Wrexham are hoping to secure a play-off place which would ultimately give them a shot at reaching the Premier League
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively(Image: Getty Images)
Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds is on the verge of another extraordinary financial boost, this time through football, with Wrexham’s fairytale rise now just one step away from the Premier League.
The Welsh club, co-owned by Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, head into the final day of the Championship season sitting sixth, knowing a win could secure a coveted play-off place.
Wrexham are level on points with Hull City and just one ahead of Derby County, meaning there is no margin for error when they host Middlesbrough, who have already booked their own play-off spot.
And with it comes a staggering financial incentive.
£100m jackpot within touching distance
Should Wrexham secure promotion via the play-offs to the Premier League, they would unlock a financial windfall worth at least £100million in their first season alone.
That figure is driven largely by the Premier League’s global broadcasting deals, with clubs receiving huge central distributions simply for competing in the division.
Across a three-year period, factoring in parachute payments if relegated, the total value of promotion is widely estimated at £170m or more, with commercial income, sponsorship and global exposure pushing that even higher.
For Reynolds and McElhenney, it would represent a remarkable return on their investment – and another chapter in one of football’s most improbable stories.
Since buying Wrexham in 2021 for just £2m, the Hollywood duo have overseen a meteoric rise.
Back-to-back-to-back promotions propelled the club from non-league into the Championship, and now they stand on the brink of reaching the biggest league in world football in just five seasons.
The club is now reportedly valued at around £350m, a huge increase driven by on-pitch success and the global exposure generated by the documentary series Welcome to Wrexham.
Remarkable net worth
Ryan Reynolds is estimated to be worth around $400 million (£295 million), cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s biggest earners.
According to Forbes, the Canadian actor was the second highest-paid star in 2024, banking roughly £79 million and sitting just behind Dwayne Johnson in the rich list.
Much of that income has been driven by major projects, including blockbuster hit Deadpool and Wolverine, alongside family film IF and the Emmy-winning documentary series Welcome to Wrexham.
Reynolds has also significantly boosted his wealth through smart business moves. He held up to a 20% stake in Aviation Gin before its sale in a $600 million (£443 million) deal in 2020.
A further windfall followed in 2023 when he sold a major share in Mint Mobile to T-Mobile as part of a $1.35 billion (£997 million) agreement, reportedly earning him more than $300 million (£220 million).
Away from Hollywood, Reynolds has poured substantial funds into Wrexham AFC, with he and co-owner Rob McElhenney believed to have invested over £20 million since their 2020 takeover.
However, the journey hasn’t been without its costs. During a 2023 episode of Welcome to Wrexham, the pair revealed losses of around $12 million (£8.9 million), prompting Reynolds to joke: “I’m going to throw up.”
More recently, the club has secured a significant financial boost of close to £50 million following investment from Apollo Sports Capital, after the Allyn family acquired a stake of roughly 15% in 2024.
Having been bought for just £2million five years ago, Wrexham’s value is now reported to have soared to around £350 million.
Life with famous wife after Hollywood divorce
Reynolds has been married to Gossip Girl star Blake Lively since 2012, with the pair first meeting while filming Green Lantern.
Their relationship quickly captured public attention and they soon became one of Hollywood’s most recognisable couples, tying the knot in a private ceremony in South Carolina before going on to have four children together – James, Inez, Betty and Olin.
Lively has regularly been spotted in north Wales supporting Wrexham AFC at the Racecourse Ground and shared an emotional message after the club’s Championship promotion last year.
“Back to back to back,” she wrote on Instagram. “History was made. Congratulations to @wrexham_afc. I will never forget the love and elation in that town today. Thank you for sharing it with us always.
“And to these two men, @robmcelhenney and @vancityreynolds … the love and respect that pours out of you each and together exponentially grows and creates more joy, more possibilities, more magic, more history.
“This picture feels to me like a painting of all you do for so many, while being so present and appreciative of every moment.”
Before his relationship with Lively, Reynolds had a number of high-profile romances. He was engaged to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette after they met in 2002, though they split in 2007, later remaining on good terms.
He was also linked with stars including Sandra Bullock, Melissa Joan Hart and Charlize Theron before marrying Scarlett Johansson in 2008.
That marriage ended in 2010, with both citing demanding work schedules and limited time together as key factors behind the split.
“We work and then go home,” Johansson later said. “I’d just stare at the wall for a few hours before I got to sleep.”
Ryan Reynolds and ex-wife Scarlett Johansson(Image: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
How did Ryan Reynolds meet Rob McElhenney?
While they have presided over one of football’s most remarkable success stories, Reynolds and McElhenney were barely acquainted when they first moved to buy Wrexham, having only exchanged a handful of messages online.
In fact, the idea did not originate with Reynolds. It was McElhenney who pushed the move after teaming up with British writer and football enthusiast Humphrey Ker, who introduced him to the possibility of owning a club.
Though not initially a football fan, McElhenney became intrigued by Ker’s passion for Liverpool FC, and during the coronavirus lockdown was encouraged to watch the Netflix documentary Sunderland ‘Til I Die.
The series proved a turning point, inspiring the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star to pursue ownership and even document the journey himself.
Once he had settled on a budget, Ker helped identify potential clubs, with Wrexham emerging as a standout option due to its history, loyal support and need for fresh investment following the pandemic.
McElhenney then approached Reynolds — having previously chatted with him online — in a bid to bring both financial backing and star power to the project.
Reynolds quickly bought into the vision, opting not just to invest but to come on board as a full co-owner alongside McElhenney.
In November 2020, the pair completed a £2 million takeover, and despite not meeting in person until April 2021, they have since developed a close friendship.
McElhenney later told People that Reynolds is now one of his closest confidants, describing him as a “kind and generous soul” and someone he can always rely on.
He added: “Our families have grown incredibly close, and even though we live on opposite coasts, we feel like we’re right next to each other.”
