What was Norwich City majority owner Mark Attanasio doing before he joined the Canaries? | OneFootball

How Norwich City majority owner Mark Attanasio made his fortune.

Key Takeaways

In April 2024, Mark Attanasio became a joint-majority shareholder in Norwich City. This came after the American businessman was appointed as a director in August 2022.

Attanasio is currently a joint-majority shareholder in the Canaries, along with Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones. With an increased interest from wealthy Americans in English football, Attanasio followed the trend by increasing his stake in the Carrow Road outfit.

However, this isn't the 66-year-old's first rodeo when it comes to sports ownership, as he has been involved with an American baseball team for over 20 years and counting.

Mark Attanasio made his fortune through investment firm Crescent Capital Group

Buying professional sports teams doesn't come cheap, not to mention the operating costs after the initial acquisition. To own majority stakes in not one, but two professional teams in their respective sports requires deep pockets.

Whilst it may seem like a crazy venture from the outside looking in, there is plenty of money to be made from these purchases. Just take Wrexham, for example. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have taken the club from the National League to League One, whilst bringing worldwide notoriety to the Welsh town thanks to their documentary.

The man from the Bronx graduated from Brown University in 1979, with a Bachelor of Arts. He then attended Columbia Law School three years later, receiving his Juris Doctor, allowing him to practice law. Not much is known about what Attanasio did following his graduation, but, nine years later, he would co-found a Los Angeles-based investment firm named Crescent Capital Group. This company was sold just four years later to Trust Company of the West (TCW), with Attanasio remaining as a senior executive.

Attanasio would see most of his wealth come in 2001 when French bank Société Générale bought a majority interest in TCW for an estimated amount that exceeded $1.3 billion.

The Norwich owner has had a fruitful career as an investment management executive, spanning over 35 years.

20 years and counting as Milwaukee Brewers owner

In September 2004, the multi-millionaire looked to make his first gig in sports ownership. Whilst it wouldn't be overseas just yet, Attanasio settled on the MLB team, Milwaukee Brewers, as his first venture.

This was a childhood dream for the investment management executive, as he had reportedly been immersed in baseball ever since he was a young boy growing up in the Bronx. After his fortune was made by Société Générale purchasing a majority stake in TCW, he had the chance to make a dream reality.

After completing the purchase of the Brewers for an estimated $200 million, his brother, Paul, stated: “I grew up with my brother flipping baseball cards, and now he’s buying a Major League Baseball team. It’s an American dream.”

Fast-forward 20 years, Attanasio is still living his childhood dream. His oversight has seen the Brewers become one of the National League's most competitive teams. This was helped by his early establishment of young talent which could prepare the team for years to come. His focus on making the matchday experience as good as possible saw him become a loved figurehead in Milwaukee.

It would be fair to say that the American certainly has all the credentials for success in Norfolk.

Attanasio's estimated net worth

As previously mentioned, owning not one but two professional sports clubs requires some deep pockets. With the estimated sale of the Brewers worth around $200 million. Come next year, the multi-millionaire is reportedly set to end Deila Smith's reign as majority owner and increase his stake to 85% in the club. His £59 million worth of loans could become shares, which would see him become almost the sole owner of the former Premier League side.

Of course, during his highly successful career in investment and sports management, it would be a fair assumption that the Bronx-born businessman knows how to be smart with his money. If he saw the acquisition of Norwich as a big risk, it would be a no-go for him.

Attanasio's work has seen him earn an estimated $700 million, according to a report by Front Office Sports, which would rank him 18th richest in the English top flight. It seems that this number will continue to increase, as the 66-year-old's multiple business ventures have been a massive success so far.