John Coates | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Fitzgerald Coates January 1970 (age 55) |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | Bristol University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Joint CEO of bet365 Chairman of Stoke City |
| Parent | Peter Coates |
| Relatives | Denise Coates (sister) |
John Fitzgerald Coates (born January 1970), is an English billionaire businessman and the joint chief executive (CEO) of online gambling company bet365 and chairman of Stoke City.
John Fitzgerald Coates was born in January 1970, [1] the son of Peter Coates, chairman of Stoke City F.C. and director of Bet365. He attended Bristol University, where he studied law. [2]
Coates started his career as a lawyer. In 2001, after selling some of their father's betting shops to large bookmaker Coral, his sister convinced him to join her in launching bet365. John and his sister Denise Coates [3] are co-CEOs of UK-based bet365, an online gambling company, of which he owns a quarter. [4] John helped Denise set up the Bet365 Foundation in August 2012 and it has donated £100 million [5] to 20 UK charities to help support projects at home and abroad. Over a decade-long period, the foundation has managed to amass a fund of £730 million but handed out £78 million. As of 2024, the majority of the money given to the foundation, mostly by companies in the Bet365 group, has yet to be distributed. [6]
In July 2015, Coates was appointed as vice-chairman at Stoke City, where his father is chairman. [7] In September 2020, Coates was appointed as joint-chairman alongside his father. [8] He became outright owner of Stoke City in August 2024 following a demerger with bet365. [9]
He is married, with two children, and lives in Stoke-on-Trent. [2]