Steve Lansdown
Stephen Lansdown | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stephen Philip Lansdown August 30, 1952 England |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | Co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown, majority owner of Bristol Bears, Bristol Flyers, and Bristol City Football Club |
Stephen Philip Lansdown CBE (born 30 August 1952) is a billionaire originally from England, now based in Guernsey, and co-founder of the UK financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown alongside Peter Hargreaves. He established Bristol Sport and holds the majority ownership of Bristol Bears, Bristol Flyers, and Bristol City Football Club.
The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019 estimated Lansdown's wealth at £1.72 billion.
Career
Lansdown completed his education at Thornbury Grammar School in Gloucestershire and qualified as an accountant before starting Hargreaves Lansdown in 1981 from a bedroom setting.
He began providing financial assistance to Bristol Bears rugby club (then known as Bristol Rugby) during the 2008-09 Premiership Rugby season when the club was on the verge of financial failure.
In April 2009, Lansdown sold a 4.7% shareholding in Hargreaves Lansdown for £47.2 million to contribute towards financing Bristol City's new football stadium. On 7 October 2010, he disposed of shares valued at more than £58 million. By 2012, he had formalized his ownership of Bristol Rugby, and in 2013 he acquired the basketball team Bristol Flyers. By September 2015, his net worth was reported to be $1.88 billion.
In April 2020, Lansdown reduced his holding in Hargreaves Lansdown to 7% after selling shares worth £160 million.
Under Lansdown’s leadership in 2017, Bristol Rugby secured New Zealand international Charles Piutau on a landmark contract worth £1 million per season, the highest in the Premiership at that time.
The club relocated to Ashton Gate Stadium and rebranded as Bristol Bears in 2018. The following season saw them claim the European Rugby Challenge Cup, marking their first major trophy since rejoining the Premiership.
In August 2020, Lansdown received dividends totaling £18.6 million following a 24% rise in profits at Hargreaves Lansdown, which reached £378.3 million for the fiscal year ending June 2020.
In December 2024, Bristol Bears Women signed Ilona Maher, noted as rugby union’s most followed player on social media, on an initial three-month contract.
Honours
Lansdown was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for his contributions to business and the community in Bristol.
Family
He is married and has two children.