Football is a sport known for its multi-billion-dollar industry, attracting top players, coaches, and executives who earn staggering salaries. While referees don’t often share the same spotlight, some have made a fortune through their careers in officiating and other business ventures. This leads to a fascinating question: Who is rated the richest referee in the world in the history of football?
In this article, we explore the wealthiest referees in football history, their earnings, and the factors that contributed to their financial success. We also analyze how referees make money and which top officials have accumulated the most wealth.
The Role of a Football Referee and Their Earnings Potential
A football referee is responsible for enforcing the rules of the game, ensuring fair play, and maintaining discipline on the field. Their earnings come from match fees, sponsorship deals, endorsements, and sometimes, external business ventures.
How Referees Earn Money
- Match Fees – Elite referees earn significant amounts per match, especially in top leagues and international competitions.
- Sponsorships & Endorsements – Some well-known referees attract sponsorship deals.
- Business Ventures – Several referees have invested in businesses outside of football.
- Media Roles & Book Deals – Some referees take up analyst roles or publish books about their careers.
Who is Rated the Richest Referee in the World in the History of Football?
Among the most famous and wealthiest referees, Pierluigi Collina stands out as the richest referee in football history. His influence, combined with high earnings from refereeing, endorsements, and business ventures, has helped him amass a significant fortune.
1. Pierluigi Collina – The Wealthiest Football Referee in History
Pierluigi Collina is an Italian former football referee. He was named “The World’s Best Referee” by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics six consecutive times from 1998 to 2003
Collina was born in Bologna and attended the University of Bologna, graduating with a degree in economics in 1984. During his teenage years, he played as a centre-back for a local team, but was persuaded in 1977 to take a referee’s course, where it was discovered that he had a particular aptitude for the job. Within three years he was officiating at the highest level of regional matches, while also completing his compulsory military service. In 1988, he progressed more rapidly than normal to the national third division, Serie C1 and Serie C2. After three seasons, he was promoted to officiating Serie B and Serie A matches.
Net Worth: Estimated at $13 million
Pierluigi Collina, an Italian former referee, is widely regarded as the best football referee in history. Known for his bald head and intense demeanor, Collina officiated numerous high-profile matches, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final and the UEFA Champions League Final.
Sources of His Wealth:
- Match Fees: As an elite referee, he officiated top-tier matches that paid high fees.
- Endorsements: Collina was the face of MasterCard and Adidas, securing lucrative sponsorship deals.
- FIFA & UEFA Roles: After retiring, he took on key roles in refereeing committees, earning substantial salaries.
- Book Sales: His autobiography, The Rules of the Game, became a bestseller.
- Consulting & Public Speaking: Collina provides insights on refereeing and leadership.
His business acumen and post-retirement ventures have cemented his status as the richest referee in football history.
Other Wealthy Football Referees
While Collina holds the top spot, other referees have also built significant wealth. Let’s look at some of the richest referees in football history.
2. Mark Clattenburg
Mark Clattenburg is an English former professional football referee. Clattenburg is a former member of the Premier League and the Durham County Football Association and also a former FIFA referee. He has refereed a number of notable matches, including the 2016 UEFA Champions League final and the UEFA Euro 2016 final
Net Worth: Estimated at $5 million
Mark Clattenburg is one of the most recognizable referees in modern football. The Englishman officiated in the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final and UEFA Euro 2016 Final.
Sources of His Wealth:
- Premier League & International Match Fees
- Lucrative Deal with the Saudi Arabian FA – He became the head of refereeing, earning millions.
- Sponsorships & Media Roles – Clattenburg works as a pundit, adding to his income.
3. Björn Kuipers
Björn Kuipers is a former Dutch football referee. He has been a FIFA listed referee from 2006 to 2021 and an UEFA Elite group referee from 2009 to 2021. He was assisted during international matches by Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra.
Net Worth: Estimated at $10 million
Björn Kuipers, a Dutch referee, is another highly successful match official. He has officiated UEFA Champions League Finals and Euro Finals.
Sources of His Wealth:
- Refereeing Career – Consistent involvement in UEFA and FIFA tournaments.
- Supermarket Chain Ownership – Kuipers co-owns a successful business in the Netherlands, significantly boosting his wealth.
- Sponsorships & Business Ventures.
4. Howard Webb
Howard Melton Webb MBE is an English former professional football referee who officiated primarily in the Premier League from 2003 to 2014, as well as for FIFA as a FIFA international referee from 2005 to 2014.
Net Worth: Estimated at $4 million
Howard Webb, a former English referee, officiated the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and the Netherlands.
Sources of His Wealth:
- Premier League & FIFA Refereeing Fees.
- Media Career – Works as a TV analyst and referee consultant.
- Roles in VAR & Refereeing Administration.
How Does a Referee Become Wealthy?
The richest referees in football history have not only relied on match fees but have also built careers in media, business, and administrative roles.
Key Factors That Contribute to Wealth Accumulation:
- Officiating at Elite Levels – Champions League and World Cup referees earn significantly higher fees.
- Endorsements & Sponsorships – Few referees, like Collina, attract big brands.
- Business Investments – Kuipers is a great example of a referee who grew his wealth through business ventures.
- Post-Retirement Roles – Many referees take on roles in football administration, punditry, or public speaking.
Conclusion
So, who is rated the richest referee in the world in the history of football? The answer is Pierluigi Collina, with an estimated net worth of $13 million. His legacy, endorsements, and business acumen make him the wealthiest referee football has ever seen. Other referees like Björn Kuipers, Mark Clattenburg, and Howard Webb have also built impressive financial portfolios through a combination of match officiating, endorsements, and external business ventures.
Football referees may not earn as much as players, but the elite ones have found ways to build lasting wealth. With football’s continued growth, future referees may surpass even Collina’s impressive fortune. For now, he remains the undisputed richest referee in football history.
