10 Super Rich Africans Who Own Football Clubs

Africa is a home to several billionaires who have found interest in acquiring football clubs both inside and outside the continent. Football, which is one of the biggest sport events globally, attracts wealthy businessmen who in turn put huge investment in football clubs.

In this article, we explore some of the most notable African football club owners in no particular order.

Patrice Matsepe – Memelodi Sundowns

South Africa billionaire Patrice Motsepe is the owner of a South-African football club, Memelodi Sundowns. The founder of African Rainbow Minerals, a platinum and gold-focused business is one of the wealthiest men in South Africa with an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion.

Motsepe, the mining magnate bought a 51% share in the club in 2004 and took total control of the club afterwards by buying the remaining shares. This made him become the sole owner and shareholder of the club.

Johann Rupert – Stellenbosch FC 

Stellenbosch FC owner Johann Rupert is one of South Africa’s richest club owners with a net worth of $9 billion. He is the chairman of the Swiss-based luxury-goods company Richemont and the South Africa-based company Remgro, a corporation that invests in industrial mining and financial services.

In 2016, he bought the Cape Town-based club Stellenbosch FC due to his interest in South African football.

Ifeanyi Ubah – Ifeanyi Ubah FC

Ifeanyi Ubah F.C. is a privately owned football club in the eastern part of Nigeria. The club which was originally known as Iyayi Football Club of Benin City was founded in 2015 after the acquisition of  Gabros international Football Club by Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

Since the club’s inception, Ubah is willing to keep the club afloat by investing a lot in the club.

Kunle Soname  – Remo Stars

The Nigerian billionaire owns the Remo Stars Football Club, a Nigerian side founded in 2010. The well-renowned Nigerian politician and businessman who is the chairman of Bet9ja, a Nigerian betting company is also the owner of Clube Desportivo Feirense, a Portuguese side.

He became the first Nigerian to acquire a European club after acquiring Clube Desportivo Feirense in 2015.

Kaizer Motaung -Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Motaung is the owner of Kaizer Chiefs, a South African professional football club founded in 1970. Motaung who founded  the club and served as its Chairman and Managing Director is one of the richest football club owners, with a net worth of $40 million.

Irvin Khoza – Orlando Pirates

Irvin Khoza, one of Africa richest club owners, is the chairman and owner of Orlando Pirates Football Club. Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa’s oldest football clubs established in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto.

Khoza with a net worth of $35 million brought stability and sponsors to the team which made it one of the biggest teams in South Africa with talented players. 

Moise  Katunmi Chapwe – Tout Puissant Mazembe 

Tout Puissant Mazembe is a Famous Lubumbashi-based football team owned by Congolese businessman and politician Mose Katumbi Chapwe. T P  Mazembe is the only African football club that owns two private jets. 

Katumbi, who is a former governor of Katanga, has a net worth projected at $60 million

Shola Akinlade – Lagos Sporting FC

Co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Paystack, Shola Akinlade is the Nigerian owner of  Sporting Lagos Football Club. He founded the club in 2022. Sporting Lagos, is one of the fastest growing private football clubs in Nigeria and currently play in the Nigerian second division league, the Nigeria National League (NNL).

The Nigerian software engineer recently, also ventured into European football after completing the purchase of Danish second division club Aarhus Fremad.

Jomo Sono – Jomo Cosmos F.C.

Jomo Sono is an ex- South African professional football player and coach. He is the current owner and chairman of Jomo Cosmos Football Club, a professional football team founded in 1983 and based in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Sono has had a successful career in football, having played for various clubs, including Orlando Pirates, New York Cosmos, and Toronto Blizzard. His net worth is estimated to be $20 million.

One honourable mention is Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote who expressed interest in buying English Premier League club Arsenal and wishes to take the club to the next level. According to him, he would buy the club when he finishes some of his projects at hand.