Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris, renowned as one of Europe’s wealthiest football club owners, has witnessed a remarkable surge in the value of his holdings in the English club Aston Villa, propelling his wealth to new heights.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which monitors the fortunes of the world’s wealthiest individuals, Sawiris’ stake in Aston Villa has escalated by $13 million since the start of this year, contributing to his overall wealth gains.
As of the time of reporting, the market value of Sawiris’ holdings in Aston Villa has reached an impressive $147 million, marking a notable increase from the initial $134-million valuation at the start of the year. This boost arrives amid a flourishing trend among European football clubs experiencing substantial valuation growth.
Aston Villa, under Sawiris’ ownership alongside Wes Edens, demonstrated their potential in the 2021-2022 season, recording a profit of £400,000 ($513,000). This milestone marked the club’s first profit since its acquisition by Edens and Sawiris in 2018 and the first profit achieved by any owner since 2002.
The substantial surge in Aston Villa’s market value has been instrumental in Sawiris’ impressive wealth accumulation, totaling $455 million this year.
Notably, the majority of these gains originate from his six percent stake in the German sportswear giant, Adidas which is now worth $2.37 billion.
With a current net worth of $7.48 billion, Sawiris has firmly established himself as Egypt’s wealthiest individual and the richest man in the Arab world.
Renowned for his astute business acumen, Sawiris has consistently demonstrated his commitment to enhancing Aston Villa’s financial standing.
Earlier this year, he injected £20 million ($25 million) into the club through a share issue, the fifth such occurrence in the past seven months.
The continuing share issuances signify the owners’ dedication to obtaining funds from external sources while the club continues its efforts to generate sustainable revenue in the long term.
Since assuming the role of chairman in July 2018, following the acquisition of a controlling stake in Aston Villa, Sawiris has proven his unwavering commitment to the club’s success alongside U.S. billionaire Wes Edens.
As Sawiris’ Aston Villa holdings soar, amassing an additional $13 million in value, the Egyptian billionaire continues to solidify his presence as a dominant force in both the football and business realms.
