Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s wealth, homes and businesses as the billionaire confirms interest in buying Manchester United

Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is emerging as the frontrunner to be the next owner of Manchester United.

Thought by some to be ‘Britain’s richest man’, Ratcliffe has an extensive business portfolio under his belt and has now officially lodged an interest in purchasing the football club with Raine Group - the bank advising the Premier League side.

The rumours of Ratcliffe’s interest in the club began last year as the Glazer family first revealed they were looking to sell the club they bought in 2005.

Any potential buyer of the club would need to pay a price higher than its estimated value of $4.6 billion - greatly narrowing down any suitors looking to own a football club.

While other clubs like Chelsea FC have been sold to American investors, and Newcastle United being sold to the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Manchester United’s new owner is much closer to home.

One of the richest men in Britain, we look at Jim Ratcliffe’s wealth, homes and his business portfolio in greater scope.

INEOS

Bloomberg’s billionaire index ranks Ratcliffe at 152 out of the 500 richest people in the world. A big chunk of his wealth is tied up in his chemicals company INEOS which has a revenue of $61 billion.

The company was formed by Ratcliffe in 1992 under its original name Inspec and works across the globe to manufacture speciality chemicals and oil products.

Overall, the company is made up of 36 businesses and operates 194 facilities in 29 countries.

The company has a unique set up where around 20 of its businesses are each set up with their own boards and operate almost independently from each other. Ratcliffe is known to sit on their boards from time to time, however.

A notable subsidiary of INEOS is Ineos Automotive Ltd who designed the Ineos Grenadier - an off-road utility vehicle released last year. It was designed to be a modern replacement to the original Land Rover Defender and features similar bodywork.

Sport

INEOS is perhaps best known for its sponsorships of Ineos Grenadiers cycling team and of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team which it is also principal partner for and third equal owner.

However, Manchester United would not be Ratcliffe’s first venture into football either. Under INEOS, he currently is the owner of French Ligue One side OGC Nice in 2019 and Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport. INEOS is also the official sporting partner to the All Blacks New Zealand rugby team.

A purchase of Manchester United would see Ratcliffe and INEOS continue a long association with sport.

Homes

Sir Jim Ratcliffe owns a number of properties including a holiday home in New Forest, Hampshire where he used to permanently reside before changing his official residence to Monaco - a move thought to save him around $4 billion in tax.

As well as Monaco, the INEOS owner has an estate on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland and a hotel resort in the French Alps at Courchevel.

Brexit

Ratcliffe’s success in business has seen him drawn into politics at times - notably during the 2016 referendum on European Union membership.

He was a vocal campaigner of the UK leaving the EU but, in the face of being a Brexiter, he has come under fire since the referendum for some of his decisions.

Some have pointed out that his ambitions to leave the EU do not marry up with him switching his permanent residence from Hampshire to Monaco.

Also, it has been pointed out that the Ineos Grenadier is assembled in France and not the UK - despite being heralded as a British heir to the ‘Land Rover’ Defender.

Ratcliffe's previous achievements showcase a succesful track record in business, and Manchester United could well be his next and biggest project yet.