Jim Ratcliffe: The chemical businessman who has an enormous interest in Manchester UTD

Jim Ratcliffe is the founder of the fourth largest chemical company in the world: Ineos.

The investor, known for his enormous importance in Manchester United, made the headlines when he appeared prestigious 2025 rich list.

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Become a billionaire

Jim came from Very modest beginning And was raised in a council home near Manchester.

Born on October 18, 1952, he was raised by his mother, an office manager, and his father who was a carpenter.

Ratcliffe’s first job was with Oil Giant Esso, but later he studied for an MBA at the London Business School.

In 1989 he joined the American Private Equity group Advent International, which kick started His career in business.

Jim founded Ineos in 1998 from a small basis in Hampshire.

With the help of high yields to finance deals, he started to buy unwanted operations from groups such as such as Energy giant BP, Choosing goals based on their potential to double their income for a period of five years.

In 2006, Ineos BP’s refining and Petrochemical arm bought innovene, with Ineos refineries and plants in Scotland, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium and Canada.

Then, in April 2010, Ratcliffe moves the head office from Ineos to Rolle in SwitzerlandLowering the company’s tax assessment by £ 100 million a year.

Ineos products are used every day to clean water, to make toothpaste, producing antibiotics, isolation houses and packing food.

Landing on the rich list

The enormous wealth of the CEO landed on one prestigious 2025 rich list.

After that, however, he fell to seventh place Allegedly losing £ 6.5 billion.

The businessman was in 7th place on the list and has a capital of £ 17 billion.

In February 2024 he became a minority shareholder in his favorite football team: Manchester United.

Since Take over the clubThere has been a wave of fired at Manchester United and a new stadium will be built for the team.

The stadium is said to be costs a stunning £ 2 billion.

The family life of the CEO

Jim has two sons, named George and Samuel, with His first wife Amanda Townson.

He split with Amanda in 1995 after he was married to her for ten years.

The billionaire welcomed a daughter, Julia, with his second wife, Italian tax lawyer Maria Alessia Maresca.

Allegedly, Jim made the knot with Alicia in the late nineties, before the couple separated a few years later.