Manchester United has a new co-owner in the form of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose company Ineos will control the football operations at the club.
Ratcliffe has completed his acquisition of 25 per cent of the club's class B shares and 25 per cent of the club's Class A shares, in a deal which fans hope will turn around their fortunes.
Since 2005, The club has been owned by the Glazer family – the six children of the late Malcolm Glazer – Avram, Joel, Kevin, Bryan, Darcie and Edwards, each taking an equal share of a 9 per cent stake owned by their father after his death in 2014.
Bloomberg estimates he is worth £18.6 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people in Britain.
But who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe? Here is everything we know.
Who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe?
The 71-year-old was born in Failsworth, Greater Manchester. His father was a joiner and his mother was an accounts office worker. Jim and his family moved to East Yorkshire when he was 10. He lived there up until he was 18.
He attended the University of Birmingham and graduated in 1974.
How did Sir Jim Ratcliffe make his money?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe made his fortune in the chemicals industry. He was a co-founder of Inspec, and in 1998, his fortunes flew when he went on to buy out Inspec and form Ineos. His company sells a diverse range of products, from synthetic oils and plastics to solvents used to make insulin and antibiotics.
Today, he still owns two-thirds of Ineos, which has an estimated turnover of $80 billion (£59.3 billion).
He also has a history of sports ownership. Jim owns FC Lausanne-Sport, a Swiss Super League football club and the Team Sky cycling franchise (Team Ineos).
In 2019, he was interested in sealing a deal to buy Chelsea Football Club, but was unwilling to meet Roman Abramovich’s £2.5 billion estimation of the club, moving on to buy Nice instead.
Outside of sport, Ratcliffe has previously owned two super yachts but still has the 78-metre long Hampshire II yaucht. He also owns 50 per cent of the Pig Hotels business group.
Where does Sir Jim Ratcliffe live?
In September 2020, Sir Jim moved to tax-free Monaco, where it is estimated that he will save up to £4 billion a year on tax payments. He also has a property in Hampshire and spends time in both nations.
Is Sir Jim Ratcliffe married and does he have children?
Sir Jim married Amanda Townson in 1985 but they later divorced in 1995. They have two sons, George and Samuel. Jim also has one daughter, from a previous relationship, with Maria Alessia Maresca, an Italian tax lawyer. His current partner is Catherine Polli.
