Net Worth: $500 million Owns: The New York Mets (MLB) It seems that real estate development and having a lot of money go hand in hand. The people with that sort of money aren’t just fans of a sports team, they own one. Now that’s when you know you’re in the big leagues. Literally. The soon-to-be 83-year-old businessman Fred Wilpon is one of these people. And he is the main shareholder of one of the most instantly recognizable sports teams in the world: the New York Mets.
Currently, his son Jeff serves as the team’s COO – we have no doubt that Fred gets on down to the matches when he can though! But with great money and responsibility, there can be some illicit dealings – poor Wilpon got caught up in the now-legendary Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme in 2008, which saw a massive case of stock and securities fraud. It cost him a crazy $700 million, which impacted the Mets themselves.
Clark Hunt
Net Worth: $2 billion Owns: Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are pretty iconic. With their easily recognizable mascot and logo, they’re one of the best known in the NFL. Their owner is next up on our list, and it’s Clark Hunt, founder and major investor in the MLS (Major League Soccer). A sporting man through and through, Hunt chairs the Hunt Sports Group, which oversees the running of the soccer team, FC Dallas.
As to where his solid funding comes from? Well, his grandfather was H.L. Hunt, an oil tycoon who, at one stage, was one of the richest men in the United States. He, in fact, inherited the Chiefs – quite the inheritance! It seems that it actually went to a good guy, who has a keen interest in the sports team and its day-to-day runnings.
Hasso Plattner
Net Worth: $13.1 billion Owns: San Jose Sharks The 75-year-old German billionaire Hasso Plattner is a renowned businessman, known for co-founding SAP SE software company. His commitment to economics and the sciences has also garnered him international recognition. As well as his tech pursuits, he has a keen sporting interest and owns the NFL team, the San Jose Sharks. He also dabbles in sailing and golfing.
Plattner has had strong connections with South Africa over the years, and not only spends a lot of time living there but also makes charitable donations frequently. He’s particularly supportive in the battle against AIDS as well as in promoting education, donating to Cape Town University and KwaZulu Natal University.
Stephen Ross
Net Worth: $10.3 billion Owns: Miami Dolphins The owner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team clearly doesn’t like to share. We can only imagine the type of child he was in the sandbox. Why are we being so judgy? Well, Ross doesn’t just part own the Dolphins, he owns 95% of them! The wealthy real estate developer has a passion for the team, so when the time came around, he pounced.
Anyhow, the man behind The Related Companies, a global real estate firm founded in 1972, has decided that between the NFL and the Drone Racing League, sport is where he wants to invest his “fun” money. The University of Michigan graduate is very educated, holding both a J.D and LLM. Fun fact: he owns Hard Rock Stadium, and his company built the Time Warner Center.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
Net Worth: $5.9 billion Owns: Leicester City F.C. Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is a Thai business tycoon, and yes, we’re glad we don’t have to pronounce his name and can just spell it out. The CEO of King Power company, the Bangkok-born billionaire was born into money and took over the family business when his father tragically passed in an unfortunate helicopter accident recently.
As well as inheriting the company and the $6 billion along with it, he also got his father’s stake in Leicester City F.C., as well as OH Leuven. The reason King Power is so huge is because it is a main retail group in Thailand, founded by Aiyawatt’s father. Fun fact: the retail tycoon is actually an ordained monk!