Thomas Zilliacus has been linked with Inter for months now. In many interviews, he expressed interest in taking over the club. Here’s who he is.
The name of Thomas Zilliacus has been floating around Inter’s affairs for several months. The Italian club is in the thoughts of the Finnish entrepreneur who, on several occasions, has made no secret of his desire to purchase it from the hands of the Zhang family. This makes many fans wonder who Zilliacus is, and what net worth he can muster to buy Inter.
By May 2024 the Zhangs will have to repay the loan obtained from Oaktree of 275 million euros, up to 360 million euros (384 million USD) when capital and interests are added. The club could end up in the hands of the Californian fund unless the current ownership tries to renegotiate the loan, tries to bring in a minority shareholder, or decides to sell the company.
It is no mystery that the Zhangs have mandated consultancy firms such as Goldman Sachs and Raine to scrutinize the market in search of possible investors or buyers.
Among the various names that have been circulating, one of the most prominent is Thomas Zilliacus. The Finnish entrepreneur has given several interviews over the last few months, saying he was ready to buy Inter by presenting an official offer to the Zhang family. Zilliacus’ offered 1 billion euros (1 billion USD) for the Italian club. This already gives an idea of how large Thomas Zilliacus’ net worth really is.
Just a few days ago Zilliacus was interviewed by the Italian Tuttosport. He is currently bringing together institutions, big and small financial subjects, and rich and influential families, for a fund worth 2.5 billion euros (2.7 billion USD). This amount would first go to the purchase of Inter, and then to the renovation and management of the club’s home stadium. "We have the money and we are serious", reiterated Zilliacus who also said he was ready to lend a hand by acquiring a minority share. Let’s get to know him better.
Who is Thomas Zilliacus?
Thomas Zilliacus was born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1964. He comes from a very prominent Finnish family who held leading positions in politics, culture, science, and business. His working career began at the age of 25 at the Nokia Corporation, where he was hired as global head of marketing and corporate branding. Today he is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder and president of Mobile FutureWorks Group, a conglomerate of companies active in diverse industries such as digital media, e-commerce, online payments, mobile gaming, and real estate. He also heads Sandbox Global, a game development company.
Zilliacus has also been involved in the world of football for years as from 1982 to 1986 he was president of the Finnish football champions HJK. He then moved to Singapore from 1989 to 1995 and managed the Singapore Geylang International team.
His interest in European football is also highlighted by his previous interest in Manchester United. The 69-year-old Finn also has ties to Italy and Lombardy, owning a house in the Brunate area, in the province of Como.
Thomas Zilliacus net worth
Thomas Zilliacus’ net worth is not known with certainty but estimates put his companies’ values at over 3 billion dollars.
In short, an enormous wealth that demonstrates he can acquire a minority or majority share of Inter, as well as the knowledge necessary to gather different international players.
Original article published on Money.it Italy 2023-11-07 22:06:49. Original title: Thomas Zilliacus, chi è e quanto guadagna l’imprenditore che vuole comprare l’Inter
