The new American owner of Arsenal is a publicity-shy property developer who married into the vastly wealthy family Wal-Mart Family.
Stan Kroenke is estimated by Forbes magazine to be worth $2.6 billion (£1.6 billion), making him the world’s 440th richest person.
But his personal wealth – only twice the price tag for Arsenal – is overshadowed by the $3.4 billion (£2.1 billion) fortune claimed for his heiress wife Ann, 61. She is the daughter of James “Bud” Walton, a founder of Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retail empire and the owner of Asda in Britain. She describes herself as “a housewife”.
Kroenke, who already owns 29.99 per cent of Arsenal shares, has struck deals with Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, who has 15.9 per cent, and diamond dealer Danny Fiszman, who has 16.11 per cent. That lifts his stake to 62.89 per cent.
He has offered £11,750 a share, valuing the club at £731 million.
The only other substantial shareholder is Uzbek-born businessman Alisher Usmanov, who has a 27 per cent stake but has not yet made clear whether he will accept the offer.
Mr Usmanov´s Super Yacht Dilbar See more Super Yachts
