Good Bad Billionaire

Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Man U mogul

Mar 12, 2024

Discover how Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire behind Manchester United, made his fortune through daring investments and impressive acquisitions. From mortgaging his house for business to investing in cycling and sailing, his journey from petrochemicals to football ownership is full of risk and reward.

48:25

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Jim Ratcliffe

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Quick takeaways

Jim Ratcliffe's bold investments and acquisitions in petrochemicals and conglomerates fueled his billionaire status.

Ratcliffe's success in reshaping sports investments, including acquiring Manchester United and Ineos Grenadiers, defines his power.

Controversies surrounding Ratcliffe's tax strategies, environmental impact, and business decisions add complexity to his legacy.

Deep dives

Jim Ratcliffe: An Industrialist with a Passion for Sports and Business

Jim Ratcliffe's journey from a lower middle-class upbringing to becoming a billionaire is marked by bold risks and successful business moves. Mortgaging his house at 40 to fund deals, he quadrupled his wealth to over $20 billion, showcasing his financial acumen.

Introduction

4min

Journey from Cycling to Corporate Finance

12min

The Billionaire's Strategic Expansion in the Chemical Industry

11min

Ratcliffe's Risky Leap into the Oil Refinery Industry

7min

Negotiations, Concessions, and Closure: The Impact of Jim Ratcliffe's Actions

2min

Exploring the Contradictions of a Billionaire

14min

He's spent a billion on Manchester United, but how did Jim Ratcliffe become a billionaire?

BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng learn how the Premier League club's new co-owner got rich via some daring investments and impressive acquisitions. They explain how he made his name in petrochemicals before founding Ineos, one of the industry's biggest conglomerates.

Simon and Zing also discover that he mortgaged his own house to fund a business, as well as uncovering his investments in cycling, sailing and, of course, football. Then they decide if he's good, bad, or just another billionaire.

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Good Bad Billionaire

Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Man U mogul

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Jim Ratcliffe: An Industrialist with a Passion for Sports and Business

Ineos Expansion and Fracking Controversies

Jim Ratcliffe's Power and Legacy

Philanthropy and Tax Controversies

Assessment: Just Another Billionaire?

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts