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.

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) 

Introduction

Teresa Heinz Kerry is a well-established businesswoman and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $750 Million. 

Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Following the death of her first husband, Senator John Heinz, in 1991, Kerry filed a lawsuit for wrongful death against the owners of two aircraft involved in a mid-air collision. The plane her husband was travelling in collided with a Bell 412 helicopter, killing everyone who was on board both the aeroplane and the helicopter. Following their investigation of the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that the pilots of both aircraft were at fault due to errors in judgment.

In 1997, Kerry successfully sued both the owners of the helicopter and the plane, Piper Aerostar, and the lawsuit was settled for $15 million in Kerry’s favor. $3 million was given directly to Kerry in her role as co-executor of the Heinz estate, and the remaining $12 million was split between Kerry and her two sons.

Chinese Investment Firm Controversy

Although not strictly a legal issue, Kerry found herself in the spotlight in 2021 when government filings revealed that she had an interest in Chinese investment firms. This was an issue as her husband, John Kerry, was the U.S. climate envoy at the time and regularly negotiated with China on climate cooperation. The former U.S. chief ethics lawyer, Richard Painter, stated that it could create legal and ethical issues as Chinese officials could hold the investments hostage.

According to the Office of Government Ethics, Kerry has an interest of at least $1 million in Teng Yue Partners. This hedge fund specialises in Chinese equity investments, though the assets were held in trust and not managed by Kerry or her husband. Despite the speculation, there’s no public record showing that Kerry was asked to sell her investments, and John Kerry continued his work as the U.S. climate envoy.

Philanthropy

Although Kerry chose not to take a leadership role at Heinz, she did take the lead in the family’s philanthropic activities. She oversees the Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies, two of the largest private charitable foundations, whose annual grants total more than $90 million. The Heinz philanthropic donations support a range of diverse initiatives, with a focus on environmental conservation, women’s issues, health, education, and community development.

Alliance for Health homes

With environmental issues at the heart of Kerry’s philanthropic endeavors, she has launched several green initiatives, including the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning in 1990. It later changed its name to the Alliance for Healthy Homes, with the sole aim of preventing lead poisoning in children throughout the United States.

In 1993, Kerry co-founded Second Nature with her husband, U.S. Senator John Kerry, environmental scientist Dr. Anthony D. Cortese, and Bruce Droste, an environmental educator. Second Nature is a nonprofit dedicated to making sustainability a core part of campus life, collaborating with U.S. colleges to integrate sustainability into research, teaching, and campus operations.

Women’s Retirement Initiative

In addition to focusing on the environment, Kerry has founded charities that support the financial security of women’s futures. In 1997, Kerry launched the Women’s Retirement Initiative. The following year, she founded the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), which has since become a leading advocate for policies that benefit older women facing financial insecurity.

Kerry has acknowledged the roots of the Heinz company, which was founded in Pittsburgh, and has gifted the city numerous grants through Heinz Endowments. Heinz has helped to improve many aspects of the city, including parks and concert halls. For example, in 2021, they donated over $30 million to support community projects, including Bike Share Pittsburgh, which received $750,000 to purchase electric bikes. $1.75 million was allocated to the historic New Granada Theater in the Hill District, allowing it to be renovated and restored.

Kerry’s philanthropic endeavors have not gone unnoticed. In 2003, she received the Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism. In 2007, the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy was awarded to her on behalf of the Heinz family, recognizing her impact on the institutions and initiatives she had helped establish.

Real Estate

Kerry is the proud owner of a six-floor, $7 million townhouse in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. She and her husband also own a $5 million ski retreat in Idaho, a $4 million estate in Pennsylvania near their home base in Pittsburgh, and a $5 million home in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. 

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Teresa Heinz Kerry’s career:

• The widow of former U.S. Senator John Heinz
• Heinz is Chair of the Heinz Endowments