The hundred secures major investment from global sports moguls, including Tom Brady and IPL owners

English cricket’s boldest competition, The Hundred, has drawn high-profile investors ahead of the 2025 season, with billionaire sports owners, IPL executives, and global businesses securing stakes in the franchise-style tournament.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had opened up a bidding process last summer, allowing private investment in the tournament for the first time. The move has seen stakes in all eight teams snapped up, injecting over £520 million into professional and grassroots cricket. The total valuation of the competition now stands at a staggering £975 million.

Under the new structure, the eight host counties retained a 51% stake, which they could sell or keep, while the ECB sold its 49% share, distributing proceeds among all 18 first-class counties and the MCC.

Global Investment Powerhouses Move In

A three-round bidding war attracted interest from across the globe, with sports moguls and corporate giants rushing to invest. Among the biggest names securing stakes are:

• Tom Brady – the NFL legend turned investor expands his sports empire.
• Todd Boehly – the Chelsea FC owner adds cricket to his growing portfolio.
• IPL Franchise Owners – multiple backers from India’s cricketing powerhouse join the fold.
• Major Corporations – big businesses seeking a slice of cricket’s growing commercial appeal.

With Sky Sports set to broadcast the tournament live from August 5, The Hundred is shaping up to be English cricket’s answer to the IPL—a commercial juggernaut attracting global interest.

Windfall for Non-Host Counties

Counties without a Hundred team will see a larger share of the ECB’s revenue from the stake sales, ensuring financial benefits reach beyond the tournament’s host venues. This influx of funds is expected to boost both professional and grassroots cricket development across England and Wales.

As cricket’s elite move in, The Hundred is now firmly positioned as a multi-million-pound powerhouse, proving its commercial worth as one of the most valuable properties in the sport.