Evangelos Marinakis—the influential Greek businessman, owner of Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest, and major supporter of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC)—has pledged a €200,000 bonus to Greece’s men’s and women’s national water polo teams.
Mr Marinakis agreed to allocate €100,000 to each national team, acknowledging that “the men’s bronze medal is worth as much as gold.” The intended distribution includes athletes, coaches, and support staff, honoring the collective effort behind the medals.
Who Is Evangelos Marinakis?
Evangelos “Vangelis” Marinakis is a highly prominent figure in shipping, media, and sports. Born in Piraeus in 1967, he founded Capital Maritime & Trading Corp in 2005, which today oversees a vast fleet spanning tankers, LNG vessels, and more In sports, he took ownership of Olympiacos in 2010, leading the club to multiple domestic league titles and a landmark UEFA Europa Conference League victory in 2024—the first European trophy won by a Greek club.
In 2017, he acquired Nottingham Forest, guiding them back to the Premier League by 2022 and even investing in the Portuguese club Rio Ave.
Marinakis also ventured into media through Alter Ego Media, owner of leading outlets like Ta Nea, To Vima, and Mega TV. The media group went public on the Athens Stock Exchange in January 2025 after an oversubscribed offering
Net Worth & Influence
According to Forbes (as of July 2025), Marinakis and his family have an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion Other reports place him at approximately £3.3 billion in wealth His fortune is primarily rooted in shipping and football, amplified by his media holdings.
Lloyd’s List has regularly ranked Marinakis among the most influential figures in global shipping, placing him 16th in 2024.
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