Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the minority owner of Manchester United, has seen his net worth plummet by an estimated £1.8 billion over the past year, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List. The petrochemicals magnate, who controls Ineos, is now ranked as the third biggest faller on the prestigious list, behind Sir James Dyson and Anil Agarwal.
Declining Wealth Over Three Years
The Sunday Times estimates Ratcliffe's current wealth at £15.194 billion, a significant drop from £17 billion in 2025. This marks the third consecutive year of decline for the billionaire, whose fortune peaked at £29.6 billion in 2023. Since then, his net worth has suffered successive reductions of approximately £6 billion in both 2024 and 2025.
The Sunday Times Rich List noted that Ineos, Ratcliffe's sprawling petrochemicals empire spanning 27 countries, has been impacted by rising debt, falling revenues, and a £515.7 million loss. As a result, the value of the business has been cut to £17 billion. Ratcliffe's 29 per cent stake in Manchester United FC is valued at £1.4 billion.
Asset Sales and Portfolio Rebalancing
In response to these financial pressures, Ratcliffe has sold off a series of assets at Ineos in an attempt to 'rebalance its portfolio'. The company has shelved sponsorships with New Zealand's rugby team and Tottenham Hotspur, and halted funding for Sir Ben Ainslie's America's Cup team. Reports also suggest that Ineos is preparing to sell Ligue 1 side Nice.
Despite these cutbacks, Ineos recently announced a partnership with Shell to explore new oil and gas opportunities off the coast of the United States. Ratcliffe told the Sunday Times he is going to 'hedge my bets'. He also joked about his commitment to Ineos Automotive, saying, 'How do you lose a small fortune? Answer: start with a big one and sink it into a car company'.
Controversy at Manchester United
Ratcliffe's running of Manchester United has proved controversial. He has overseen drastic cost-cutting at the club, leading to hundreds of staff redundancies. In February, he sparked outrage by claiming Britain has been 'colonised' by immigrants who are 'costing too much money'. He later apologised for his 'choice of language', with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer among those criticising his remarks.
'Me and my big mouth,' Ratcliffe told the Sunday Times. 'It wasn't meant to be an inflammatory remark. It was just meant to be a concern about the UK economy being stressed by a welfare cost it can't really afford. Much of the value added in the UK has come from people who've moved here. What you don't want are lots of people coming in who are going to not work and not make a contribution, and you haven't done due diligence on them.'
Managerial Decisions at Old Trafford
Ratcliffe is set to have the final say on Manchester United's next permanent head coach. Daily Mail Sport reported that the club's leadership team, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, are expected to recommend the appointment of Michael Carrick on a permanent basis. Carrick, a former United player, was given the job for the rest of the season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and his coaching staff, which includes former England assistant manager Steve Holland, is expected to remain at Old Trafford.
