Sport’s little-known billionaires - world’s richest footballer to Australian Open star

In the world of sports, wealth isn't always a direct result of trophies and titles. One might naturally think that football legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, or tennis icons such as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, would be among the richest athletes in history, given their trophy-laden careers.

While these stars are indeed incredibly wealthy due to their career earnings and endorsements, their net worths are dwarfed by some billionaires who have had the privilege of being involved in sports. There are several sports figures who have amassed staggering fortunes over the years, yet have managed to stay relatively unnoticed.

Here, Express Sport reveals five of the wealthiest individuals in sports that you probably weren't aware of....

Anna Kasprzak - £1billion

Despite not securing a medal at the Olympics, 35-year-old Anna Kasprzak has accumulated an astounding fortune. The Danish equestrian represented her nation at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Games, finishing fourth in London in the team event.

While names like Kelly Holmes, Usain Bolt, and Simone Biles from athletics may be more familiar, Kasprzak has earned over £1billion throughout her career. However, it's not her equestrian pursuits that have amassed her wealth.

Kasprzak has built a substantial fortune through shoe manufacturing giant ECCO. Alongside her brother Andre and mother Hanni, she is a proud co-owner of the company. According to ECCO's website, she serves on the board of directors for the firm, which was established by her grandfather, Karl Toosbuy, in 1963.

ECCO's products are available in 90 countries, with over 2,200 outlets globally and an online store. Forbes estimated in 2021 that Kasprzak had a net worth of £1bn ($1.3bn), thanks to her business and sporting endeavours - she also operates a private dressage barn in Haderslev.

Ion Tiriac - £1.6billion

Contrary to popular belief, the wealthiest stars in tennis aren't Federer, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams, but Ion Tiriac. His best performance on the courts involved reaching the quarter-finals at the 1968 French Open. Despite not having any Grand Slam titles, Tiriac reportedly has a net worth of £1.6bn in 2025 and became Romania's first billionaire in 2007.

For comparison, Djokovic is believed to have a net worth of just £196m. While he initially made his mark in tennis, Tiriac accumulated the majority of his wealth away from the courts. The business titan, who established the first privately-owned bank in Romania towards the end of the Cold War, has expanded his empire into retail, insurance and airline markets under Tiriac Holdings Ltd. At 85, he boasts a private jet and an impressive car collection, including two Rolls Royce Phantoms IV - a model with only 18 produced worldwide.

Mukesh Ambani - £78billion

Mukesh Ambani, although not a professional sportsperson, is heavily involved with the Indian Premier League. The 67-year-old is India's wealthiest individual, thanks to the establishment of Reliance Industries Limited, which owns the Mumbai Indians.

Forbes ranks Ambani as the ninth-richest billionaire, holding a staggering £78bn fortune that more than doubled during the global Coronavirus pandemic. Recently, Ambani made headlines for attempting to arrange a high-profile showdown between UFC star Conor McGregor and WWE athlete Logan Paul, though a deal has yet to materialise.

Jessica Pegula - £6.2billion

Jessica Pegula, a familiar name to tennis fans, currently ranks sixth in the WTA and has reached the quarter-finals of six Grand Slams. While her career earnings in the singles game amount to £13m, it's her father's £6.2bn net worth that she could potentially inherit, placing her on this list.

Terry Pegula, a self-made tycoon who struck gold with natural gas development, not only owns the Buffalo Bills NFL team after outbidding high-profile figures like Donald Trump and Jon Bon Jovi, but is also the father Jessica, and his fortunes could be handed down in the future.

Faiq Bolkiah - £16billion

Faiq Bolkiah may not have made his mark in English football despite being part of Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester's youth setups, but he's more than just a player; he's a potential heir to a £16billion fortune as the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei. After a less-than-stellar stint in England, Bolkiah took his talents to Maritimo in 2020 for his first professional gig, followed by a move to Chonburi in Thailand where he racked up two goals and four assists over 32 games.

With such wealth, including a father, Prince Jefri, known for extravagances like spending a reported £12.5 million Michael Jackson concert for his birthday, one might expect a flashy lifestyle. Yet, according to former Chelsea academy team-mate Ruben Sammut, Bolkiah remains grounded.

In an interview with The Athletic, Sammut revealed: "You would never ever have thought he was something like the 12th in line to the throne. You would not have thought of him as royalty. He was a humble guy, trying every day like every academy player. We used to joke he didn't need to play football but he wanted to play because he loved football.

"It wasn't a regular thing we mentioned. It was that typical banter, saying he is royalty, saying, 'what's he doing playing with us?'. But we all knew deep down how much he wanted to play, so it was more good-willed passing comments."