How wealthy the West Brom owner is compared to the EFL's richest clubs | OneFootball

FLW compares Shilen and Kiran Patel’s wealth to the some of the richest clubs in the Championship.

West Brom have had a tough period of financial uncertainty but have finally found stability under controlling shareholder Shilen Patel.

Despite being placed under an EFL-imposed business plan last summer to avoid breaking profit and sustainability rules (PSR), Albion have remained competitive in the second tier, building a squad capable enough of challenging towards the top end of the table and threatening to return to the Premier League after a four-year absence.

Florida-based business man Patel remains the club's majority shareholder, acquiring 87.8% of West Brom from Chinese businessman Guochuan Lai in February 2024.

Patel made the takeover through one of his and his father, Kiran Patel's, companies, Bilkil Football WBA. The deal took nearly two weeks to go through after it was first announced, but after passing the EFL's tests, he will have the task of leading the club forward.

The transition was welcomed by almost all Albion fans, who were desperately seeking a change after a dismal seven-year stint of Lai which involved one promotion, two relegations and a serious lack of investment.

At Football League World, we take a look at Shilen and Kiran Patel’s net worth and how that compares to some of the richest owners in the EFL.

Shilen and Kiran Patel’s net worth at West Brom

It was reported Shilen Patel paid £60 million to take control of West Brom, becoming the chairman as part of the deal.

He is also a minority shareholder in Italian Serie A club Bologna, having bought a percentage of the team back in 2014.

Nevertheless, the American is estimated to have a net worth of $100 million (£75.3 million), as per Birmingham Live, but that is not where his wealth ends.

It has been stated by Birmingham Live in the same article that his father has a net worth of $400 million (£301.3 million), with a combination of these funds being placed into Bilkul Football WBA, LLC.

This, in turn, means both the West Brom owners are worth a combined $500 million, equating to £376.6 million placed into Bilkul, which holds a 87.7% stake in the football club.

In comparison, there are other Championship owners that rank above the West Brom hierarchy for wealth, with a report from Portsmouth News detailing the net worth of each owner.

The report detailed that Vincent Tan, owner of Cardiff City was valued at $695 million (£546 million), while Preston North End controlling shareholder Trevor Hemmings is reportedly worth a staggering £1.2 billion.

It also highlights that the Venky’s of Blackburn Rovers are worth £1.56 billion and Bristol City’s Stephen Lansdown has £1.72 billion.

Portsmouth also possess wealthier owners than Albion, with Pompey owner Michael Eisner net worth standing at £870 million.

Stoke City’s John Coates is reportedly worth a whopping $4.6 billion according to Forbes, ranking as the second-richest owner in the Championship, and Leeds United top the list as Denise York's family owns over 90% of the San Francisco 49ers and a controlling stake in the Whites. They are estimated to hold $6.7 billion.

West Brom's wealth a challenge to return to the Premier League

Despite West Brom having such rich owners, it’s staggering to see how many clubs have a larger wealth over the Black Country club.

With parachute payments running out for Albion, it makes it even more difficult for the Baggies to gain promotion back to the Premier League, with savvy spending required to fight against some of the Championship heavyweights, provided promotion this season isn’t secured.