A footballing figure once worth more than David Beckham was close to purchasing Manchester United until his wife convinced him otherwise
Wigan Athletic owner, Dave Whelan looks on during the Sky Bet League One match between Wigan Athletic and A.F.C. Wimbledon at DW Stadium on April 28, 2018 in Wigan, England.
Dave Whelan was once the richest ex-footballer in the UK(Image: Nathan Stirk, Getty Images)
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Dave Whelan was wealthier than former Manchester United icon David Beckham during the height of his ownership at Wigan Athletic. And, had he gone ahead with his plans to purchase United, his wealth could have soared even higher.
Whelan, who served as chairman and owner of the current League One team for two decades, guided them through an eight-year stint in the Premier League, which included a memorable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in 2013.
Although the 89-year-old is no longer active in the sport he loves, Whelan remains a figure of considerable wealth in British sport. In 2011, when Beckham was playing for LA Galaxy, Whelan was officially recognised as the richest Brit still involved in football, surpassing the former England captain.
After his playing career with Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra ended, he amassed his fortune by setting up his own chain of shops, drawing on his market trading experience. According to the Sunday Times Sport Rich List, Whelan's net worth was a staggering £190million, significantly more than Beckham's estimated £135m at the time.
Whelan's net worth is now estimated to be over £162m, a testament to his business acumen as he's not as involved in the sports industry as he once was. Beckham, on the other hand, has surged ahead, amassing an impressive wealth estimated to be between £500m and £700m.
However, former JJB Sports owner Whelan could have been on track to becoming a billionaire had he made a relatively small investment back in the 1980s. Following discussions with senior figures at Old Trafford, it was reported that Whelan had reached a basic agreement with United official Martin Edwards to buy the club during that time.
Sir David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami CF, arrives at the stadium prior to the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Final match between Inter Miami CF and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
David Beckham is now worth around £500m(Image: Rich Storry, Getty Images)
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Reflecting on what might have been, the businessman said: "I made the wrong decision in regards to Manchester United, because it is interesting to see what has happened since.
"The purchase of Manchester United was all sorted with Martin Edwards and was going to be sealed within 28 days."
But when Whelan informed his wife about the potential deal, her concerns about his success with JJB Sports swayed his decision. He explained: "Later I went home and said to my wife Patricia that I'd pulled off a good deal to buy Manchester United - £11.5m was a lot of money then. She said, 'What?'
"I was in JJB and expanding so she said, 'Do you think all the people in London, Liverpool, Birmingham will come and shop at your stores when you own Manchester United – the greatest enemy the teams they support have?'"
Dave Whelan lifts the FA Cup
Dave Whelan could have become the owner of United in the 1980s(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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Whelan added: "I said, ‘You might have a point!' So instead I went back to Martin Edwards and Manchester United and said the deal is done but told him that if he floated Manchester United on the stock market, he would get a lot more than £11.5m."
Today, the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe hold joint ownership of United after Ratcliffe bought a 25% stake in February 2024, with his INEOS group taking charge of football operations.
Yet, had Whelan taken the plunge in the 1980s and bought the club for just £11.5m - roughly equivalent to £30m-40m in present-day terms - the fortunes of both Whelan and Manchester United might have been vastly different.
Instead, he purchased Wigan for around £1m in 1995 and steered the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2005. He sold the club in 2018 for £22m, bringing his 23-year tenure to an end after investing substantially more money, including financing the £30m development of the JJB Stadium.