Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Ownership Stake in Wrexham AFC
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquired Wrexham AFC in November 2020 through a company called Wrexham Holdings LLC, with the purchase price officially reported at approximately $2.5 million (around £2 million). The two actors serve as co-chairmen and hold their ownership through a discretionary trust structure, which means the exact percentage split between them is not disclosed in public filings or club statements. The club's ownership is managed through a holding company, and the trust structure is designed to protect the club's long-term community interests rather than reflect a simple 50/50 split between the two individuals. This structure is common in football club takeovers to separate personal interests from club governance. For context, the deal was announced after the duo appeared in a documentary series about their bid to buy the club, which aired on FX and increased global attention on the Welsh club. The acquisition made Wrexham one of the most high-profile non-league clubs in the world, with the ownership model frequently compared to other celebrity-backed football investments. The trust deed and company filings at Companies House in the UK provide the formal legal ownership details, though they do not break down individual ownership percentages between Reynolds and McElhenney. The club's official communications consistently refer to the pair as co-chairmen and owners without specifying a numerical split.
The ownership structure means that while both Reynolds and McElhenney are listed as owners, their individual stakes are held within the trust and are not publicly tradable or separately valued. This is different from publicly traded sports franchises where ownership percentages are clearly defined and can be valued on secondary markets. In the case of Wrexham, the club operates as a community-focused entity under the English football pyramid, with the trust structure reinforcing its not-for-profit ethos. The actors' involvement is primarily through their roles as co-chairmen, overseeing the club's operations, marketing, and global brand expansion. Their ownership is not a passive investment; both are actively involved in club decisions, as documented in their reality series and public interviews. The trust structure also means that any future sale of the club would require approval from the trust's trustees, adding a layer of governance that protects the club from speculative ownership changes. This model has been praised by football governance experts for balancing celebrity capital with community accountability. The lack of a disclosed individual ownership percentage is a deliberate choice that aligns with the club's community-first identity and the trust's fiduciary duties.
Wrexham AFC Ownership Structure and Trust Details
The ownership of Wrexham AFC is formally held by Wrexham Holdings LLC, a U.S.-based limited liability company that was used to complete the purchase of the club. The LLC operates under a discretionary trust, which means the legal ownership is held by trustees for the benefit of the club and its community, rather than for the personal profit of Reynolds and McElhenney. This structure is documented in the club's official statements and in the Companies House filings for Wrexham Holdings LLC, which show the entity's registered address and directors. The trust deed is not publicly available in full, but the club's governance documents confirm that the trustees have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the club and its supporters. This setup is distinct from a simple joint venture between two individuals and is designed to ensure long-term stability. The trust structure also means that the club's assets are protected from being sold off for personal gain, reinforcing the community ownership model that is central to Wrexham's identity. The use of a U.S. LLC for the purchase was a strategic choice that simplified the cross-border transaction and provided liability protection for the investors. The club's official website and press releases consistently refer to the ownership as being held by Reynolds and McElhenney through this trust and LLC structure, without breaking down individual stakes.