Who is Sheikh Jassim - Qatar’s Billionaire To Buy Man United: Biography, Net Worth

Rosemary March 27, 2023 | 09:24

Sheikh Jassim made an official bid to buy Manchester United in full. Who is he? How rich is he?

Who is Sheikh Jassim - Qatar’s Billionaire To Buy Man United: Biography, Net Worth

Who is Sheikh Jassim – Qatar’s Bank Owner Who Wants To Buy Manchester United

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has made a bid to buy Manchester United, which the Glazer family has finally put up for sale after years of fan outrage over their ownership. The big question is who he is and how much his net worth is to be able to purchase the club. All of your questions will be answered right below!

Who is Sheikh Jassim?

Sheikh Jassim is a member of the Qatari royal family and the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), one of the largest banks in the Middle East.

Sheikh Jassim, who was born in 1982, is thought to be a lifelong Manchester United fan, and his foundation, Nine Two Foundation, is thought to be a reference to United's infamous Class of 92 squad led by Ryan Giggs and David Beckham.

Aside from being the chairman of QIB, Sheikh Jassim holds a number of other positions. He is the honorary president of the Qatar National Cancer Society (QNCS), the chair of the Supreme Council of Environment and Natural Resources, and a member of the Qatar Foundation's Board of Trustees.

Jassim served as a second lieutenant in the Qatari military before being named heir apparent in 1996. He succeeded his half-brother Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani as heir apparent, but abdicated seven years later, claiming in a letter to his father that he never wanted the position.

Do you know…?

His father, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, was Qatar's prime minister from 2007 to 2013 and was involved in the management of PSG.

Sheikh Jassim was his father's heir apparent, but he declined the position of Crown Prince in 2003.

Sheikh Jassim’s Education

Sheikh Jassim received his education at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, where he graduated as an officer cadet before going on to become a banker.

He has also previously served on the board of Credit Suisse, one of the world's largest investment banks.

Sheikh Jassim’s Family

He is currently married to his cousin Sheikha Bothaina bint Hamad Al Thani and they have eight children together.

What is Sheikh Jassim’s net worth?

Sheikh Jassim's net worth is unknown, but his family is estimated to be worth around £275 billion, according to Manchester Evening News.

The QIB is ranked third among Qatar's top 30 most valuable companies by Forbes Middle East.

His father has no less than £20 billion. However, their real assets can be much larger than that. And importantly, the money to buy MU is unlikely to come from personal pockets. Behind that is the Royal Family of Qatar, who actively use sports to promote the country's image and increase soft power in the world.

What has Sheikh Jassim said about buying Manchester United?

On Saturday, February 18, Sheikh Jassim issued a statement through his Nine Two Foundation confirming his bid for United.

‘Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100% of Manchester United.

The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and – above all – will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United once more.

The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports.

The vision of the bid is for Manchester United to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world.

More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops.’

When will Man Utd's takeover be completed?

Although Sheikh Jassim is the only person who has publicly announced a bid, Ratcliffe is thought to have submitted an offer after recently expressing interest. There is also the possibility that other bids were submitted without the public's knowledge.

There were bidders from the United States and Saudi Arabia, and United supporters should not be surprised if another bidder emerges in the coming days.

The Raine Group, an American firm, is leading the sale and will review all bids to ensure they are supported by solid financial foundations. It is believed Sheikh Jassim's bid does not rely on borrowed money, with Ratcliffe potentially courting a consortium.