How wealthy the Bristol City owner is compared to the EFL's richest clubs | OneFootball

FLW take a look at how Steve Lansdown's net worth stacks up against the EFL's richest clubs.

Steve Lansdown has long had the ambition of taking Bristol City into the Premier League, but the Robins' owner still hasn't achieved that even after almost 30 years of ownership.

They have had their moments on the brink of glory but have fallen short, such as when Dean Windass’ stunning volley in the 2007-08 play-off final dashed their Premier League dreams.

However, the 72-year-old continues to have his eyes fixed firmly on the top division and, despite not being the most affluent owner in the EFL, he will still believe he can give Liam Manning the tools required to take him there.

With this in mind, FLW has taken a deep dive into how Steve Lansdown built his wealth and how his financial power compares to some of the richest owners in the EFL.

Steve Lansdown - Rags to Riches

Lansdown’s remarkable journey began in 1981 when he co-founded a financial services company with Peter Hargreaves from his own bedroom. The pair quickly built a strong partnership, and Hargreaves Lansdown gained traction in the financial industry.

A key moment came in 1987 when they successfully navigated a major stock market crash, earning clients' trust during a time of uncertainty. Adapting to technological changes, the company continued to grow, reaching a major milestone in 2007 when it went public. This significantly increased its value, though Lansdown and Hargreaves retained a 75% stake.

That same year, the company hit £1 billion in assets. Now, in 2024, Lansdown is set to sell his remaining 6% stake as part of a £5.4 billion takeover.

Much of his wealth has been invested in Bristol City. First involved in 1996, he became chairman in 2002 and has played a key role in the club’s development. In 2009, he sold shares to fund a new stadium, but when that fell through, he redirected the money into renovating Ashton Gate.

According to Forbes, this life of business has seen him earn an incredible amount of money, with the Robins' owner reportedly worth $2.9 billion.

Looking at how Lansdown compares to some of the EFL's richest owners, it is clear to see he is a fairly affluent figure in the three leagues.

However, there are clubs who have a higher net worth and many of them won't surprise fans, with the likes of Leeds United, Stoke City and Birmingham City all featuring high on the list.

The Whites are owned by 49ers Enterprises and, according to Forbes, Denise York and her family have a net worth of $6.7 billion. This comparatively dwarfs Lansdown, but even Leeds can't compete with Birmingham new owners, Knighthead Capital Management, who have estimated they have around $9 billion in assets.

The Potters are another team that feature in the upper echelons of the EFL's monetary hierarchy, and according to Forbes, their owner, John Coates, is worth $4.5 billion.

For many clubs, it is difficult to determine their exact wealth, as ownership is often shared among multiple parties. For example, Queens Park Rangers' owners, Ruben Gnanalingam, Richard Reilly and Amit Bhatia's family, the Mittal's, have a combined net worth of just under $20 billion, but individually they do not contribute that amount.

Lansdown ranks relatively high on the list, with only the aforementioned owners above him. However, a key factor to consider is how much of their wealth these owners are actually willing to invest, as many only allocate a small portion to their club’s finances.