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Evangelos Marinakis – Net Worth, Family, and Football Clubs

Harry George Howard • 2026-07-29 • Reviewed by Hanna Berg

Evangelos Marinakis is a Greek businessman and shipowner best known as the owner of Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest, and Rio Ave. He built his fortune through shipping via Capital Maritime & Trading Corp, but his exact net worth remains a subject of debate among sources. This article provides a comprehensive overview of his wealth, family, football club ownership, and personal background based on available information.

Born in Piraeus in 1967, Marinakis inherited a shipping tradition from his father and expanded it into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. His business interests now span shipping, football, and media.

Marinakis has been a prominent figure in Greek and European football for over a decade, but questions about his net worth, family details, and even his height and religion are frequently searched. Here is what is known and what remains unclear.

What is Evangelos Marinakis’s net worth and how did he build his wealth?

Overview

Category Details Source
Net Worth Estimated between $3.1 billion and $7 billion (depending on source) Sporting News, Finance Monthly, Public Report
Family Married to Athanasia Marinakis (also known as Athanasia Kassioti or Athina Marinakis); four children (most common figure) Wikipedia, The Sun, Superyachtfan
Football Clubs Olympiacos (Greece), Nottingham Forest (England), Rio Ave (Portugal) Wikipedia, CS Wikipedia
Background Greek shipping magnate born 30 July 1967 in Piraeus, Greece Wikipedia

Key insights

  • Evangelos Marinakis built his fortune through Capital Maritime & Trading Corp, a major shipping company.
  • He owns three football clubs across three countries, making him a unique multi-club owner in European football.
  • His net worth is not publicly confirmed by official sources, but industry estimates place it in the billions.
  • Marinakis is described as Greek Orthodox in one profile, but this is not consistently confirmed.
  • He remains actively in control of Nottingham Forest despite past legal issues in Greece.
  • His wealth is most often tied to shipping, with some sources also noting media and football as part of his business portfolio.
  • Family details are kept private, with only limited information available about his wife and children.

Snapshot facts

Field Information
Full Name Evangelos “Vangelis” Marinakis
Date of Birth 30 July 1967
Age 58 (as of 2026)
Place of Birth Piraeus, Greece
Nationality Greek
Occupation Businessman, shipowner, football club owner, media owner
Known For Owner of Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest, Rio Ave
Net Worth (Est.) $3.1–7 billion (not officially confirmed)
Spouse Athanasia Marinakis (name varies by source)
Children Four (most common; one source says three)
Height Not publicly disclosed (approx. 1.75–1.80 m – unconfirmed)
Religion Greek Orthodox (unconfirmed; only one source mentions it)
Football Clubs Owned Olympiacos (Greece), Nottingham Forest (England), Rio Ave (Portugal)
Company Capital Maritime & Trading Corp

Who is Evangelos Marinakis’s family? Wife, children, and personal life

Evangelos Marinakis’s Wife: Marriage and Family Background

Marinakis is married to Athanasia Marinakis, also referred to in some sources as Athanasia Kassioti or Athina Marinakis. The couple keeps their relationship largely out of the public eye, and little is known about her background or profession. According to Wikipedia, he is the only son of Irini Marinaki and shipowner-politician Miltiadis Marinakis from Crete.

Children: Daughters and Sons

The most commonly cited number of children is four, though one source says three. Reports indicate he has at least one daughter and one son, but their names and ages are not publicly known. The family maintains a high level of privacy, and no images or personal details have been widely shared.

Privacy note

Details about Marinakis’s wife and children are scarce because the family actively avoids media attention. The names “Athanasia Kassioti” and “Athina Marinakis” may refer to the same person, but this has not been independently confirmed.

Family Privacy and Public Appearances

Marinakis has been reported to live in London, UK, according to some profiles. He served as a city councillor in Piraeus, which is a rare glimpse into his non-business public life. Outside of football matches and official events, his family rarely appears in the press.

Which football clubs does Evangelos Marinakis own?

Olympiacos: Dominance in Greek Football

Marinakis acquired a majority stake in Olympiacos in 2010. Under his ownership, the club became a dominant force in Greek football, winning multiple league titles. In the 2023/24 season, Olympiacos won the UEFA Europa Conference League, reportedly the first Greek club ever to win a European trophy. This achievement further cemented Marinakis’s reputation in the sport.

Nottingham Forest: Premier League Ambitions

In 2017, Marinakis purchased Nottingham Forest for a reported £50 million, acquiring an 80% stake. The club earned promotion to the Premier League in 2022 and has since competed in England’s top flight. According to a BBC report from August 2025, Marinakis remains in control of Nottingham Forest despite past legal issues in Greece.

Rio Ave: Portuguese Venture

In 2022, Marinakis expanded his multi-club network by acquiring Rio Ave in Portugal. The club competes in the Primeira Liga, adding a third European league to his portfolio. This move mirrors the multi-club ownership model seen in other football groups.

Control status

Despite some legal controversies in Greece related to match-fixing allegations (of which he was acquitted in some cases), multiple sources confirm that Marinakis remains in full control of all three clubs as of late 2025.

Current Control Status and Controversies

Marinakis has faced legal proceedings in Greece over alleged match-fixing, but he has consistently denied wrongdoing and has been acquitted in some cases. The exact legal status is complex and requires verification from Greek court records. However, no credible report suggests his ownership of any club has been affected.

Multi-club ownership

Marinakis’s portfolio of three clubs across Greece, England, and Portugal places him among a small group of multi-club owners in European football, similar to the City Football Group but on a smaller scale.

What is Evangelos Marinakis’s personal background? Age, height, religion

Date of Birth and Age

Evangelos Marinakis was born on 30 July 1967 in Piraeus, Greece. As of 2026, he is 58 years old. His birthplace and family history tie him closely to the shipping industry that has long defined the region.

Physical Attributes: Height and Appearance

There is no official or credible source that provides Marinakis’s height. Some unconfirmed estimates place him around 1.75–1.80 metres (approximately 5’9″ to 5’11”), but this should be treated as speculative. No reliable data is available.

Religious Beliefs: Greek Orthodox Faith

A single source labels Marinakis as Greek Orthodox, but this information is not consistently confirmed across other profiles. Given the lack of corroboration, his religion should be considered unconfirmed. Many Greek public figures are Greek Orthodox by cultural background, but no official statement from Marinakis or his representatives has been found.

Key events in Evangelos Marinakis’s life and career

  1. : Born in Piraeus, Greece
  2. : Founded Capital Maritime & Trading Corp
  3. : Acquired Olympiacos F.C.
  4. : Purchased Nottingham Forest F.C. for a reported £50 million
  5. : Acquired Rio Ave F.C. in Portugal
  6. : Olympiacos wins UEFA Europa Conference League under his ownership

What is known and what remains uncertain about Evangelos Marinakis?

Established Information Information That Remains Unclear
He is the owner of Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest, and Rio Ave. Net worth is not publicly disclosed; estimates vary widely from $3.1 billion to $7 billion.
He is the founder and chairman of Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. Height is not officially published; any figures are speculative.
Born 30 July 1967 in Piraeus, Greece. Greek citizen. Exact details about his wife and children (names, professions) are not widely known due to privacy.
He has served as a city councillor in Piraeus. Legal status of past match-fixing allegations requires verification from Greek court records.
He remains in control of Nottingham Forest (per BBC, August 2025). Religion is mentioned in only one source; not independently confirmed.

What is Evangelos Marinakis’s background and significance?

Marinakis is a prominent figure in both shipping and global football. He leveraged his shipping wealth to build a multi-club ownership model similar to the City Football Group, although on a smaller scale. His influence extends into Greek politics (his father was a politician) and sports governance. The question of his net worth is frequently searched but lacks a single authoritative source, creating a content gap that this article attempts to fill by aggregating estimates from reputable financial outlets. His family life is kept private, which explains the scarcity of information about his wife and children.

Marinakis’s background in shipping is the foundation of his wealth. Capital Maritime & Trading Corp operates a fleet of tankers and bulk carriers, and the company’s success allowed him to enter football ownership. His acquisition of Olympiacos in 2010 marked the beginning of a decade of dominance in Greek football, followed by expansion into England and Portugal.

The multi-club ownership structure gives Marinakis influence across three European leagues. While not as large as some rival groups, his network allows for player transfers and shared resources among clubs. This model has attracted attention in the football world as a way to compete with state-backed clubs.

Quotes and sources on Evangelos Marinakis

“Marinakis is the owner of football clubs Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest and Rio Ave. He is the son of shipowner and politician Miltiadis Marinakis from Crete.”

Wikipedia

“Evangelos Marinakis took over at Nottingham Forest in 2017. Marinakis is the founder and chairman of Capital Maritime & Trading Corp.”

BBC Sport (August 2025)

Summary

Evangelos Marinakis is a Greek businessman and shipowner who has built a multi-billion-dollar fortune through shipping and expanded into football ownership across three clubs. While his exact net worth remains debated and his family life is private, his influence in both shipping and European football is clear. For a comparison with another prominent investor, see Nelson Peltz – Net Worth, Family, and Disney Proxy Fight.

Frequently asked questions about Evangelos Marinakis

What is Capital Maritime?

Capital Maritime & Trading Corp is the shipping company founded by Evangelos Marinakis, which is the primary source of his wealth. It operates a fleet of tankers and bulk carriers.

Does Evangelos Marinakis have a daughter?

Yes, reports indicate he has a daughter, though her name is not publicly known.

Does Evangelos Marinakis have a son?

Yes, he has a son. Both children are kept out of the public eye for privacy.

Is Evangelos Marinakis still in control of Nottingham Forest?

According to a BBC report from August 2025, Marinakis remains in control of Nottingham Forest despite past legal issues.

Where does Evangelos Marinakis live?

He is reported to live in London, UK, according to some profiles.

How many children does Evangelos Marinakis have?

The most common figure is four children, though one source says three. His children are not publicly named.


Harry George Howard

About the author

Harry George Howard

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.