The money behind West Brom: How the club's owners built their fortune | OneFootball

FLW details how the current West Brom owners made their money.

West Brom have had a tough period of financial uncertainty but have finally found stability under controlling shareholder Shilen Patel.

Florida-based businessman Patel remains the club's majority shareholder, acquiring 87.8% of West Brom from ex-owner Guochuan Lai in February 2024.

Patel made the takeover through one of his and his father, Kiran Patel's, companies, Bilkil Football. The deal took nearly two weeks to go through after it was first announced, but after passing the EFL's tests, he has now led the club forward.

The transition was welcomed by almost all Albion fans, who were desperately seeking a change after a dismal seven-year stint of Lai which involved one promotion, two relegations and a serious lack of investment.

Since Patel has taken over, there has been a more organised transfer policy, people at the top of the building who know what they’re doing with the numbers, and there is a passion to see the club do well again to help return them to be an established Premier League outfit.

With this in mind, Football League World takes a look at how West Brom owner Shilen Patel made his money.

How Shilen Patel made his fortune

The majority of Shilen Patel’s wealth comes from the healthcare technology sector.

As founder and CEO of HealthAxis Group, he developed software platforms designed to streamline medical practice operations. The company specialised in creating comprehensive technological solutions that addressed critical inefficiencies in healthcare administration.

His first significant financial milestone came in 2011 with the sale of Visionary HealthWare, establishing his reputation as a technology entrepreneur.

Shilen's father, Kiran, a cardiologist, transformed a single medical practice into a comprehensive management company spanning 14 practices across multiple medical specialties.

The most substantial financial breakthrough came through the family's strategic investment in WellCare. In 1992, Patel's father acquired the company for $5 million, subsequently selling it in 2002 for $200 million.

Shilen Patel’s venture into football began with his decade-long involvement with Bologna, helping the Italian club gain promotion to Serie A in 2014-15, which has since led to appearances in the UEFA Champions League.

It is believed that Shilen and Kiran are worth a combined $500 million, with Shilen estimated to have a net worth of $100 million (£75.3 million), as per Birmingham Live.

West Brom are in safe hands with Shilen Patel at the helm

There’s no doubt West Brom are now a club on the rise due to Shilen Patel’s investment. The American has emerged himself in the culture of the club, communicated openly with supporters and has made every decision in the club's best long-term interests.

Tough decisions have been made due to the precarious financial situation they inherited, but over the years, Albion should grow out of that and be much more competitive on the pitch like we’ve seen over the last two decades.

Time will tell whether the Baggies can jump back into the Premier League mix, but they’ve got a great chance now they’ve got custodians who have the sole goal of returning Albion to its rightful place.