9bn) (Forbes)

Trader and art collector Lewis is owner of the ENIC group investment company, which in turn owns Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and family – Leicester City (Football)

Net Worth: US$5bn(£3.8bn) (Forbes)

Aiyawatt is the son of late Thai duty-free mogul Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in October 2018.

The family purchased Leicester in 2010, leading the club to an unexpected Premier League title win in 2016.

Mike Ashley – Newcastle United (Football)

Net Worth: £2.4bn (Sunday Times, 2018)

British billionaire retail entrepreneur Ashley made his fortune selling sportswear before purchasing Newcastle in 2007.

Ashley also owned shares in Scottish club Rangers until 2017.

Farhad Moshiri – Everton (Football)

Net Worth: $2bn (Forbes)

Moshiri owns and has shares in numerous steel and energy companies in the UK and Russia, as well as a 68.6% stake in Everton.

The British-Iranian businessman previously held shares in Arsenal alongside business partner Usmanov.

David Sullivan – West Ham United (Football)

Net Worth: £1.1.bn (Sunday Times, 2018)

The Hammers’ co-owner started his career in media, publishing a number of adult-orientated newspapers, magazines and films before moving into football.

Sullivan, alongside David Gold, purchased a controlling stake in West Ham in 2010.