Entrepreneurs
Hiroshi Mikitani Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $4.4 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 62 |
| Born: | March 11, 1963 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | Unknown |
| Country of Origin: | Japan |
| Source of Wealth: | Founder of Rakuten Inc. |
| Last Updated: | Nov 6, 2025 |
Introduction
Hiroshi Mikitani is a Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Rakuten with an estimated net worth of $4.4 Billion.
Mikitani’s net worth is growing steadily every year, so there’s a lot to be learned from his background and the story of how he took his local business global.
Net Worth History
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $5.6 Billion |
| 2017 | $5.8 Billion |
| 2018 | $5.5 Billion |
| 2019 | $4.8 Billion |
| 2020 | $4.5 Billion |
| 2021 | $6.7 Billion |
| 2022 | $5.1 Billion |
| 2023 | $3.4 Billion |
| 2024 | $3.8 Billion |
| 2025 | $4.4 Billion |
Hiroshi Mikitani’s net worth heavily correlates with the performance of Rakuten Group, Inc., of which Mikitani holds a 39% stake. At the end of 2016, his net worth was estimated to be approximately $5.6 billion, with Rakuten Group’s market cap valued at roughly $14 billion. At the time, his 39% stake would have contributed approximately $5.45 billion to his net worth.
Between 2017 and 2020, Rakuten began making highly aggressive investments, including a $5.5 billion launch of its mobile service in 2020. As a result, the company was posting significant annual losses, with its 2017 filings listing losses of approximately $950 million. By May 2018, Rakuten’s market cap had fallen to $9.1 billion, and despite a brief rebound to $19 billion in 2021, it sank even further to $7.2 billion in 2022.
As you can see from the table above, there is a clear correlation between the company’s market capitalization and Hiroshi’s estimated net worth. His net worth fell to approximately $4.5 billion in 2020, then rose to a short-lived peak of $6.7 billion in 2021, before dropping significantly to $3.4 billion by 2023. Over the last couple of years, Rakuten’s financial outlook has shown some improvement. As of 2025, Mikitani’s net worth is estimated to be in the ballpark of $4.4 Billion.
Before Wealth & Fame
Raised in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan, Hiroshi Mikitani’s father was the chairman of the Japan Society of Monetary Economics and a professor at Kobe University.
Once he grew up, Hiroshi attended Hitotsubashi University and graduated in 1988 with a degree in commerce. From 1988 to 1996, with a break from 1991 to 1993 to attend Harvard Business School, Hiroshi worked at the Industrial Bank of Japan.
In 1996, he left the bank to establish his consulting group, Crimson Group, to revitalize Japan’s economy following the Kobe earthquake. While he was far from being one of the wealthiest people in the world at the time, he was quickly building his name and his fortune.
The Rakuten Group
In February 1997, Hiroshi Mikitani founded MDM, Inc., an e-commerce company, and launched the online marketplace Rakuten Ichiba in Japan. The company was renamed Rakuten, Inc. in 1999 and went public on the JASDAQ in 2000, where it performed exceptionally well.
His reason for founding the company was that he envisioned having an online marketplace that focused on exchanges between buyers and sellers. Although it started as a small online marketplace with 13 shops and 6 employees, it soon grew to become an e-commerce titan. Like Michael Hartono, Mikitani had grown from someone relatively unknown into one of the most important businessmen in Japan.
Expanding His Company
In 2010, Mikitani began expanding his company outside of Japan, acquiring e-commerce sites such as Buy.com in the US and PriceMinister in France. Mikitani also took a minority stake in the scrapbooking site Pinterest and the ride-sharing app Lyft, a company where he serves as a board member.
As of 2017, Rakuten had over 14,000 employees and more than 42,000 shops across its various e-commerce sites, with sales of nearly $6 billion. With his company now being one of the most popular brands online, Mikitani’s wealth and influence only continued to grow.
Also beginning in 2010 was the “Englishnization” of Rakuten, which saw Mikitani make English the primary language of the business. Although Honda’s president, Takanobu Ito, hailed the decision as “stupid,” Mikitani considered it to be a significant advantage for the company globally.
Kosmos Holding & Sports Ownership
Along with being the president of Rakuten, Hiroshi Mikitani partnered with Gerard Piqué in 2017 to co-found Kosmos Holding. This holding company and investment group specializes in investing in companies within the sports, media, and entertainment industries.
In 2018, Kosmos acquired the Davis Cup, a tennis property, and the Spanish football club FC Andorra. Alongside these modern acquisitions, Mikitani took over the Vissel Kobe Football Club in 1995 after the Kobe Earthquake. Mikitani was asked to take over ownership of the club because the damage from the earthquake meant the city could no longer maintain it.
In 2004, the Japanese Pacific League dropped two teams, and Mikitani was approached about starting an expansion team in Sendai. This led to the start of the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, who went on to win the 2013 Japan series, two years after the tsunami that devastated the region.
Entrepreneurs
Peter Woo Net Worth
Peter Woo may be one of the richest men in Hong Kong, but just how much is he worth today?
| Net Worth: | $13 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 77 |
| Born: | September 5, 1946 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | Unknown |
| Country of Origin: | China |
| Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
| Last Updated: | January 22, 2024 |
Introduction
Peter Woo is a Hong Kong billionaire businessman with an estimated net worth of $12.5 Billion.
Net Worth History
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $6.6 Billion |
| 2017 | $10.5 Billion |
| 2018 | $12.2 Billion |
| 2019 | $10.8 Billion |
| 2020 | $11.5 Billion |
| 2021 | $18 Billion |
| 2022 | $17 Billion |
| 2023 | $15.8 Billion |
| 2024 | $15.1 Billion |
| 2025 | $12.5 Billion |
Peter Woo’s net worth is primarily derived from his controlling stake in Wheelock & Company Limited, which is approximately just 18%, based on a December 2019 filing. He previously controlled as much as 60.51% of the company. The company was privatized in 2021; therefore, we’re unable to obtain an accurate valuation for 2025. That said, valuation history is available for the years from 2001 to 2020. During this period, Wheelock & Co.’s market capitalization increased significantly from $2.23 billion to $16.23 billion.
In 2016, the company was worth approximately $11.43 billion, with Peter Woo’s net worth estimated at $6.6 billion. At the time, his fortune was largely tied to the company’s value. By 2018, Woo was worth an estimated $12.2 billion, but experienced a brief decline during the business restructuring.
Following privatization, Peter Woo’s net worth skyrocketed to approximately $18 billion, but it has been slowly dipping ever since. This is due to several factors, the majority of which have impacted the real estate portion of the business. One such factor is the weakening relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China, which impacts a wide variety of Hong Kong-based companies.
As a result, Woo’s net worth is currently estimated to be in the realm of $12.5 Billion.
Before Wealth & Fame
Peter Woo was educated at St. Stephen’s College, a government-funded boarding school and Hong Kong’s largest secondary school. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree, majoring in physics, from the University of Cincinnati in the United States and became the senior class president.
Shortly after, he obtained his MBA from Columbia Business School and then worked at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and Hong Kong after graduating. Like many of the richest people in the world, Woo started relatively small before working his way up to become a billionaire.
Banking & Real Estate
While working for Chase Manhattan Bank, Peter Woo met his future wife, Bessie, the sister of the woman he was arranged to marry. Later, Woo moved on to work for Wharf Holdings, a Hong Kong-based real estate and infrastructure company, which helped him earn his fortune.
He eventually took over as managing director of Wheelock Properties, a subsidiary of Wharf Holdings, and helped the company achieve lasting success. Like Joseph Lau, the real estate industry proved to be perfect for Peter Woo, and he excelled in the business thanks to his keen sense.
Due to his diverse interests, Woo began focusing on real estate specifically in Hong Kong, Singapore, and China. His group owns several investment properties in the region, such as Harbour City and Times Square in Hong Kong.
Additional Businesses
Along with Wheelock Properties, Peter Woo helped operate numerous other businesses, including i-Cable Communications and Wharf New T&T. He also owns the private high-end luxury retail group LCJG, which comprises the fashion house Joyce and Lane Crawford.
Lane Crawford has been a highly successful retail company, operating in China since 1850, and is now part of the Joyce Group. Of course, overseeing some of the most popular online brands and real estate operations isn’t enough for Woo because he likes being busy. In addition to these businesses, he also sits on the boards of numerous other Fortune 500 companies, which demonstrates his significant influence.
Boards, Politics & Non-Profits
Peter Woo serves on the advisory boards of numerous Fortune 500 companies, including JPMorgan Chase, one of the world’s largest banks. He is also a member of the advisory board for General Electric, an American multinational corporation with several divisions, including energy and aerospace.
Additionally, Woo is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. This is an advisory body in China, and its members advise on and propose solutions to social and political issues. For his work, the Government of Hong Kong appointed Woo to be a Justice of the Peace in 1993, and in 98 he was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star.
Past Ventures
As one of the wealthiest individuals in Asia, Peter Woo has held numerous prominent positions throughout his career. From 1993 to 1997, he served as chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He was also the founding chairman of the Hong Kong Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, serving in that position from 1994 to 2004. Woo has also been the chairman of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
In 1996, he became directly involved in politics, running in the first Hong Kong Chief Executive Election before the colony was handed over to Chinese rule.
Most recently, he made headlines calling for an end to travel restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While he remains active in business, in 2013, he appointed his son, Douglas Woo, as the managing director of Wheelock in 2013.
Entrepreneurs
Rich Paul Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $120 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 43 |
| Born: | December 16, 1981 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Sports Agent |
| Last Updated: | Nov 6, 2025 |
Introduction
Rich Paul is an American professional sports agent with an estimated net worth of $120 Million.
As the founder and owner of Klutch Sports Group, Rich Paul manages contracts for almost 200 professional athletes across basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. The company manages several billion dollars in contract value at any one time, taking a commission of between 3% and 5% on each negotiated contract.
Klutch Sports Group
In 2012, Rich Paul launched Klutch Sports Group, a sports agency responsible for managing professional athletes and their contract negotiations. When the company was first founded, Klutch Sports focused primarily on the NBA, but gradually expanded into half a dozen sports leagues, including the MLB, MLS, NFL, and WNBA. They were initially headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, but later established their headquarters in Beverly Hills, California. Based on the most recent information available, Klutch Sports now has locations in Atlanta, Cleveland, Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles.
Expansion by Acquisition
Although Rich Paul initially focused on the NBA, the company’s growth allowed him to expand into other sports. Instead of entering new leagues from the ground up, Klutch Sports focused on acquiring notable agencies that held a larger number of clients from a particular sport. Unfortunately, none of the financial details from each of the company’s acquisitions has been publicly disclosed, but here’s what we do know:
- 2020 – Tidal Sports Group (MLB)
- 2020 – Revolution Sports Agency (NFL)
- 2023 – Elite Athlete Management (NFL)
- 2023 – Rep 1 Baseball Agency (MLB)
- 2024 – ROOF (European soccer)
With all of these acquisitions, Klutch Sports was able to bring in all of the companies’ former clients. For the MLB agencies, Tidal Sports Group and Rep 1 Baseball, Klutch Sports added clients such as Alex Bregman, Marcus Stroman, Rafael Devers, and Devin Williams.
As for the two NFL agencies, Revolution Sports and Elite Athlete Management, the acquisitions added a substantial number of successful players to the Klutch Sports roster. This included:
- Alvin Kamara
- Christian Kirk
- Danielle Hunter
- Jarvis Landry
- Melvin Gordon
- Odell Beckham Jr.
- Xavien Howard
While these clients were acquired through acquisitions, it’s essential to note the existing NBA client list that Klutch Sports has built since 2012. This list includes heavy hitters such as:
- Anthony Davis
- Darius Garland
- De’Aaron Fox
- Draymond Green
- Fred Vanvleet
- LeBron James
- Lonzo Ball
- Trae Young
- Zach Lavine
Contract Value & Commission
It’s challenging to evaluate just how much money Klutch Sports holds under management, as this would include the combined value from every active contract of all its clients. This is not just limited to team contracts, but also brand endorsement deals. In 2021, TIME magazine listed Klutch Sports among the top 100 most influential companies of the year, reporting over $1.8 billion in contracts under management for clients in the NBA and NFL.
The maximum commission that a sports agent can command from a player’s contract agreement is 4% in the NBA and WNBA. However, for the NFL, the percentage is capped at 3%, and in the MLB, the maximum is 5%. These caps are not expanded to brand endorsements, and agencies typically take a cut of between 10% and 20% for such deals.
Klutch Sports typically sticks to the maximum percentage cap; thus, if their client signs a $100 million contract, the agency can earn up to $40 million (NBA), $50 million (MLB), and $30 million (NFL).
Notable Contract Commissions
As of 2025, Klutch Sports reportedly has nearly 200 professional athletes under management across four separate sports, meaning that a 3-5% commission, even for lower-value contracts, can quickly accumulate. Some of Paul’s most notable negotiations, of course, include his experience managing LeBron, securing multiple agreements valued at over $400 million. At a 4% commission, assuming LeBron earned the full value of the deal, the agency would have earned $16 million.
When Anthony Davis signed a three-year, $186 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Klutch Sports potentially earned $7.4 million in commission.
Other notable deals include:
- Fred VanVleet – $130 million (estimated $5.2 million commission)
- Draymond Green – $100 million (estimated $4 million commission)
- Jerami Grant – $160 million (estimated $6.4 million commission)
Real Estate
Paul owns a beautiful home in Los Angeles, which he purchased for $4.35 million. It’s a traditional home, featuring six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms.
Entrepreneurs
Joel Glazer Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $1 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 58 |
| Born: | March 31, 1967 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
| Last Updated: | Nov 5, 2025 |
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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