Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Fortune Takes a £6.5 Billion Hit Amid Manchester United Overhaul

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the co-owner of Manchester United and founder of Ineos, has seen a significant downturn in his wealth, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List. His fortune has reportedly decreased by £6.473 billion, representing a quarter of his total wealth, falling from £23.519 billion to £17.046 billion over the past 12 months.

Ratcliffe’s Ineos group acquired a 27.7 percent stake in Manchester United for £1.25 billion in February 2024, taking control of football operations at the club. Since then, his tenure has been marked by a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at addressing the club’s concerning financial situation. These measures have included reported job cuts, increases in ticket prices, and reductions in spending across various departments.

Despite these austerity drives, Ratcliffe has also outlined ambitious plans for the future of Manchester United, including a potential £2 billion project to build a new 100,000-seater stadium near Old Trafford. He has defended the “unpopular decisions” made, stating they were necessary to prevent the club from facing severe financial difficulties.

Interestingly, this substantial decrease in Ratcliffe’s wealth coincides with a challenging season for Manchester United on the pitch. The team currently sits in 16th place in the Premier League with only two games remaining and faces Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, a match that represents their last chance to secure silverware and Champions League qualification for next season.

While the exact reasons for the significant drop in Ratcliffe’s net worth are not solely attributed to his investment in Manchester United and likely involve the broader performance of his Ineos group, it underscores a turbulent period both on and off the field for the British billionaire and the iconic football club he now partly controls.