Former Arsenal and Crystal Palace midfielder Mathieu Flamini is now worth an estimated £10 billion, more than ten times the cost of Arsenal's Premier League-winning squad. The Frenchman co-founded GF Biochemicals in 2008, a green chemistry company that mass-produces levulinic acid, a sustainable alternative to petroleum.
Flamini played for Arsenal from 2004 to 2008 and again from 2013 to 2016, before moving to Crystal Palace on a free transfer. He admitted it was painful to see his former club struggling during his time at Palace, but remained a fan. He retired in 2018 after a short spell with Getafe.
His company, which he funded secretly during his playing days, became the first to mass-produce levulinic acid. Flamini holds a 60 per cent stake, making his fortune dwarf the £780 million Arsenal spent assembling their title-winning squad.
Speaking to Harvard Business Review, Flamini drew parallels between football and business, saying: 'Football is a team sport but performance remains individual. As a business leader, your role changes completely: you become a coach.' He emphasised the need for patience, resilience, and team spirit.
