Who Is Ken Griffin, the Billionaire Who Financed USMNT’s Hiring of Mauricio Pochettino?

American fans can proudly accept Mauricio Pochettino as the USMNT manager with wide arms. After weeks and weeks of delays, good news finally came that the Argentinian tactician will officially take charge of the Star and Stripes. While special thanks go to the people behind the scenes who managed to strike the deal, there’s someone special who needs to be given a shoutout as without his efforts, nothing would have been possible. Ken Griffin is the man we would like to introduce you today.

He, ladies and gentlemen, is the man who had the biggest hand of all in bringing Pochettino to the States, financially to be precise. For those unaware, Ken Griffin is a renowned American businessman and a billionaire. Born on October 15, 1968, in Daytona Beach, Florida, he is the founder and CEO of Citadel, a preeminent global alternative investment firm, and also the founder and Non-Executive Chairman of Citadel Securities, one of the world’s leading market-making companies.

No wonder the 55-year-old’s CV says he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Science from the prestigious Havard University in 1989. But the intrigue in finance saw him invest since his college days, doing so from his own Harvard dorm room. The following year after graduation, he founded Citadel LLC and years later, Citadel Securities. As of 2024, the valuation of Griffin’s brainchild is a whopping $22 billion. His own net worth is around $35 billion. But then again, what crossed his mind to give some chunk of his wealth to the US Soccer?

A proud nonprofit organization, U.S. Soccer has solidified its efforts to raise funds in the last decade. Among the major steps is reaching out to higher-wealth individuals like Griffin, who may be willing to do some charity work and support the federation’s measures to improve the game.

Therefore, the Athletic reported that while the search for a new manager continued, one of the donors to the USSF contacted Griffin, who in turn agreed to sponsor a substantial amount for the MNT program and the employment of a ‘big-name’ coach that they hoped to get.

“Soccer is one of the most popular sports in America,” Griffin said in a statement. “I am excited to join my fellow Americans in supporting our teams’ efforts to triumph in the upcoming World Cup and beyond. When our players do well on the pitch, it expands the reach of this great sport,” he continued.

The billionaire also underlined the potential of the Golden Generation’ to become “influential role models for millions of American children by exemplifying the values of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance.” Interestingly, Griffin’s involvement in soccer wasn’t ignited by just donating his money to USSF.

Ken Griffin was involved in soccer way before making a substantial donation to USMNT’s ‘Project Mauricio Pochettino’

Throughout his journey from millions to billions, Ken Griffin never felt short in his efforts to become a successful philanthropist. Over the years, the American entrepreneur has donated over $1.56 billion across various charitable causes, mostly for education, economic mobility, and health research purposes. He has also contributed tens of millions of dollars to political candidates and causes, commonly aligned with Republican or conservative ideologies.

Speaking about his personal spending, Ken Griffin is an active buyer of modern and contemporary art, with a collection valued at nearly $800 million, including several paintings that rank among the most expensive in the world. His personal real estate portfolio is worth around $1 billion, and he owns two private jets: a Bombardier Global Express and a Bombardier Global 6000.

While it’s quite astonishing to hear about his wealth, it remains to be seen if his donation to USSF for Mauricio Pochettino turns out to be a favorable investment.