HustleMemo
Portrait of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

The grammar-school chemical engineer who built INEOS into one of the world’s largest chemical companies through debt-fuelled buyouts — and a pro-Brexit British-business voice who took tax residence in Monaco.

INEOS · Chemicals, petrochemicals · est. 1998

Born in Failsworth, Lancashire in 1952; chemical engineering at Birmingham and an MBA from London Business School. Founded INEOS in 1998 and grew it via debt-financed acquisitions of non-core chemical assets from ICI, BP, Norsk Hydro and others, including the transformational 2006 Innovene deal. Moved his tax residence to Monaco in September 2020; knighted in 2018. In February 2024 acquired ~25% of Manchester United (later toward ~28.9%) and took control of sporting operations.

Notable achievements

  • Founded INEOS (1998) and built it into a top-tier global chemical company.
  • Executed the transformational 2006 acquisition of BP’s Innovene division.
  • Became one of the wealthiest people in Britain (estimates ~17bn–29bn pounds).
  • Acquired control of Manchester United’s sporting operations (2024).

Find them online

INEOS

Stories about Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder of INEOS, subject of a case study on industrial strategy, tax, and Manchester United.
industry16 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe: INEOS and the Industrialist in Monaco

Sir Jim Ratcliffe assembled INEOS from the assets the majors discarded, became one of Britain’s richest men, and then a household name by buying into Manchester United. A sourced, critically neutral look at the strategy, the Monaco residence, the pollution record, and the football austerity backlash.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe