One of the Premier League’s big six clubs’ owners now ranks within the top 100 wealthiest people on earth

Arsenal‘s American chief Stan Kroenke ranks 99th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with a reported net worth of $20.7billion [£15.9billion].

Arsenal fans once routinely protested against Kroenke’s ownership, but he has helped turn the club back into Premier League contendersGetty

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a daily ranking of the world’s richest people, with Stateside tech trio Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg dominating the top three.

The American tycoon, with his Kroenke Sports and Entertainment firm, has been a shareholder in Arsenal since May 2007 and was appointed to the Board of Directors in September 2008.

In April 2011 KSE became majority shareholder of the Gunners and acquired complete ownership seven years later.

But Arsenal are just one of a list of sports clubs in Kroenke’s portfolio, with a host of championship-winning American franchises also under his control.

That list includes 2021 NFL Super Bowl champions, LA Rams, 2022 NHL Stanley Cup winners Colorado Avalanche and 2023 NBA champions Denver Nuggets.

He also owns lacrosse team Colorado Mammoth, who won their league title in 2022, plus various eSports teams in the United States.

Kroenke’s investments into the US-based teams include a huge $5.95B spend on new home of the Rams, the SoFi Stadium.

It is the most expensive stadium in NFL and features a 120 yard long double-sided 4k HDR video board that hangs over the field and has 80million pixels

Since 2018, when KSE assumed full control of Arsenal, they have invested well, bringing in former player Mikel Arteta as manager and trusting his project, earning an FA Cup triumph and mounting two valiant title charges.

Previously during the Arsene Wenger period the Arsenal faithful complained about the lack of spending, but now the Gunners are prepared to go big by landing current stars Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Ben White.

The Nuggets’ 2023 NBA victory was Kroenke’s most recent title win as a sports club ownerGetty Images – Getty

Arsenal fans continue to eagerly wait as they believe the Gunners will be the next KSE team to win big.

Although some will now be begging their American boss to splash the cash again and solve the problem that has been holding Arteta’s side back in recent seasons – a lack of a proven striker to lead the line.

Kroenke is the face of the Arsenal ownership but his son Josh Kroenke is the club director and the handler of decisions, often being in communication with Arteta and sporting director, Edu Gaspar.

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe trails behind the 77-year-old American in 115th place with a net worth of $18.5B.

The chairman of INEOS chemicals group began his investment and leadership overhaul at Old Trafford in February 2024.

Another notable football figure is former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is placed 346th with a net worth of $8.27B.