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Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly considered approaching American billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to help fund the building of a new Old Trafford.
A defining aspect of Ratcliffe’s bid to acquire a stake in United – and one that remains prominent during his tenure – is his ambitious “Wembley of the North” project.
Ratcliffe is thought to be keen on the construction of a brand new stadium amidst the current dilapidated state of Old Trafford.
A reconstruction project is approximated to cost around £2billion and one of the biggest issues that has been raised is how it will be financed.
According to The Athletic, Ratcliffe floated the idea of getting funding from Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos.
“Before Ratcliffe bought his United shares, he looked to private finance and, in one meeting, raised the prospect of Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos providing funds.”
“Sources say Ratcliffe felt either man might be tempted by the appeal of United, with both having the resources. Musk’s estimated net worth topped $486bn in 2024, according to the recent Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with Amazon CEO Bezos estimated as having a $246bn fortune.”
“It is unclear if those proposals gained any traction, however.”
The recent hike in ticket prices, along with the possibility of selling naming rights for the stadium, had been explored as potential strategies to fund a new stadium project.
Ratcliffe has held talks with the government over the possibility of using public funding. Another option could see Ratcliffe sell part of his INEOS stake to raise capital.
The Athletic note that Chief Operating Officer Collette Roche is considered central to any plans regarding the stadium. She has become an increasingly influential figure at the club, overseeing staffing, security, and travel responsibilities.
United return to action on Boxing Day when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium.
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