In a fascinating twist to this weekend's Championship football, the spotlight falls not just on the pitch but on the financial power behind two clubs. Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, despite his immense £267 million fortune, finds himself financially outmatched by his opponent, Ipswich Town investor and pop superstar Ed Sheeran.
The Business Brain Behind Wrexham
Ryan Reynolds is far more than just the star of Deadpool. The Canadian actor has proven himself a shrewd entrepreneur with a series of highly profitable ventures. His film roles earn him an estimated £15.3 million per picture, but it's his business acumen that has truly built his wealth.
Reynolds purchased a stake in Aviation Gin in 2018, a move that paid off handsomely when the brand was sold to Diageo in 2020 for a colossal £460 million, netting him approximately £96 million. Another massive win came from his 25% share in Mint Mobile, which was acquired by T-Mobile in 2023 in a deal worth over £1 billion. Reports from The Wall Journal suggest Reynolds pocketed a stunning £250 million from this sale alone.
His company, Maximum Effort, oversees production and advertising for his projects, including the successful Welcome to Wrexham docuseries. In a landmark move for the club, Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney purchased Wrexham for a nominal fee in February 2021, immediately investing £2 million and guiding the team to three consecutive promotions.
Sheeran's Record-Breaking Financial Dominance
However, Ed Sheeran's wealth operates on an entirely different scale. The singer-songwriter, a lifelong Ipswich supporter who bought a minority stake in the club last August, boasts a net worth of around £370 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
Sheeran's financial empire is built on a foundation of record-smashing musical success. He has achieved nine number one albums, with his most recent, 'Play', topping the charts in September. His earnings from Spotify streams alone run into millions annually, with numerous tracks surpassing one billion plays.
Perhaps most impressively, his 2017 'Divide' tour set a record at the time as the highest-grossing tour ever, generating a staggering £638 million according to Forbes.
A Rivalry Extending Beyond the Pitch
The financial disparity adds an intriguing layer to the sporting contest. Sheeran has already engaged in playful banter with Reynolds, as seen in a social media clip from the Time100 Gala in New York last April.
From the stage, Sheeran addressed Reynolds directly, saying: "Ryan, I think Wrexham are going to get promoted and we're going to see each other next season. We'll f*** you up. We will, I'm telling you." Reynolds, seated with his wife Blake Lively, initially responded with a blown kiss before feigning irritation at the warning.
While Wrexham has enjoyed remarkable on-pitch success under manager Phil Parkinson, the financial competition between their celebrity backers is a story in itself. Reynolds may have a diverse portfolio including investments in 1Password, WealthSimple, and stakes in the Alpine F1 team and several other sports franchises, but for now, in the battle of the bank balances, Sheeran holds the winning hand.
