How wealthy Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri is compared to the EFL's richest clubs | OneFootball

Where Chansiri ranks among the league’s wealthiest investors

Since taking over Sheffield Wednesday in 2015, Dejphon Chansiri has been a polarising figure among fans.

His financial backing has seen the club through highs and lows. The Thai businessman has overseen Premier League promotion pushes and League One relegations during his tenure at S6, but how does his wealth compare to the richest owners in the English Football League?

While Chansiri’s exact personal net worth remains undisclosed, the Owls' owner's family background and business ties give us a strong indication of his financial standing.

Dejphon Chansiri’s wealth

Dejphon Chansiri purchased Sheffield Wednesday for £37.5 million in 2015, but much of his family’s fortune comes from Thai Union Group, a seafood empire founded by his father, Kraisorn Chansiri.

Thai Union Group is the world’s largest canned tuna producer, generating $4.2 billion in revenue and holding a market capitalisation of approximately $1.89 billion.

The company, now run by Chansiri’s older brother Thiraphong, reported a record $200 million in net profit in 2020, with 71% of its sales coming from the U.S. and Europe.

Kraisorn Chansiri was estimated to be worth around $575 million, and while there is no definitive figure for Dejphon Chansiri’s individual wealth, his financial strength is closely tied to his family’s business.

Thai Union Group has also been investing in food-tech ventures, including a $30 million fund backing innovative startups like BlueNalu, a California-based cell-based seafood company.

Despite these business connections, the Owls have faced financial difficulties under Chansiri, with fan frustrations growing over financial mismanagement, embargoes, and stadium-related issues.

Recently, Alan Nixon revealed that Chansiri has expressed that he needs additional investment to keep the club financially stable, leading to concerns over Wednesday’s ability to compete in the long term.

While his wealth is significant, it does not put him among the richest owners in the EFL.

How Dejphon Chansiri compares to the richest owners of EFL clubs

Compared to the wealthiest owners in the EFL, Chansiri’s financial power is considerably lower.

The richest owner in the football league is Lakshmi Mittal, who backs Queens Park Rangers with a fortune of $17 billion, derived from his steel empire, ArcelorMittal.

Following closely behind are Barnsley’s ownership group, with significant $9b wealth from private investment and fashion, and Leeds United’s $6.7b support from the York family and Red Bull, combining major sports and corporate financial power.

Further down the list, Wycombe Wanderers benefit from $5.7b backing from fintech billionaire Mikhail Lomtadze, and Stoke City has the financial clout of John Coates, who made his $4.6b fortune through the online gambling giant bet365.

Each of these clubs has access to significantly greater financial resources than Chansiri, whose wealth is largely tied to a single business interest in the seafood industry.

While Dejphon Chansiri has significant financial backing through his family’s seafood empire, he does not come close to the wealthiest owners in the EFL.

The likes of Lakshmi Mittal and the York family dwarf his financial resources.