James Ratcliffe
About James Ratcliffe
Former chemical engineer James Ratcliffe is the founder, chairman and majority owner of $68 billion (2022 revenue) chemical powerhouse Ineos Group.
The London-based conglomerate produces everything from synthetic oils and plastics to solvents used to make insulin and antibiotics.
It's become one of the U.K. shale sector's largest players. Its 600-foot "Dragon Ships" were the first to transport U.S. shale gas into Europe.
Ratcliffe mortgaged his house in 1992 to lead the buyout of a BP chemicals business; 6 years later, he bought a plant from that firm to form Ineos.
Ineos acquired two chemicals businesses from BP in 2021 for $5 billion. It formed petrochemical JVs with Sinopec worth more than $7 billion in 2022.
In 2023, Ineos acquired $1.4 billion of U.S. onshore oil and gas assets from Chesapeake Energy.
Ratcliffe acquired a 28% stake in British soccer club Manchester United for $1.5 billion over two months ending in early 2024.
Personal stats
Citizenship
United KingdomSource of wealth
ChemicalsResidence
London , United KingdomMarital status
MarriedBirth date
01/01/53 (age 71)Self-made
self-madeJames Ratcliffe’s fortune is worth
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median U.S. household
median U.S. income
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Did you know?
Ineos owns a third of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, as well as two smaller soccer clubs in France and Switzerland.
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