Barry and Eddie Hearn, the father-and-son duo behind Matchroom Sports, have seen their combined net worth surpass the £1 billion mark, according to The Sunday Times rich list. Their sprawling sports media empire, which spans boxing, snooker, and darts, has propelled them to become the third wealthiest figures in UK sport, trailing only Formula 1 mogul Bernie Ecclestone (£2 billion) and David and Victoria Beckham (£1.185 billion).
From Snooker Roots to Global Dominance
Barry Hearn, now 77, began his career in snooker during the 1970s, representing six-time world champion Steve Davis. He founded Matchroom in 1982, and over the decades, the company has grown into a powerhouse across multiple sports. His son Eddie, 46, has been instrumental in expanding the empire further, becoming a household name in boxing promotion. Matchroom has represented legendary fighters such as Frank Bruno, Chris Eubank Sr, Lennox Lewis, and currently works with Anthony Joshua.
Barry also serves as chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation and has played a key role in the surging popularity of darts in recent years. Additionally, Matchroom acquired the World Snooker Tour in 2010, giving the family significant influence over the sport.
Wealth and Rankings
The Hearns' combined worth of £1.035 billion places them ahead of several prominent athletes. Formula 1 driver Sir Lewis Hamilton is the highest active athlete on the list, ranking fifth with £435 million, while golfer Rory McIlroy sits seventh with £325 million. Matchroom's most famous client, Anthony Joshua, is eighth with an estimated £240 million, followed by Tyson Fury in ninth with £162 million. England captain Harry Kane and tennis legend Sir Andy Murray share tenth place, each with £110 million.
Eddie Hearn's Drive and Legacy
While Barry founded the Matchroom empire, Eddie has been crucial in expanding it. In a 2020 piece for the Big Issue, Eddie wrote about the motivation he derives from being Barry's son: 'I think being my dad's son has been the underlying drive and chip on my shoulder that's made me what I am. I work like I haven't got a penny. That's partly because of the values he has instilled in me, but also because I have the drive to outperform him.'
He added: 'There was only one way I could ever become my own person and get my own success, and that was to take what he's done to completely another level. And now you know, we joke, people go up to him on the Tube and say, oh, you're Eddie Hearn's dad, aren't you? And we love that. It's always been about competition for us.'
Reflecting on his father's journey, Eddie noted: 'I say this quite a lot, and it sounds weird, but the one thing I'm jealous about is that my dad built his business and his empire from nothing. From a council estate in Dagenham. I never got the chance to do that. You can only play the hand you're dealt. But that must be an amazing feeling, to live where he lives now, having grown up with nothing. Now it's my responsibility to carry on that legacy, to protect that name and take it forward.'
