Each year FourFourTwo magazine produces their ‘Football Rich List’ detailing the 100 riches players involved in British football.
After a year of change in the hierachy of Anfield there’s a few changes in the richest men involved in Liverpool FC; out go departed chairman David Moores and former shareholder Steve Morgan who has since become Wolves chairman, in come new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
Players wise, Steven Gerrard is the only current player in the top 100, landing at 92nd place with an estimated worth of ₤15m. The 27 year old Reds captain is reportedly on ₤120,000 per week since his new deal in May, with endorsements with adidas (₤1m) and Persil (₤1.5m) per season. The success of his autobiography also helped boost his bank balance.
The top 20 players list features one other Red – new boy Fernando Torres ranks as the 19th richest footballer in the UK with an estimated worth of ₤10m. The 23 year old Spaniard allegedly took a pay cut to join the Reds this summer and is now on ₤90k per week as opposed to ₤100k at Atletico.
Ex-Red and property investor Robbie Fowler ranks at 73rd overall with a worth of ₤30m. Fowler made his money in racehorses, many big money moves, a Nike boot deal, 15 years of top salaries, over 80 properties and his own company ‘Robbbie Fowler Sports Promotions’.
The Reds owners Gillett and Hicks come in at 31st and 21st respectively – with a combined estimated worth of ₤750m.
Here’s how FourFourTwo profile our two owners:
George Gillett – Age 69 – Estimated worth: ₤250m
Gillett bought the Reds in March for ₤220m plus ₤50m of debt, having already invested in many US sports. After failing to buy the NBA’s Denver Nuggett’s in 2000, he grabbed an 80% share in NHL outfit Montreal Canadiens and their home for ₤130m. He recently added the American stock car racing team to his portfolio while his Gillett Entertainment Group produces more than 700 sporting and entertainment events in venues throughout North America.
Tom Hicks – Age 61 – Estimated worth: ₤500m
The son of a Texas radio station owner, Hicks went into finance specifically private equity and made fortunes for his investors and himself with takeovers of soft drinks companies such as Dr. Pepper and 7 Up. These deals turned $88m of investors’ money into $1.3 billion in just 18 months.
He later started his own company Hicks Holdings, with interest as disparate as pet food and electronics. Hicks moved from the business pages to the sports section in December 1995 when he bought the NHL’s Dallas Stars for $82m. In June 1998 he took over the MLB’s Texas Rangers paying $250m from an investment group that included then-Texas governor George W. Bush. In February 2007 Hicks and Gillett took over LFC in a near $220m deal, they have pledged to build a new stadium at Stanley Park.
Success with Liverpool should see his Forbes valuation of ₤500m soar.
