A Bold Takeover That Changed Everything
In 2021, Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took a bold gamble, buying Welsh football club Wrexham AFC for around £2 million (approximately $2.5 million). Back then, Wrexham were in the fifth-tier National League, a long way from the top of English football, and generating annual revenues of just £1.15 million ($1.45 million)
Four years later, in 2025, the club has defied all odds, securing three consecutive promotions to reach the Championship for the first time since 1982. The most recent came with a convincing 3-0 win over Charlton, a result that put the club just 46 games away from the Premier League , a dream Reynolds and McElhenney openly declared during their first press conference, to much skepticism at the time.
The Hollywood duo’s total investment in the club has now topped £20 million (around $25 million), backing up their ambitions with financial commitment and strategic planning. That backing has helped Wrexham smash club records, rise through the leagues, and attract global attention.
According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Wrexham’s valuation could now reach £150 million (about $188 million), up from the £2 million (approximately $2.5 million) they were worth in 2021, a staggering 7,400% increase. As Maguire put it: “With the brand connection to the owners and now being 46 games away from the Premier League, that could add on another 50% to the value.”
Financial Growth Backed by Strategy and Star Power
Wrexham’s financial rise has been just as dramatic as their climb through the football leagues.
In the 2023–24 season, the club generated revenue of £26.7 million (around $33.4 million). That’s a 155% increase from the previous year’s total of £10.5 million (about $13.1 million). Just a few years earlier, before the Hollywood takeover, the club’s revenue was just £1.15 million.
Despite the boost in income, Wrexham reported a loss of £2.72 million (roughly $3.4 million) for the year. The biggest cost was player wages, which rose to £11 million (around $13.8 million).
Promotion to the Championship is now expected to bring in an additional £13 million per year (approximately $16.3 million). That includes:
£8 million (about $10 million) in television revenue
£5 million (around $6.3 million) in Premier League solidarity payments, up from £780,000 (roughly $981,000) in the lower league
However, the jump also triggered £2.3 million (around $2.9 million) in transfer-related clauses and bonuses.
To strengthen their operations, Wrexham has added experienced leadership. In May 2024, Michael Williamson , formerly of Inter Milan and DC United, was appointed CEO.
In January, Kaleen Allyn , whose family sold the Welch Allyn medical diagnostics business for over $2 billion—became an executive director. She and her father, Eric Allyn, are now minority shareholders with an estimated 10–15% stake in the club.
More Than Just Football: Global Reach and Emotional Investment
The FX-produced documentary Welcome to Wrexham , launched in 2022, has dramatically raised the club’s profile. Though the club earns no direct revenue from the show, its popularity has significantly boosted merchandise sales and global fan engagement. Wrexham now has more games screened in the U.S. than any other EFL team.
In a heartfelt message after the third promotion, Reynolds wrote:
"We’ve been with Wrexham for what seems like the blink of an eye, but so much has happened... People laughed [at our Premier League goal]... It seemed insane… But we weren’t kidding. I feel at home here."
He added: "The Stadium feels like a church. I know so many of you now. Since February, 2021, I’ve watched babies become regulars. And some regulars depart us for good... Somebody said the Welsh have the 'heart of a poet and the fist of a fighter'. That’s what I love about this place. Diolch."
The Man Behind the Spotlight
Born in October 1976 in Vancouver, Canada, Reynolds began acting at 13, with early roles in The Odyssey and Hillside. His big break came with Van Wilder in 2002, followed by hits like Just Friends, The Proposal, and the Deadpool franchise.
Though Green Lantern flopped, Deadpool earned $782.6 million on a $58 million budget, becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. Reynolds, now 46, has a net worth exceeding $400 million, bolstered by savvy business moves.
He sold his stake in Aviation Gin for over $600 million in 2020 and earned $300 million from the $1.35 billion Mint Mobile sale to T-Mobile. In 2024 alone, Reynolds reportedly made £79 million ($99 million) from acting, with Deadpool & Wolverine, IF, and Welcome to Wrexham as key contributors.
What’s Next for Wrexham?
With construction set to begin on a new Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground, limiting stadium capacity next season, challenges lie ahead. But with continued investment, a growing global fanbase, and the “Ryan and Rob factor,” Wrexham are now just one step from football’s biggest stage, the Premier League.
Reynolds and McElhenney’s dream, once dismissed as a joke, is now just 46 games away.
In 2021, Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took a bold gamble, buying Welsh football club Wrexham AFC for around £2 million (approximately $2.5 million). Back then, Wrexham were in the fifth-tier National League, a long way from the top of English football, and generating annual revenues of just £1.15 million ($1.45 million)
Four years later, in 2025, the club has defied all odds, securing three consecutive promotions to reach the Championship for the first time since 1982. The most recent came with a convincing 3-0 win over Charlton, a result that put the club just 46 games away from the Premier League , a dream Reynolds and McElhenney openly declared during their first press conference, to much skepticism at the time.
The Hollywood duo’s total investment in the club has now topped £20 million (around $25 million), backing up their ambitions with financial commitment and strategic planning. That backing has helped Wrexham smash club records, rise through the leagues, and attract global attention.
According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Wrexham’s valuation could now reach £150 million (about $188 million), up from the £2 million (approximately $2.5 million) they were worth in 2021, a staggering 7,400% increase. As Maguire put it: “With the brand connection to the owners and now being 46 games away from the Premier League, that could add on another 50% to the value.”
Financial Growth Backed by Strategy and Star Power
Wrexham’s financial rise has been just as dramatic as their climb through the football leagues.
In the 2023–24 season, the club generated revenue of £26.7 million (around $33.4 million). That’s a 155% increase from the previous year’s total of £10.5 million (about $13.1 million). Just a few years earlier, before the Hollywood takeover, the club’s revenue was just £1.15 million.
Despite the boost in income, Wrexham reported a loss of £2.72 million (roughly $3.4 million) for the year. The biggest cost was player wages, which rose to £11 million (around $13.8 million).
Promotion to the Championship is now expected to bring in an additional £13 million per year (approximately $16.3 million). That includes:
£8 million (about $10 million) in television revenue
£5 million (around $6.3 million) in Premier League solidarity payments, up from £780,000 (roughly $981,000) in the lower league
However, the jump also triggered £2.3 million (around $2.9 million) in transfer-related clauses and bonuses.
To strengthen their operations, Wrexham has added experienced leadership. In May 2024, Michael Williamson , formerly of Inter Milan and DC United, was appointed CEO.
In January, Kaleen Allyn , whose family sold the Welch Allyn medical diagnostics business for over $2 billion—became an executive director. She and her father, Eric Allyn, are now minority shareholders with an estimated 10–15% stake in the club.
More Than Just Football: Global Reach and Emotional Investment
The FX-produced documentary Welcome to Wrexham , launched in 2022, has dramatically raised the club’s profile. Though the club earns no direct revenue from the show, its popularity has significantly boosted merchandise sales and global fan engagement. Wrexham now has more games screened in the U.S. than any other EFL team.
In a heartfelt message after the third promotion, Reynolds wrote:
"We’ve been with Wrexham for what seems like the blink of an eye, but so much has happened... People laughed [at our Premier League goal]... It seemed insane… But we weren’t kidding. I feel at home here."
He added: "The Stadium feels like a church. I know so many of you now. Since February, 2021, I’ve watched babies become regulars. And some regulars depart us for good... Somebody said the Welsh have the 'heart of a poet and the fist of a fighter'. That’s what I love about this place. Diolch."
The Man Behind the Spotlight
Born in October 1976 in Vancouver, Canada, Reynolds began acting at 13, with early roles in The Odyssey and Hillside. His big break came with Van Wilder in 2002, followed by hits like Just Friends, The Proposal, and the Deadpool franchise.
Though Green Lantern flopped, Deadpool earned $782.6 million on a $58 million budget, becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. Reynolds, now 46, has a net worth exceeding $400 million, bolstered by savvy business moves.
He sold his stake in Aviation Gin for over $600 million in 2020 and earned $300 million from the $1.35 billion Mint Mobile sale to T-Mobile. In 2024 alone, Reynolds reportedly made £79 million ($99 million) from acting, with Deadpool & Wolverine, IF, and Welcome to Wrexham as key contributors.
What’s Next for Wrexham?
With construction set to begin on a new Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground, limiting stadium capacity next season, challenges lie ahead. But with continued investment, a growing global fanbase, and the “Ryan and Rob factor,” Wrexham are now just one step from football’s biggest stage, the Premier League.
Reynolds and McElhenney’s dream, once dismissed as a joke, is now just 46 games away.
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