Derby County and Nottingham Forest are both off to promising starts this season, with the two East Midlands clubs enjoying a period of relative success.
Few would have expected Forest to emerge as early contenders for European qualification, especially after narrowly avoiding relegation in their first two Premier League campaigns following promotion in 2021/22.
While Forest fans are relishing the return of top-flight football, Derby supporters are equally enthusiastic about their team’s return to the Championship after a two-year stint in League One, which coincided with their rivals’ promotion through the play-offs.
Both clubs appear to be in a stable financial position. Although Derby is currently seeking new investors, the club is on solid footing.
Here, *Football League World* examines how the rival owners, David Clowes of Derby County and Evangelos Marinakis of Nottingham Forest, built their fortunes.
**David Clowes’ wealth stems from his family business**
Little was known about David Clowes when he acquired Derby County in the summer of 2022, just weeks before the club faced liquidation. Today, he is regarded as a hero among Rams fans.
At 55 years old, Clowes spent £55 million to rescue Derby from administration. Although the club hasn’t made significant investments since, its financial health has improved considerably. Reports from September 2024 indicate that Clowes is seeking new investors to acquire 80% of the club, a move that could boost their spending power and further strengthen their position.
| Derby County Transfer Money Spent since David Clowes’ Takeover | |
|---|---|
| Corey Blackett-Taylor (January 2024) | £300,000 |
| Ebou Adams | £500,000 |
| Kenzo Goudmijn | £600,000 |
| Jacob Widell Zetterstrom | £1.4m |
The reluctant owner was a season ticket holder before taking on the role of owner over two years ago, having made his money through his family’s company, Clowes Developments.
According to *The Sunday Times Rich List 2024*, Clowes and his family have a net worth of £360 million. While he is best known for his role in the local development company, Clowes also had a career as a commercial pilot from 2000 to 2012. He started as a First Officer at British Midland and became a Captain in 2004.
**Evangelos Marinakis has built his wealth across multiple industries**
In contrast to Clowes, whose wealth is primarily tied to a single business, Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest, has diversified his investments across various sectors.
Marinakis’ fortune largely stems from his ship management company, Capital Maritime Trading Corp. Since its establishment in 2005, the company has reportedly generated £2.5 billion in revenue. By 2017, just 12 years after founding it, Marinakis had amassed a fleet of 70 ships under his management.
Not only does the Greek businessman own Nottingham Forest, he is also the controlling stakeholder of Olympiacos in his home country, and is the owner of Portuguese club Rio Ave.
Olympiacos are his most successful club, winning 10 league titles since he took over the club in 2010, and he is slowly building his two other teams into strong competitors in their own divisions after their past struggles.
Leave a Reply