According to the Sunday Time Rich List, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the bidders for Manchester United, is now the second wealthiest person in the United Kingdom.
With a net worth of £29.688 billion, he is only surpassed by Gopi Hinduja and his family, who are worth £35 billion. Ratcliffe has been engaged in a competition with Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani to acquire the ownership of the Manchester-based club.
Within a year, his chemical empire has experienced substantial growth, boosting his worth by £23.6 billion from the previous estimate of £6.05 billion.
Having been named the wealthiest person in the UK in 2018, Ratcliffe’s acquisition of the Red Devils could further enhance his fortunes.
Must Read: Manchester United’s Takeover Process Risks Running Over Into The Summer
While the fans prefer the Qataris, who aim to purchase 100% of the club and clear the £1 billion debt, Ratcliffe believes he has the capability to finance significant developments.
United’s prospects for rebuilding will receive a boost with Ratcliffe’s revealed net worth of £30 billion. The club is in need of a new or renovated stadium, an upgraded training ground, and new players, all of which Ratcliffe is fully capable of providing.
Despite Sheikh Jassim’s recent bid of approximately £5.5 billion, Ratcliffe’s offer still values the club higher than the Qataris’.
He also proposes a gradual takeover by initially taking a 50% share, allowing the current owners, the Glazer family, to remain on the board for a period of three years.
This approach aligns with the Glazers’ desire to value the club at around £6 billion. Ratcliffe’s offer and his willingness to allow the Glazers to stay could potentially help him in taking over the club this summer.
