How David Clowes’ net worth compares to Mike Ashley, John Textor as Derby County takeover eyed | OneFootball

Both Ashley and Textor have been named as potential buyers of the Rams

Derby County are well and truly in the midst of takeover talk at present, whilst the club looks to progress towards the play-off places under John Eustace's on-pitch management.

The Rams were able to reconsolidate in the Championship last season by a narrow margin after achieving automatic promotion from League One in 2023/24 under Paul Warne, before the current MK Dons boss was replaced by Eustace in February.

Just a few short years ago, Derby were one of the second tier's strongest forces as they looked to end an exile from the Premier League which has continued to last since the 2007/08 campaign, during which the East Midlands club became best known for breaking the unwanted record of having the top-flight's lowest-ever points' total.

After failing to return to the elite of English football through the play-off system in 2014, 2016 and 2019, controversial former owner, Mel Morris would place the club into administration after revealing financial losses in excess of £200m during a period which coincided with the COVID-19 outbreak, as all fixtures were largely fulfilled within empty stadiums.

After being relegated to the third-tier under the management of Wayne Rooney in 2021/22 amid a hefty 21-point deduction, lifelong Derby supporter and local businessman, David Clowes, rescued the club from the brink after agreeing a £33m takeover with administrators, Quantuma.

However, just over three years down the line, the 56-year-old could relinquish his control to one of either former Crystal Palace stakeholder, John Textor or ex-Newcastle United chairman, Mike Ashley, amid reports that the Rams are currently valued at £60m.

With that being said, Football League World have compared the reported net worth of the trio involved in potential takeover talks.

David Clowes' net worth as current Derby County owner

Clowes is currently said to have a wealth of £380m, according to the 2025 Sunday Times' Rich List.

As previously mentioned, the source of the Rams' owner's cash, which has bankrolled their current rebuilding process, is extremely close to home in many ways.

The businessman would take control of the CWC Group in February 2015 after the passing of his father, who founded the business way back in 1964.

Despite helping the firm generate a reported turnover of £253.2m in the year which he rescued his local side from the brink, Clowes was not always involved in business, pursuing a career in aviation between 2000 and 2012, despite initially becoming involved in his father's work as a 16-year-old back in 1985.

How John Textor and Mike Ashley's net worth compares to Derby County owner David Clowes

Textor's name has never been too far away from headlines in the world of football ownership of late, selling his shares in last season's FA Cup winners to New York Jets owner, Woody Johnson after his multi-club involvement in the Eagles and French side, Lyon, saw Palace demoted from the UEFA Europa League to the UEFA Conference League.

After being heavily linked with a takeover of Sheffield Wednesday for some time, the American firmly has his sights set on the Rams as well as currently owning Brazilian side, Botafogo.

According to reports in June 2025, Textor is estimated to have an individual worth of between $75m and $100m, whilst, in October 2024, his football-themed multi-club firm, Eagle Football Holdings, was reportedly valued at a figure of £1.47bn.

Ashley has also been involved in several controversial moves during his time at St James' Park, having been Newcastle chairman between 2007 and 2021, buying the club for £134m and selling it for £305m 14 years later.

Unsurprisingly, the man who made his fortune after founding Sports Direct - now Frasers Group - four decades ago, is one of the UK's richest figures.

According to Forbes, Ashley is currently worth $5.7bn (£4.2bn), as he seeks his latest involvement in football after selling up on Tyneside to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which came months before he was unsuccessful in taking Derby out of administration before Clowes stepped in.

Like Textor, the Walsall-born 61-year-old has also simultaneously been linked with a move for Sheffield Wednesday, seeing an official £20m bid rejected for the Owls on November 26th.