Who is Jim Ratcliffe? Everything from Early Beginning to Net Worth

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is one of the UK’s most prominent industrialists and the founder of Ineos, the world’s fourth-largest chemical company. From modest beginnings in Northern England, Ratcliffe built a global empire through strategic acquisitions and bold financial decisions. Known for his investments in both industry and sport—including a stake in Manchester United—he remains a major figure in British business and one of the wealthiest individuals in the country.

Background

Born on October 18, 1952, Jim Ratcliffe grew up in a council house near Manchester. His upbringing was modest—his mother worked as an office manager, and his father was a joiner. Despite these humble origins, Ratcliffe was academically driven. He began his career at Esso before pursuing further education, eventually earning an MBA from the London Business School.

Career Beginnings

In 1989, Ratcliffe joined the US-based private equity firm Advent International. This role marked the beginning of his journey into high-level business. Nearly a decade later, in 1998, he founded Ineos from a small office in Hampshire. By using high-yield debt financing, he began purchasing underperforming divisions from major corporations—most notably acquiring BP’s petrochemical arm, Innovene, in 2006. This acquisition expanded Ineos across Europe and North America.

Global Growth

Ratcliffe’s business strategy was bold and effective—targeting operations that could double their earnings within five years. In 2010, he moved Ineos’ headquarters to Rolle, Switzerland, significantly reducing the company’s tax liability by £100 million annually. Today, Ineos products are essential in everyday life, from water purification and dental care to medicine, insulation, and food packaging.

Jim Ratcliffe Net Worth

Ratcliffe’s business success translated into immense personal wealth. In 2025, he was featured on a high-profile rich list, ranking seventh with a net worth of £17 billion—despite a reported loss of £6.5 billion that year. His financial strategy and bold acquisitions have consistently kept him among the UK’s wealthiest individuals.

A passionate football fan, Ratcliffe became a minority shareholder in Manchester United in February 2024. Since then, the club has undergone significant changes, including a wave of redundancies and plans for a new stadium estimated to cost around £2 billion.

Personal Life

Jim Ratcliffe has three children. With his first wife, Amanda Townson, he has two sons—George and Samuel. The couple divorced in 1995 after a decade of marriage. He later had a daughter, Julia, with his second wife, Italian tax lawyer Maria Alessia Maresca. The two reportedly married in the late 1990s but separated a few years later.

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