Chelsea Owner | Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital & Past Ownership details

Who are Chelsea FC Owners - Clearlake Capital

The ownership of Chelsea FC by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital arose from the very extraordinary circumstances of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For almost 20 years, ownership of Chelsea was under the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who made the club into a European giant. When sanctions were imposed by the UK government against Abramovich concerning ties with the Russian state, he had to sell the club away in a sale. Due to the special government licence for the sale, it was strictly prohibited for any of the sale proceeds to fall into Abramovich's hands, with the proceeds instead to be used for humanitarian purposes.

Following a bidding war managed by The Raine Group. The highest bid came from Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Todd Boehly, a Chicago-based American investor and sports owner with stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Lakers, was made the face of the new ownership. Clearlake Capital, a private-equity company, provided the bulk of the funding and is technically the largest partner within the consortium. Their bid of £4.25 billion was a record for a sports franchise sale and came with a massive package of investment commitments in the club's infrastructure, academy, and women's team. The deal was signed in May 2022, culminating in a swift and historic demise of the Abramovich era and the commencement of a new era for the club under the new Chelsea owners. In September 2026, it was announced that Clearlake Capital will solely own Chelsea FC, with a stake of around 87.17%, with Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss extending his stake to over 12% to keep his co-ownership, unlike Boehly, who exited his shares.

Clearlake Capital Source of Income

As of now, the chairman of Chelsea FC is not confirmed, so we are letting you know about the owner company, Clearlake Capital's source of income. At its core, Clearlake Capital makes money through two primary streams, management fees and performance incentives (often called carried interest). First, Clearlake charges regular management fees, typically around 1.5% to 2% annually, to the institutional investors whose money they manage.

This fee is calculated based on the total capital committed to their funds. It provides a steady, reliable stream of income that covers day-to-day operations, salaries, research, and general overhead across their private equity, credit, and special situations strategies. The real payday, however, comes from generating profits. When Clearlake buys, restructures, or improves a company, often using its operational playbook, and sells it for a gain, the firm retains a share of those profits, usually around 20%, after delivering a base return to its investors. Additionally, Clearlake earns yields and interest from its credit investment branch, alongside transaction or advisory fees when executing major corporate turnarounds and buyouts.

Clearlake Capital Net Worth

Chelsea owner Clearlake Capital's net worth stands at $185 billion in assets under management (AUM). Their fortune grew with investments in technology, industrial, and consumer markets.

What is Clearlake Capital?

The other owner of the Chelsea club, Clearlake Capital, is a global investment firm operating across private equity, liquid credit, and other financial aspects. Clearlake primarily focuses on technology, industrial, and consumer sectors. Clearlake's actual business model revolves around partnering with management companies to uplift underperforming companies or companies that are in transition, by helping them evolve and grow.

Founded by Jose E Feliciano and Behdad Eghbali, working with a team of investment professionals, through a partnership with management companies, helps in growing and transforming underperforming companies. Its investment in Chelsea FC is deemed to be one of the major acquisitions, but the firm's portfolio expands across sectors.

Clearlake Capital Key Personnel

The individuals of Clearlake Capital, who also simultaneously manage Chelsea FC, are the firm's founders and managing partners. The key personnel of Clearlake Capital are:

Other Teams Owned by Clearlake Capital

The new Chelsea owners have a significant stake in sports franchises beyond Chelsea FC. They serve as the co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), and the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA).

Additionally, Clearlake Capital acquired French football club Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace in 2023, starting a multi-club model for the Chelsea ownership group. As a private equity firm, Clearlake Capital has no history of direct sports team ownership outside of its partnership with BlueCo.

Chelsea Owners History: From Past to Present

The ownership of Chelsea FC has a diverse history, with three distinctive eras of ownership. From humble beginnings with Gus Mears & Family to a period of financial stabilisation with Ken Bates. Chelsea FC's financial picture changed with the arrival of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. His unprecedented investment changed the tides and fortunes of the club, turning Chelsea into a major football powerhouse. The club has witnessed a new chapter after its acquisition by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital Owners in 2022.

Chelsea Owners Controversy

The current ownership of Chelsea, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, has faced a number of controversies and challenges. These issues have largely revolved around financial dealings, on-field performance, and their business practices. The club's new owners have faced criticism for their extensive spending on transfers without immediate on-field success.

There have also been controversies relating to past financial dealings under the previous owner, Roman Abramovich, which the new owners have self-reported to football authorities. Additionally, Todd Boehly has faced scrutiny over his links to a ticket resale website, which some fans view as a conflict of interest.