There has been common argument on who owns Chelsea Football Club to as whether it’s a one man ownership or group of people.
In these article, we’ll break you through the real owner of Chelsea Football Club and his net worth.
Chelsea Football Club is an English professional football club based in Fulham, West London.
Founded in 1905, by Gus Mears who run the club until 1912 when he died leaving the club to his descendants.
Gus Mears nephew Brian Mears continue to own the club until 1982 when he sold the club to Ken Bates for £1m.
During Bates ownership in mid 1990s, Chelsea fan Matthew Harding became the club director and loaned the club £26 million to buy new players and build the new North stand.
Who owns Chelsea FC
Chelsea Football Club is one of the few clubs to have changed ownership over three times.
Chelsea ownership begin from the Mears family whom founded the club to the Roman billionaire and now Todd Boehly Consortium.
Though the era of the Roman billionaire at the moment still stands as the best era of the blues and her fans.
However, it’s sad how the Roman era at the Stamford Bridge came to an end due to Russia-Ukraine battle.
Now, let’s dive into the different era of ownership and the club’s achievement during the period.
Sit back as you read and enticing era’s of the Chelsea Football Club and how the different owners managed the club.
The Roman Abramovic Takeover (2003 – 2022)
In July 2003, the recent Chelsea owner and Russia billionaire Roman Arkadyevich Abramovic bought over 50% share of the club.
In the following week, Abramovic bought about almost all the remaining 12,000 shareholders completing a £140 million takeover.
During Abramovic takeover, the club is owing a £100 million including a £75 million Eurobond in 1997 during Bates regime.
Of which the £75 million is meant to purchase the freehold of Stamford Bridge and fund the redevelopment of the stadium.
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According to Bruce Buck, the loan had an interest fee of 9% which amount to about £7 million a year which the club were struggling to pay an installment due for July 2003.
Roman Abramovic paid off the installment debt after buying the club but outstanding debt on Eurobond was yet to be fully paid until 2008 with no external debt on the Club.
Afterward, Abramovic changed the ownership name to Chelsea FC plc under parent company Fordstam Limited which is managed and controlled by him.
Fun Facts about Roman Abramovic
Here are some facts you may not know about the Chelsea owner.
- Abramovic has three Nationality of Russia, Israel and Portugal.
- He was an orphan since his childhood age and dropped out of college.
- Abramovic had married and divorce three times.
- Abramovic’s net worth as of 31/03/2022 was $8.3B (#280 in world richest list)
- He owns the second largest luxury yatch in the world
