Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke ends 2022 as richest person in sport with £8.8bn net worth
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has been listed as the richest person in sport by Forbes, putting him ahead of the likes of Liverpool chief John Henry and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has joined the north Londoners at the top of the table after ending 2022 as the richest person in sport, according to Forbes.
The Gunners remain on course for their first Premier League title in almost 20 years thanks to a superb start to the season which has seen them collect 40 points from 15 games. Finishing in the top-four will also guarantee them a spot in the Champions League - and with it a healthy boost to the coffers.
Qualifying for Europe's premier club competition is worth an initial £14million, with extra money on top depending on performance - not that Arsenal owner Kroenke needs it.
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Silent Stan, as he is otherwise known by supporters, is placed at the top of the sport-specific Forbes' 2022 sports rich list with a colossal net worth of £8.8billion.
He is 183rd in the overall list of billionaires, but two spots higher than the next highest-placed sports-related person, which is Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Kroenke is £40million ahead of Jones.
The top three is completed by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. In fact, the top 13 places in the list all belong to Americans, including the likes of Liverpool owner John Henry.
Kroenke, whose sports empire also includes the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids and the Los Angeles Rams, amassed his fortune in real estate and through his stake in Walmart. He acquired a controlling stake in the Gunners in 2011 but has often been accused of not spending enough money to make them competitive in the Premier League.
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Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone is the first non-American to pop up in the list, residing at no.14 with a net worth of £2.4billion.
Nevertheless, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Kroenke - now officially the richest person in sport, according to Forbes - dips into his pocket in the January transfer window as the Gunners look to sustain their impressive start to the season.
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