9 Asian billionaires entering global sports ownership, from Joseph Tsai’s Nets to Ambani’s Mumbai Indians

Peter Lim became the majority owner of Valencia CF in Spain’s La Liga. His investment was framed as a long-term project aimed at restoring stability to the club’s finances after years of debt and stalled stadium construction. Lim has overseen infrastructure improvements and occasional appearances in European competitions, though Valencia have also faced on-pitch inconsistency and financial challenges during his tenure. His role exemplifies how Asian billionaires have expanded beyond their domestic markets to gain footholds in global sports ownership, using capital from outside Europe to influence historic clubs in major leagues.

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is the chairman of Leicester City, controlled by his family’s King Power group. Leicester rose to global prominence with their Premier League title in 2016 and have since remained a competitive presence, winning the FA Cup in 2021 and regularly challenging for European qualification. Under Aiyawatt’s leadership, the club has invested in a new training complex and youth development infrastructure aimed at long-term sustainability. His position shows how Asian billionaires often link sports assets with broader retail or duty-free enterprises, using their clubs as global platforms to extend brand visibility and commercial reach.

Vincent Tan is the majority owner of Cardiff City, which competes in the EFL Championship. He took control of the club in 2010 and oversaw their promotion to the Premier League in 2013, marking the first time in more than half a century that Cardiff had reached the top flight. Tan also held stakes in other clubs, including KV Kortrijk in Belgium and Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, though he has since divested from some of these. He was among the first wave of Asian billionaires to acquire a major British club, reflecting the long-term trend of international capital reshaping the landscape of global sports ownership and diversifying the profiles of club owners in Europe.

Joe Tsai owns both the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA and the New York Liberty of the WNBA through BSE Global. A co-founder of Alibaba, Tsai is one of the most prominent Asian billionaires involved in US professional sport. His portfolio spans both men’s and women’s leagues, expanding the reach of global sports ownership beyond football and cricket. The Nets recently signed Nigerian player David Muoka, who previously played for UNLV in the NCAA, reflecting Tsai’s ongoing investment in building a competitive roster.

Masayoshi Son owns the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks through his SoftBank Group. The Hawks are among the most successful teams in Nippon Professional Baseball, winning multiple Japan Series titles since SoftBank’s acquisition in 2005. Under Son’s ownership, the club has benefited from significant investment in player development, modern training facilities and fan engagement technology, aligning with SoftBank’s broader tech-focused ethos. Son’s involvement demonstrates how Asian billionaires are active not only in Western leagues but also in major domestic competitions within Asia.

Hiroshi Mikitani, founder of Rakuten, owns both Vissel Kobe in the J1 League and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Nippon Professional Baseball. His dual interests make him one of the few Asian billionaires to control top-flight teams in two different sports within the same country, further underlining the diversity of global sports ownership. Under his stewardship, Vissel Kobe has attracted international stars such as Andrés Iniesta and David Villa, raising the club’s global profile and boosting the visibility of Japanese football. Meanwhile, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, acquired in 2004 as an expansion franchise, have since won multiple Pacific League titles and the 2013 Japan Series, symbolizing Mikitani’s ability to turn a fledgling team into a powerhouse. His investments align with Rakuten’s broader branding strategy, using sports as a vehicle to strengthen the company’s international footprint and influence.

Mukesh Ambani owns the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, holds a stake in the UK’s Oval Invincibles and is a partner in Mumbai City FC. Through Reliance Industries and its sports subsidiary RISE Worldwide, Ambani has built one of the broadest sporting portfolios of any Asian billionaire, with interests spanning cricket, football and emerging formats within global sports ownership. The Mumbai Indians are the most successful franchise in IPL history, having won multiple titles and developed a robust talent pipeline that feeds the Indian national team. Mumbai City FC competes in the Indian Super League and is part of the City Football Group network, linking Ambani’s holdings to a global football ecosystem that includes Manchester City.

Sanjiv Goenka controls the Lucknow Super Giants, Mohun Bagan SG and a major stake in the Manchester Originals through his RPSG Group. Goenka’s activity reflects a broader trend among Asian billionaires who view sport as a growth sector with international potential, particularly within cricket and football’s global sports ownership frameworks. The Lucknow Super Giants have quickly established themselves as a competitive force in the Indian Premier League since their debut in 2022, attracting major sponsorships and building a strong fan base.Through these ventures, Goenka is positioning RPSG as a transnational sports operator bridging South Asian heritage clubs and cutting-edge international competitions.

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