How Danish businessman Anders Holch Povlsen made his billions amid Sheffield Wednesday takeover talk | OneFootball

The FC Midtjylland owner has also been listed as Scotland's richest man for the last four years in a row

Anders Holch Povlsen is reportedly one of the many names interested in taking over at Sheffield Wednesday, according to reports.

Povlsen was been named as one of six potential bidders for the Owls by The Athletic on Friday, although it remains to be seen if his reported interest has led to a concrete offer at this stage.

The 53-year-old has an estimated net worth of over €13 billion, as per Forbes, so it is a development that will undoubtedly spark excitement among Wednesdayites.

With exclusivity for a preferred bidder initially expected by December 5, albeit that date may get extended, Povlsen is arguably the most high-profile figure and richest individual linked with the club to date.

How potential Sheffield Wednesday owner Anders Holch Povlsen made his billions

Povlsen’s vast fortune, which Forbes and other outlets peg around the $13.3 billion (£10 billion) mark, is primarily derived from the global fashion empire Bestseller.

He inherited the Danish fashion company from his parents, Troels Holch Povlsen and Merete Bech Povlsen, who opened their first store in 1975.

Via Bestseller's official website, they own over 20 brands, including the likes of Jack & Jones and Vero Moda which are very popular throughout Europe.

Beyond his family business, Povlsen holds stakes in some major online retailers, most notably British company ASOS - where he has long been the largest shareholder with over 28 per cent. He also holds a substantial stake in the German e-commerce giant Zalando.

It's worth noting that Mike Ashley, who has had an initial £20m bid rejected for Wednesday himself, is the second-biggest shareholder in ASOS through his company Fraser's Group.

That is an intriguing link to another individual that is eyeing up a takeover deal for the stricken Wednesday, but Povlsen's financial interests and investments appear to be much larger - especially as he is the biggest landowner in the United Kingdom thanks to his purchases in the Scottish Highlands.

Anders Holch Povlsen could add Sheffield Wednesday to his football club portfolio

Through Wildland Ltd, another company he owns, Povlsen has over 200,000 acres of land across the Highlands. Though he does not own this land to make money, but for a long-term restoration project.

Although Danish, he has been listed as the wealthiest person in Scotland for the past four years, and splits his time living between the two countries.

Unsurprisingly, if Povlsen eventually succeeded in a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, the South Yorkshire club would instantly become one of the wealthiest clubs in the English football pyramid.

Since 2023, the Dane now owns 95.5 per cent of shares in FC Midtjylland through his investment company Heartland. So, you can also make the assumption that he has a good idea of how to run a football club, especially as they won the Danish Superliga in 2024.

However, wealth does not always guarantee success in the EFL, and fans will surely be wary of getting too ahead of themselves until a firm bid is tabled.

But for a club that has suffered through financial uncertainty under Dejphon Chansiri, the prospect of an owner who built a multi-billion dollar global empire taking charge is an exciting one.