Introduction

Joel Glazer is an American businessman and part of the Glazer family with an estimated net worth of $1 Billion. 

The family controls First Allied Corporation and the Zapata Corporation, as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL and England’s Manchester United Football Club. Glazer was born in Rochester, New York.

Quick Facts

• Estimated 16.7% stake in Tampa Bay Buccaneers valued at $900 million
• Acquired 68% of Manchester United for £800 million in 2005
• Remaining 47% stake in the club is valued at over $1 billion

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Acquisition

In January 1995, Joel’s father, Malcolm, secured an agreement to purchase the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the former owner, Hugh Culverhouse, had passed away in August of the prior year. As it turns out, Malcolm had been desperate to own an NFL team, and in 1993, had put in a bid to bring an NFL team to Baltimore. Back then, the Ravens didn’t exist, but unfortunately, Malcolm’s bid was rejected.

Finally, he was able to acquire the Buccaneers for approximately $192 million and placed both of his sons, Joel and Edward, in leadership positions. Joel was 28 years old at the time. 

Thirty years later, and here we are; the franchise remains in the hands of the Glazer family, with ownership split among the six siblings. The exact split has never been confirmed, but just assuming it’s an even split, Joel would own roughly 16.7%. In August 2024, Forbes valued the team at $5.4 billion, which is a whopping $5.2 billion more than their father paid. Assuming Joel has always held a 16.7% stake, in 1995, it would have been worth roughly $32.06 million, and by 2024, it had grown to $901.8 million. 

Manchester United Acquisition

In May 2005, Joel Glazer and his family negotiated a deal to acquire 68% of the English Premier League soccer club, Manchester United. The acquisition, made through their company Red Football Ltd, was worth a reported £800 million (approximately $1.46 billion at the time). This would have placed the club’s valuation at roughly £1.18 billion ($2.15 billion).

The purchase initially put Manchester United under a heavy financial burden, as much of the £800 million was secured by borrowing against the club’s assets. It has been reported that this led to the club holding significant debts, owing £60 million per year in interest payments alone.

Although Manchester United is no longer a dominant force in the English Premier League, they were the league’s strongest club for seven years following the investment. In five of those years, they won the league, finishing second in the other two. As a result, the club’s value has increased significantly over the past two decades.

In December 2023, INEOS, led by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, acquired 25%  of the club’s A and B class shares at $33 per share. Since then, he’s increased his overall stake to roughly 28.9%.

As of May 2025, Joel Glazer holds a remaining stake of 43%, and the club’s market valuation is approximately $2.4 billion. This would equate to Glazer’s stake being worth an estimated $1.03 billion.

Philanthropy

Glazer supports various charities. His family founded the Glazer Family Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting children in the Tampa Bay area through various charitable initiatives.

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Introduction

Ma Huateng is a Chinese business magnate, engineer, internet and technology, and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $31.4 Billion.

Huateng is the chairman, founder, and chief executive officer of Tencent, Asia’s most valuable company, and one of the world’s largest Internet and technology companies. 

Quick Facts

• Holds an 8.7% stake in the Chinese tech company Tencent
• Typically earns between $6 million and $8 million in annual compensation
• Peak estimated net worth of $65.8 billion in 2021

Net Worth History

Although almost all of Huateng’s wealth has been generated through his ownership stake in Tencent Holdings, the percentage has gradually been reduced over time. This is primarily due to minor share sell-offs and the addition of new investors. At the time of the company’s founding, Ma Huateng owned 47.5% of the company. Over time, this has been reduced to an estimated 8.7%.

In 2009, Huateng’s net worth was estimated at approximately $3.5 billion. However, in 2012, Tencent’s market cap exploded to over $50 billion thanks to the growth of WeChat, the Chinese equivalent of WhatsApp. As a result, Huateng’s net worth almost doubled throughout the year, from $6.4 billion to $12.1 billion.

Tencent’s valuation continued to increase dramatically over the next several years, reaching $563 billion in 2018, with Huateng’s stake worth an estimated $45.3 billion. In recent years, China has proposed and introduced new, stricter regulations on the gaming industry, which have significantly affected Tencent’s market cap on more than one occasion.

In 2018, Chinese regulators introduced regulations requiring new games to receive approval from authorities before being released. Since 30% of Tencent’s revenues come from the online gaming industry, its valuation took a massive hit, wiping out over $200 billion in just nine months. Huateng’s net worth would have dropped significantly between 2018 and 2019; however, towards the end of the year, the company began recovering at a steady pace.

Tencent reached a new peak market capitalization of $916 billion in 2021, but suffered setbacks again from the Chinese government. The government proposed a new rule to curb the amount of money players can spend on online gaming. Huateng’s net worth went from a peak of $65.8 billion to $37 billion in a single year.

Tencent Compensation

While we don’t have a complete history of Ma Huateng’s annual Tencent compensation, we do have information regarding several recent years. This includes 2020, when he received a total compensation of CNY 58.74 million, equivalent to roughly $8.21 million.

In 2021, reports of his earnings are slightly more transparent, receiving a base salary of CNY 7.33 million ($1.02 million), bonuses of CNY 35.52 million ($4.97 million), plus pension contributions and director bonuses totaling CNY 1.26 million ($176,000). In 2023, Huateng earned a total compensation of CNY 42.92 million ($6 million).

All things considered, it appears that Ma Huateng’s total annual compensation from Tencent typically ranges between $6 million and $8 million per year.

Introduction 

Avram Glazer is an American businessman with an estimated net worth of $1 Billion.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Acquisition

Avram’s father, Malcolm, was a dedicated sports fan and had been desperately trying to secure ownership of a franchise team within both the NFL and the MLB. This included attempts to either acquire or get franchises established for the New England Patriots, Baltimore (now the Ravens), San Diego Padres, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After Hugh Culverhouse, the then-owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, passed away in August 1994, Malcolm finally managed to acquire a team. Malcolm purchased Buccaneers for a reported $192 million, placing two of his sons, Joel and Edward, in leadership positions. All six Glazer siblings received an ownership stake in the team, which they still hold today. The exact split has never been confirmed, but just assuming it’s an even split, this would bring Avram’s stake to roughly 16.7%.

In August 2024, Forbes valued the Buccaneers at $5.4 billion, indicating that the franchise’s value had increased by approximately $5.2 billion over the previous 29 years. Assuming Avram has always held 16.7%, his stake would have been worth $32.06 million in 1995 and is currently worth approximately $901.8 million. 

Financial, Tax, & Legal Issues

In December 2023, Avram Glazer’s family sold a 25% stake in Manchester United to Jim Ratcliffe for $1.3 billion. This sale valued the football club at $6.3 billion, over five times its 2005 leveraged buyout price of $1 billion. However, many Manchester United fans expressed frustration, attributing years of poor club performance to mismanagement under the Glazer ownership.

The sale drew further attention because Glazer used complex tax exemption strategies through the Cayman Islands, reportedly avoiding a $100 million capital gains tax bill. While legal, it reignited debates about fair tax practices among high-net-worth individuals.

Philanthropy

The Glazer Family Foundation, founded in 2000, has maintained a strong focus on community programs despite recent financial difficulties. In 2023, the foundation reported a $121,000 deficit, with assets of $17,700 and liabilities totaling $26,600. Even so, it supports initiatives like the Glazer Children’s Museum, which nurtures educational play through donor funding.

The foundation also supports youth sports leagues that provide equipment and coaching to over 500 underserved children annually, encouraging teamwork and physical activity. Its scholarship programs have awarded over $1 million to help more than 100 students access higher education, reducing financial obstacles for their families. The foundation has also focused on health-related efforts, such as vision screenings and eyeglass donations, which have reached more than 2,000 children in the Tampa Bay area and addressed critical needs in local communities.

Together, these initiatives reflect the Glazer family’s commitment to meaningful community support, even during periods of financial strain.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Avram Glazer’s career:

• Owner of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 1995
• Glazer Executive Co-Chairman of Manchester United (2005) 
• Former chairman and chief executive officer of Zapata Corporation (1995 – 2009)