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Evangelos Marinakis – Biography, Net Worth and Club Ownership

Henry Oliver Davies Harrison • 2026-09-27 • Reviewed by Hanna Berg

Evangelos Marinakis is a Greek shipping magnate, investor, and football club owner best known for controlling Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos. His business interests center on Capital Maritime, an international shipping company he founded and chairs, and on media holdings that make him a significant figure in Greek business.

Born in Piraeus on 30 July 1967, Marinakis is the son of Irini Marinaki and Miltiadis Marinakis, a Cretan shipowner and former Greek parliament member. He is widely described as one of Greece’s richest people, though reported net worth figures vary substantially across sources. One maritime publication, AJOT, profiles him as a committed philanthropist as well as a shipping executive.

His public profile now spans several countries, with recent developments including a club condolence message to his family, a new sponsor at Nottingham Forest, and an offer to fund medical care for attack victims.

Who Is Evangelos Marinakis?

Who: Greek businessman; owner of Nottingham Forest FC and Olympiacos FC

Known For: Football club ownership, shipping empire (Capital Maritime Group), media investments

Current News: Family condolences; Marex shirt sponsor; Nuno talks; Huntingdon medical-care offer

Net Worth: Estimates vary; not officially confirmed

  • Marinakis owns two major European football clubs across different countries.
  • His portfolio spans three pillars: shipping, media, and professional sports.
  • His ownership approach is hands-on, performance-driven, and closely watched.
  • Recurring news themes include financial investment, managerial discussions, and philanthropic gestures.
  • His public standing in 2025–2026 is closely tied to Nottingham Forest’s on-field and financial trajectory.
  • Personal details, including information about his children, remain limited in public sources.
Attribute Details
Full Name Evangelos Marinakis
Born Piraeus, Greece, 30 July 1967
Parents Irini Marinaki and Miltiadis Marinakis
Known For Owner of Nottingham Forest FC and Olympiacos FC; shipping magnate
Related Businesses Capital Maritime Group (shipping); media investments
Football Clubs Nottingham Forest (England, Premier League); Olympiacos (Greece, Super League)
Olympiacos Stake Controlling stake; one source cites 86%
Nottingham Forest Stake Reports commonly cite an 80% stake, bought in 2017 for about £50 million
Family Married with four children, including a son named Miltiades Marinakis
Recent News Condolences from Nottingham Forest; Marex shirt sponsor; Nuno talks; Huntingdon attack offer
Net Worth Estimates vary widely; not officially confirmed

Marinakis was born in Piraeus, Greece, on 30 July 1967. According to Wikipedia, his parents are Irini Marinaki and Miltiadis Marinakis, a Cretan shipowner and former Greek parliament member. Fortune Herald describes him as the family’s only son.

His wealth is primarily rooted in shipping. Forbes identifies him as the owner of Capital Maritime Trading Corp., with additional stakes in publicly traded Capital Clean Energy Carriers. Coverage in Tovima describes him as running an “armada” of more than 100 ships. That shipping base, combined with media investments and football ownership, forms the three-part portfolio that defines his public profile.

What Football Clubs and Sports Teams Does Evangelos Marinakis Own?

Marinakis controls two major European clubs and holds an additional reported investment in Portugal.

Nottingham Forest

He bought Nottingham Forest in 2017, with reports commonly citing an 80% stake and a purchase price of about £50 million. Since then, he has funded major spending at the club. Sporting News has traced how his shipping, football, and media interests support that investment. Background reporting from BBC Sport places his ownership of the two clubs in the context of European football.

Olympiacos

Marinakis bought Olympiacos in 2010 and holds a controlling stake, with one source stating 86%. The club has recorded long-term success during his tenure.

Rio Ave

Reports note that Marinakis also invested in Portuguese club Rio Ave in 2023, extending his football footprint beyond Greece and England.

The working relationship with Nuno Espírito Santo

The relationship between Marinakis and Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has become a recurring topic in football coverage. The owner’s hands-on approach has drawn attention, particularly when transfers or results are under discussion.

Ownership figures

Stake sizes are not always made public. The 86% figure for Olympiacos comes from one cited source, while the 80% and £50 million figures for Nottingham Forest are commonly repeated in press reports. The Rio Ave investment has been reported but not detailed.

Why Is Evangelos Marinakis in the News Right Now?

Several recent developments have brought Marinakis back into headlines.

Condolences from Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest’s official account on X recently extended condolences to Marinakis and his family following what the club described as very sad news. The club statement did not specify the cause or circumstances.

Support for Huntingdon attack victims

ESPN reported on 2 November 2025 that Marinakis offered to help fund medical care for victims of a knife attack on a train in Huntingdon. The ESPN report said the offer was directed at supporters affected by the incident.

Marex shirt sponsorship

TradeWinds reported in August 2026 that Marex, a UK/US broker, agreed a deal to become Nottingham Forest’s shirt sponsor. The TradeWinds article described Marinakis as bringing in an “ambitious” broker, though the financial terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.

Nuno Espírito Santo talks

BBC Sport reported on 31 August 2025 that Marinakis and Nuno Espírito Santo were set to meet for talks to patch up their differences, according to the BBC Sport article.

What Is Evangelos Marinakis’ Wider Business Empire?

Capital Maritime & Trading Corp.

Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. is the foundation of Marinakis’ wealth. He serves as founder and chairman of the international shipping company. Forbes says he owns the shipping group and also has stakes in publicly traded Capital Clean Energy Carriers. Coverage elsewhere has described his fleet as an “armada” of more than 100 ships.

Media and other investments

Beyond shipping and football, Marinakis is described as a media investor and sports investor. Finance Monthly identifies him as a media mogul in addition to his shipping activities. He has also been associated with civic influence in Greece, with BBP Media noting service on Piraeus city council in its business profile.

Net worth estimates

Published net worth figures for Marinakis vary sharply. One cited Forbes profile puts his family’s fortune at about $3.7 billion. Another referenced estimate is around $3.84 billion, while Finance Monthly lists $5.1 billion.

At the lower end, LADbible and other profiles cite figures ranging from $650 million to $3 billion. The spread reflects differing valuation methods and whether sources count only personal wealth or wider family holdings, a point also explored by 888sport.

Net worth caution

No official confirmation of Marinakis’ net worth exists. Published estimates range from about $650 million to $5.1 billion depending on the outlet, the valuation method, and whether personal or family wealth is counted.

Why estimates differ

The large spread in net worth figures comes down to what is being counted. Some sources count only Marinakis’ personal wealth, while others include wider family holdings or value football and media assets differently.

What Recent Events Have Shaped Marinakis’ Public Profile?

  1. – BBC Sport reports that Marinakis and Nuno Espírito Santo are set to meet for talks to resolve their differences.
  2. – ESPN reports that Marinakis offered to help fund medical care for victims of the Huntingdon train knife attack.
  3. Recent – Nottingham Forest’s official X account extends condolences to Marinakis and his family following unspecified sad news.
  4. – TradeWinds reports that Marex agreed a deal to become Nottingham Forest’s shirt sponsor.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?

Public records settle some questions about Marinakis but leave others open. TheCityCeleb identifies a son named Miltiades Marinakis, while noting that other family details are kept relatively private.

Established Remains unclear
He owns Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos, with a reported investment in Rio Ave. His exact net worth is not officially confirmed; estimates range widely.
He founded and chairs Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. The financial terms of the Marex sponsorship have not been disclosed.
He offered to help fund medical care for Huntingdon attack victims, per ESPN. The reason for Nottingham Forest’s condolences post has not been specified.
He and Nuno Espírito Santo were set to meet for talks, per BBC Sport. Public details about his son and wider family remain limited.
Public profiles say he is married with four children. The specific media companies he controls are not identified in the available sources.

How Does Evangelos Marinakis Fit Into the Wider Football and Business Landscape?

Marinakis fits the pattern of a modern football club owner who combines shipping wealth, media influence, and sports investment. His portfolio spans three countries and two major football leagues, making him one of the more internationally visible owners in European football.

The Marex sponsorship is notable because it brings a non-traditional brand into football shirt sponsorship. Rather than a gambling or consumer-finance company, the deal ties Nottingham Forest to an “ambitious” broker, a sign of how global financial firms are moving into sports sponsorship.

His offer to support Huntingdon attack victims also signals the bond between club and community. By offering to fund medical care for affected supporters, Marinakis aligned the club with its fan base at a difficult moment.

In Greece, his influence extends beyond football. BBP Media notes his association with political and civic life, including service on Piraeus city council, adding a political dimension to his business career.

The overlap of sport, money, and public profile is not unique to him. Figures such as David Beckham – Biography, Career and Net Worth show how athletic fame and commercial interests increasingly converge.

What Do Official Statements and Reports Say?

The available records include an official club statement, a sports broadcaster’s report, a trade publication, and a mainstream sports report. Together they trace the most recent period of Marinakis’ public life.

“Everyone at Nottingham Forest Football Club extends its deepest condolences to Evangelos Marinakis and his family following the very sad news of…”

Nottingham Forest official X account

ESPN reported that Marinakis vowed to help fund medical care for any supporter caught up in the Huntingdon train knife attack. TradeWinds reported that derivatives broker Marex had agreed a deal to back Nottingham Forest. BBC Sport reported that Marinakis and Nuno Espírito Santo were set to meet for talks to address their differences.

What Is the Bottom Line on Evangelos Marinakis?

Marinakis is a shipping-rich club owner whose wealth comes primarily from Capital Maritime, with major holdings in football and media. He remains one of the most influential owners in European football, though his exact net worth is disputed across major outlets. Recent events, from the sponsorship agreement to managerial talks and his response to the Huntingdon attack, underline how closely his business and public roles are watched.

The public appetite for detail on sports wealth extends to former players as well, as seen in Jason Cundy – Football Career, Net Worth, and Family.

What Are the Most Common Questions About Evangelos Marinakis?

How did Evangelos Marinakis make his money?

His wealth is rooted in shipping. He founded and chairs Capital Maritime & Trading Corp., which Forbes identifies as his shipping group. He also expanded into media and football investments.

What is Evangelos Marinakis’ net worth?

No verified public figure exists. Published estimates range from about $650 million to $5.1 billion, depending on whether personal wealth or wider family holdings are counted and how club and media assets are valued.

Who is Evangelos Marinakis’ son?

Public profiles identify a son named Miltiades Marinakis. Other details about his family are kept relatively private, and no extensive public portrait is available.

Is Evangelos Marinakis married?

Public profiles say he is married and has four children. His wife’s name is not widely detailed in the available sources.

How large is Evangelos Marinakis’ shipping fleet?

Coverage describes his operations as an “armada” of more than 100 ships run through Capital Maritime.

Why is Evangelos Marinakis controversial?

The available sources do not describe major legal controversies. His managerial style, including reported friction with Nuno Espírito Santo, has drawn press coverage, but little else is established.

Henry Oliver Davies Harrison

About the author

Henry Oliver Davies Harrison

Henry Oliver Davies Harrison is Editor-in-Chief and a writer at PressOrbit, covering UK news, business and public affairs. He is accountable for the newsroom's editorial standards and leads its sourcing and fact-checking process, from research through to final approval, so that each article is accurate, clearly attributed and useful to readers.