Cardiff City has seen a steady ascent in the early stages of the 2023/24 season, currently occupying the 8th position in the league standings as they head into the October international break.
Under the leadership of Erol Bulut, the team initially struggled in his early games in charge. However, they have swiftly climbed the Championship table, with just one loss in their last six league matches. This impressive run commenced with a 2-0 victory in the South Wales Derby against Swansea City on September 16th.
This string of successes has ignited hopes among the fans of ending a five-year absence from the Premier League, marking the third time they would make it to the top flight under Vincent Tan’s ownership.
With this in mind, we’ve decided to delve deeper into the background of Cardiff City’s owner.
How Did Vincent Tan Amass His Wealth?
Before taking control of the club in 2010, Vincent Tan had a long history in the business world.
His entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 17 when he started as a bank clerk in his home country, Malaysia. Later, he transitioned to a career as a life insurance agent. In 1980, Tan purchased the McDonald’s franchise for Malaysia and became its managing director two years later.
In 1984, he shifted his focus to the Berjaya Corporation, a company involved in various sectors such as marketing, property development, and consumer services. He gained control of the company by injecting the 51% of shares he acquired in Sports Toto into Berjaya.
Although he retired as CEO in 2012, he returned to the company in 2017 as an executive director before stepping down from that role in March 2023 to become an advisor. Tan also has a stake in the Malaysian mobile-phone operator, U Mobile.
What Is Vincent Tan’s Net Worth?
According to the latest estimates found on Vincent Tan’s Forbes profile, the 71-year-old businessman has a net worth of $695 million.
This places him as the 28th richest person in Malaysia in 2023, a significant shift from his position at 1,533rd on the Forbes Billionaire’s list in 2015. His highest recorded net worth, as per Forbes data, was $1.6 billion in 2014.
Vincent Tan’s Involvement in Football
In 2010, Vincent Tan acquired a 36.1% stake in Cardiff City. At the time, the club was a formidable force in the Championship but struggled to make it to the Premier League.
The turning point came in the 2012/13 season when Cardiff City won the league with 87 points. However, Tan’s ownership was marked by controversy as he changed the club’s traditional blue colors to red, believing it would bring better fortune. He also controversially dismissed Head of Recruitment Iain Moody and Manager Malky Mackay during the club’s maiden Premier League campaign.
In late October 2021, Tan, in collaboration with Ismir Mirvic, acquired a 60% stake in Bosnian Premier League outfit FK Sarajevo.”
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