One of the richest individuals in the UK, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has acquired a 25% share in Manchester United, the team he grew up supporting. After a protracted process in which he attempted to purchase the Old Trafford club altogether, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani abandoned his interest, the billionaire acquired a part of the team, valued at an estimated £1.25 billion.
The multinational chemical business Ineos, which he started in 1998 and has experienced exponential development, has contributed to the 71-year-old's claimed net worth of £12.5 billion. He will take on delegated responsibility for the club's football operations. In addition, he plans to contribute a further $300 million (£ 236.7 million) to the club's infrastructure.
Ratcliffe, on the right, owns a variety of sports franchises. The business backed Eliud Kipchoge's attempt to run a sub-two-hour marathon and is the major partner of the Mercedes Formula One team. It also serves as a performance partner to the rugby union teams in New Zealand. After acquiring Ligue 1 club Nice two years after taking over Swiss Super League outfit FC Lausanne-Sport in 2017, Ineos is now trying to expand its football ownership. Ratcliffe's final-ditch £4.25 billion attempt to acquire Chelsea, with whom he had a "split allegiance," was turned down in 2022. Ratcliffe grew up as a Manchester United supporter.
