Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke net worth rises to $7.6bn as sports empire is valued at $4.1bn
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke's sports empire – which also includes American football, basketball and ice hockey franchises – is worth $4.1bn, according to new figures from Forbes.
The business magazine found that Kroenke, who owns 67 per cent of Arsenal, now has a personal net worth of $7.6bn – up from $5.3bn in 2014.
According to last year's figures that would put him within the 200 richest people in the world.
Alongside Arsenal, the real estate magnate owns NFL franchise the St. Louis Rams, Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids, NHL franchise Colorado Avalanche and NBA franchise Denver Nuggets – a collection worth $4.1bn.
Only one other NFL franchise owner – Seattle Seahawks owner and co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen – has a higher net worth at $17.8bn.
However, at least two other Premier League owners are still worth more than the American.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is worth $8bn according to Forbes' latest estimates while Manchester City benefactor Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is believed to have a fortune in excess of $30bn.
Minority Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov is also in charge of a bigger personal fortune worth $13.4bn.
Rarely seen at the Emirates Stadium in person, "Silent Stan" cuts a divisive figure amongst Arsenal fans. The club achieved record revenues of $487m last season – more than any of Kroenke's other teams – yet supporters have faced rising ticket prices which are currently the most expensive in the Premier League.
Arsenal have struggled to mount a serious title challenge since Kroenke became the majority shareholder in 2011, but his attentions may be currently focused elsewhere. The 68-year-old has announced plans to build a $1.86bn, 80,000 capacity stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood where he could potentially return the Rams to their former home or even set up a new NFL franchise for the city currently without one.