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Since the start of the English Premier League as we know it in 1992 the game of football has changed dramatically and in each passing year the amount of money invested in the beautiful game has increased.
Community owned/ fan owned clubs are something of the past and today some of the richest people and families on the planet pull the strings at the best clubs in world football. This is especially evident in the English Premier League where the rise of clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City over the last two decades were hugely built on the financial backing of wealthy owners from outside England.
While FIFA Financial Fair Play regulations have aimed to curb the excessive spending of wealthy club owners, this hasn't stopped teams from building 'super squads' in an aim to achieve both domestic and continental success.
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In July 2003,
Roman Abramovich purchased a majority stake in
Chelsea Football Club and within a short period of time the club progressed from top six challengers to league challengers and eventually league winners under the guidance of Jose Mourinho.
Abramovich, who acquired his wealth chiefly through oil and steel manufacturing, remains the fifth richest club owner in Europe, but he fell to the second richest club owner in England following the arrival of the Abu Dhabi United Group spearheaded by Sheikh Mansour five years later.
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Mansour took over
Manchester City and wasted no time in breaking the British transfer record with the signing of Robinho from Real Madrid. His takeover of the club has coincided with a golden era for the Sky Blues who have won four Premier League titles in the past eight years.
Currently,
Arsenal owner
Stan Kroenke is the third richest owner in the Premier League. The American billionaire, who also owns MLS side Colorado Rapids, the Los Angeles Rams in NFL, the Denver Nuggets in the NBA and the Colorado Avalanche in NHL, hasn't been as willing to spend money on big money signings as those above him on the list.
While the above mentioned club owners' net worth is estimated to be between US$10 million - US$22 billion, reports suggest their wealth will be dwarfed by Newcastle United's impending owners.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is headed up by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is set to complete the takeover of the Magpies from Mike Ashley in coming weeks and according to reports their fortune is around US$320 billion which will make the club not only by far the richest team in England, but in world football.
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