Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2m a year role at Manchester United will end next year – but that does not mean the Scottish legend will be short of a pound or two.
Ever since his retirement in 2013, Ferguson has been working as a global ambassador and club director for the Red Devils. However, his role will cease next year as part of cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford.
The Glaswegian native was a masterful football manager, but he has also proven himself as a savvy business operator. He has quietly built a substantial fortune through various enterprise endeavours, starting as far back as 1983.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ferguson boasts an eye-watering net worth of £53.6million ($70m). The core of Sir Alex’s wealth is ACF Sports Promotions Ltd, with his sons Mark, Darren, and Jason on the board of directors.
It is an enterprise that showed assets and investments totalling £24.3m in June 2023, according to the Manchester Evening News. This figure reflects a rise of £1.6m over the previous year.
Beyond this business, which cites “other sports activities” as its area, Ferguson’s earnings are boosted by profits from book publishing deals, speaking events, and public appearances. His late wife, Lady Cathy, who passed away in October 2023, also served as a director of ACF before her death.
The enterprise, which Ferguson established in 1983 using his initials, including his middle name ‘Chapman’, has a comfortable £5.1m in reserves and boosted the nation’s income with £188,832 of corporation tax contributions. Additionally, there’s a cool portfolio of football memorabilia worth £2m credited to ACF, which is showcased in museums and academic spaces.
He has also amassed a fortune from horse racing successes. Ferguson has a prestigious history of horse ownership, boasting names like Rock of Gibraltar, Caldwell Potter, and Clan des Obeaux among his stable stars.
According to Boyle Sports, Ferguson’s horses have raked in £6.8m to date. Despite his considerable wealth, many high profile past figures were furious with Ferguson’s role being cut short.
His former players Rio Ferdinand and Eric Cantona were notably unhappy with the decision. The latter took to social media and said: “Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies.
“Such a lack of respect. It’s totally scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever! And I throw them all in a big bag of s***!”
Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups, four League Cups and the Club World Cup between 1986 and 2013.