Owning a sports team is no longer just a business matter; it has become a social status symbol. The Indian Industrialists have left their mark across sports like cricket, football, and even Kabaddi. It was the grand success of the Indian Premier League which convinced other sporting bodies in India to move forward with the franchise model.
However, owning a team needs a fortune-like investment, which is why sport team owners are usually millionaires. Now, these tycoons are ready to spread their wings outside India, as evident from the recent investment by Mukesh Ambani, Sanjeev Goenka, and Kalanithi Maran in the UK's The Hundred. We look at the sports portfolio of some of the Indian billionaires.
7 Indian Billionaires who are Sports Team Owners
Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Ltd, is the wealthiest industrialist in India and has a strong passion for sports. He entered the sporting arena by purchasing the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League and subsequently diversified his franchise by adding five teams, including the Mumbai Indians Women's Team, MI Cape Town, MI Emirates, and MI New York. Additionally, Reliance Industries has acquired a 49% stake in The Hundred franchise, the London-based Oval Invincibles.
Sanjeev Goenka
Sanjeev Goenka's first brush as an sports team owner came in 2016 when he bought the rights for IPL’s Rising Pune Super Giants. However, the team was dissolved just after one season. In 2022, when the Indian Premier League was expanded to ten teams, Goenka placed a winning bid for a Lucknow-based team. Besides Lucknow Super Giants, he also owns Manchester Originals in The Hundred, and the iconic football club Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
N Srinivasan
N Srinivasan, the owner of India Cements, has also been a force majeure in Indian cricket. The former BCCI President also owns the most iconic team of the IPL, Chennai Super Kings. He also owns Joburg Super Kings in SA20, the premier T20 competition in South Africa.
Sajjan Jindal
The JSW Group, currently led by Sajjan Jindal, has a significant presence in Indian sports. It all began with acquiring Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a team that has not won the title yet but still boasts a significant fan following. He also owns Bengaluru FC, one of the most successful teams in the Indian Super League, and Haryana Steelers in the professional Kabaddi League.
Gautam Adani
For a brief moment last year, Gautam Adani overtook Mukesh Ambani to become the richest person in the country. Adani's sports investment is diversified across multiple leagues, through a subsidiary company called Adani Sportsline. He owns Gujarat Giants in the Pro Kabaddi League, Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League, and Gulf Giants in the UAE's International League T20.
Kalanithi Maran
Kalanithi Maran, the founder of the Sun Group, a prominent media conglomerate in India, has made significant investments in the world of sports. In 2012, Maran acquired the Hyderabad franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL), renaming it Sunrisers Hyderabad. Under his ownership, the team has achieved considerable success, winning the IPL title in 2016. Expanding his cricketing ventures, Maran's Sun Group also owns the Sunrisers Eastern Cape franchise in South Africa's T20 league, the SA20. Two days ago, Sun Group bought a 100% stake in Northern Superchargers.
Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Mittal, the renowned Indian-born British steel magnate, holds a 3% stake in Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
