Owners
Chelsea Football Club has been owned by a U.S.-based consortium led by Todd Boehly since May 2022, marking the end of Roman Abramovich’s illustrious 19-year era at Stamford Bridge.
The takeover, valued at a record £4.25 billion, included a guaranteed £1.75 billion investment into the club’s development and infrastructure. Backed by California-based investment firm Clearlake Capital, the acquisition became the most expensive in sports history — ushering in a new chapter for the Blues both on and off the pitch.
When did Boehly become a co-owner of Chelsea?
Clearlake Capital holds the majority shareholding in Chelsea, with Todd Boehly sharing joint control and equal governance of the club. The ownership group also includes Hansjörg Wyss and Mark Walter, who are part of the consortium that completed the takeover in 2022.
Roman Abramovich had previously purchased Chelsea in July 2003 for around £140 million, ending Ken Bates’ 21-year tenure as owner. Bates had famously acquired the club for just £1 in 1982, taking on debts of £1.5 million, while Abramovich’s deal included an £80 million payment to settle the club’s outstanding obligations.
During Abramovich’s 19-year ownership, Chelsea experienced an era of unprecedented success. Under his stewardship, the club won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three EFL Cups, two UEFA Champions League trophies, and two UEFA Europa League titles, firmly establishing Chelsea as one of Europe’s elite clubs.
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Abramovich announced his intention to sell the club. The UK government later approved the Boehly-led consortium’s takeover in May 2022, ensuring that Abramovich would not personally profit from the sale.
Today, Clearlake Capital’s co-founders, José Feliciano and Behdad Eghbali, oversee the firm’s stake in Chelsea, with Boehly acting as the public face and key decision-maker for the club.
What have Chelsea won since the Boehly-led takeover?
Since Todd Boehly’s consortium took ownership, Chelsea have yet to add any new silverware to their collection. The Blues endured a disappointing first Premier League campaign under the new regime, with Manchester City knocking them out of both the FA Cup and EFL Cup in the third rounds. Real Madrid also ended Chelsea’s Champions League hopes in the quarter-finals.
The ownership’s early years were marked by managerial upheaval. Champions League-winning coach Thomas Tuchel was dismissed just seven games into the 2022/23 season, and Chelsea paid Brighton & Hove Albion £21.5 million in compensation to appoint Graham Potter — making him the most expensive managerial hire in football history.
However, Potter’s tenure lasted only seven months after recording just 12 wins from 31 matches. Club legend Frank Lampard was brought in as caretaker to finish the season, before Mauricio Pochettino officially took charge on July 1, 2023.
How much is Boehly worth? What is Clearlake Capital’s net worth?
According to Forbes, Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly had an estimated net worth of $5.3 billion (£4.2 billion) as of April 2023. The self-made financier ranked 184th on the 2022 Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans, up from a net worth of $4.5 billion (£3.6 billion) at the end of 2022.
Fellow co-owner Jose E. Feliciano held a net worth of $4.3 billion (£3.4 billion) as of April 2023, rising from $3.4 billion (£2.7 billion) the previous year. The Los Angeles–based private equity specialist also ranked 244th in the 2022 Forbes 400.
Behdad Eghbali, another Chelsea co-owner, also boasts a net worth of $4.3 billion (£3.4 billion) as of April 2023. His firm, Clearlake Capital, manages assets valued at more than $70 billion (£56 billion). Additionally, co-owners Mark Walter and Hansjörg Wyss were listed by Forbes with net worths of $5.3 billion (£4.2 billion) and $5.1 billion (£4.1 billion) respectively.
What other sports teams do Boehly own?
Boehly isn’t just involved with Chelsea — he also owns 20% of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers. In addition, he is a co-owner of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, the fantasy sports company DraftKings, and the esports organisation Cloud9.
Together with Mark Walter, Boehly also holds a 27% stake in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, Clearlake Capital has reportedly explored opportunities to acquire a team in the National Football League (NFL).