Sir Jim Ratcliffe made Man United proposal over Elon Musk that would tap into his £387bn net worth

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Christmas Eve marks one year of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership at Manchester United and new details are now emerging around his plans at the club.

While many fans hoped Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover would end the chaos endured under Glazer ownership, the first 12 months under the British billionaire has been just as turbulent.

Ratcliffe’s net worth has tumbled £4bn during his first year as Manchester United owner, and his reputation among the fanbase has also taken a hit.

He only has himself to blame for the latter, with United fans upset at £66 ticket prices while staff morale has plummetted following 250 jobs being cut at Old Trafford.

As Ratcliffe enters his second year as United co-owner, many of his plans and projects are now underway – including conversation about a new 100,000-seater stadium being built.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to build 100,000-seater stadium

Ratcliffe and Co. are expected to make a decision around Old Trafford and a new stadium in 2025 after a task force was assembled to assess options.

A new stadium is expected to cost £2bn, and it is becoming increasingly clear that Ratcliffe wants to build a new stadium rather than fund a redevelopment project of Old Trafford.

United fans also voted for a new stadium to be built, with 52% of voters in a survey in favour of a new stadium, while 31% voted to refurbish Old Trafford and 17% declared themselves unsure.

However, one issue surrounding the new stadium is how it will be funded. Andy Burnham has confirmed that no public money will be put towards the new stadium build.

Elon Musk considered as potential Man United stadium investor

Building a new state-of-the-art stadium is no cheap project, and Ratcliffe is looking to get some investors on board to make it happen.

According to The Athletic, Ratcliffe proposed in one meeting that billionaires Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos could provide funds for stadium construction.

Sources say Ratcliffe felt either billionaire might be tempted by the appeal of United, and they are certainly not short of resources.

READ MORE: Man United take next Old Trafford step as ‘world leading experts’ attend stadium summit

Musk has an estimated net worth of $486bn (£387bn) as of 2024, while Bezos is worth $246bn (£196bn). Finance expert Adam Williams estimates that a new stadium would earn United £230m per season.

As stated by the report, it is unclear whether Ratcliffe’s proposals gained any traction.