John Coates (businessman)
John Fitzgerald Coates (born January 1970), is an English businessman and joint chief executive (CEO) of online gambling company Bet365. He has been listed in the Forbes magazine’s 29th annual rich list, with an estimated personal fortune of $1.3 billion (roughly £850 million).[2]
John Coates | |
---|---|
Born | John Fitzgerald Coates January 1970 (age 50) |
Nationality | English |
Alma mater | Bristol University |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Joint CEO Bet365 & vice-chairman of Stoke City |
Net worth | US$2 billion (October 2018)[1] |
Parent(s) | Deirdre & Peter Coates |
Early life
John Fitzgerald Coates was born in January 1970,[3] the son of Peter Coates, chairman of Stoke City F.C. and director of Bet365. He attended Bristol University where he studied Law. He lives near Stoke-on-Trent with his wife and two children.
Business career
Coates studied law at Bristol University and started his career as an attorney. In 2001, after selling some of their father's betting shops to large bookmaker Coral, his sister convinced him to join her in launching bet365.
Bet365
John and his sister Denise Coates[4] are co-CEOs of U.K. based bet365, an online gambling company. He owns a quarter of the company.[5]
Bet365 Foundation
John helped Denise set-up the Bet365 Foundation in August 2012 and it has donated £100 million[6] to 20 UK charities to help support projects home and abroad.
Charities which have received funds include Oxfam, CAFOD, the Douglas Macmillan Hospice for cancer sufferers in Stoke, and relief programmes for victims caught in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. University scholarships and theatre donations have also been offered.
Stoke City
In July 2015 Coates was appointed as vice-chairman at Stoke City where his father is chairman.[7]
References
- "Forbes".
- Forbes. "Top billionaires". Forbes.
- "HILLSIDE (LEISURE) LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
- Bowers, Simon (2012-06-08). "Denise Coates: the hidden 24/7 woman behind Bet365". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
- Torrance, Jack (2015-03-03). "More people became billionaires last year than ever before". www.managementtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
- Bowers, Simon (2014-07-11). "Bet365's Denise Coates sets up £100m charity foundation". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
- Spinks, Martin (2015-07-02). "Stoke City: John Coates appointed vice chairman". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 2016-05-14.