Ellis Short
Encyclopedia
Ellis Short is a Dallas-based Irish American businessman, president of Lone Star Funds
based in Texas
. He is the current owner and the chairman of the Premier League club Sunderland A.F.C.
, Short is of Irish descent
, and grew up in Missouri
.
, before teaming up with business partner John Grayken at Lone Star Funds
, a private equity
firm based in Dallas, Texas
. Short was the senior executive who ran the Asia
n operations.
In 2003, Short masterminded the takeover of the South Korea
n Korea Exchange Bank
. This subsequently resulted in him being subject of an arrest warrant
, which was later dropped. He subsequently retired from Lone Star, but remains President.
Short's current wealth is said to be around 1.2 billion.
for £23 million, which operates as a members-only hotel
and country club
in Scotland
. The castle is famous for hosting Madonna's
wedding to Guy Ritchie
in 2000.
, becoming the majority shareholder at that club with the Irish Drumaville Consortium
.
On 22 December 2008 The Daily Telegraph
reported that Short was poised to become the new owner of Sunderland, ready to complete a deal with the eight-man Drumaville Consortium
for their remaining shares in the club.
Short's purchase of the club made Sunderland the fourth in the Premiership to have American owners, alongside Aston Villa
, Manchester United
and Liverpool
. It was revealed on 21 February 2009 that his controlling interest in Sunderland played a role in the departure of Roy Keane
from the club. On the 27th May 2009 Ellis assumed 100% control of the club.
He has lived in London for 14 years.
Lone Star Funds
Lone Star Funds is a worldwide private equity firm based in Dallas, Texas, that specializes in purchasing distressed companies and assets, often well-known consumer brands that have seen better times or gone through financial difficulties due to leveraged buy-outs...
based in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He is the current owner and the chairman of the Premier League club Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
Biography
Born in Independence, MissouriIndependence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, Short is of Irish descent
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
, and grew up in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
College
Short attended the University of Missouri Rolla from 1979 to 1983. While attending he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.Lone Star Funds
Short began his career at General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, before teaming up with business partner John Grayken at Lone Star Funds
Lone Star Funds
Lone Star Funds is a worldwide private equity firm based in Dallas, Texas, that specializes in purchasing distressed companies and assets, often well-known consumer brands that have seen better times or gone through financial difficulties due to leveraged buy-outs...
, a private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
firm based in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Short was the senior executive who ran the Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n operations.
In 2003, Short masterminded the takeover of the South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n Korea Exchange Bank
Korea Exchange Bank
Korea Exchange Bank is a specialized foreign exchange bank in South Korea. It is headquartered in Seoul, and was established in 1967.Korea Exchange Bank is the fifth largest bank in South Korea measured in assets and the largest foreign exchange bank in South Korea, providing the largest range of...
. This subsequently resulted in him being subject of an arrest warrant
Arrest warrant
An arrest warrant is a warrant issued by and on behalf of the state, which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual.-Canada:Arrest warrants are issued by a judge or justice of the peace under the Criminal Code of Canada....
, which was later dropped. He subsequently retired from Lone Star, but remains President.
Short's current wealth is said to be around 1.2 billion.
Skibo Castle
In 2003, Short bought Skibo CastleSkibo Castle
Skibo Castle is located to the west of Dornoch in the Highland county of Sutherland, Scotland overlooking the Dornoch Firth. Although the castle dates back to the 12th century, the present structure is largely of the 19th century, and early 20th century, when it was the home of industrialist...
for £23 million, which operates as a members-only hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and country club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The castle is famous for hosting Madonna's
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
wedding to Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie
Guy Stuart Ritchie is an English screenwriter and film maker who directed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Revolver, RocknRolla and Sherlock Holmes.-Early life:...
in 2000.
Sunderland A.F.C.
In September, 2008, Short bought a 30% stake in the English Premier League football team Sunderland A.F.C.Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, becoming the majority shareholder at that club with the Irish Drumaville Consortium
Drumaville Consortium
The Drumaville Consortium was a group of seven Irish businessmen and one English businessman led by former footballer Niall Quinn, who were involved in the 2006 takeover of English Premier League football club Sunderland A.F.C....
.
On 22 December 2008 The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
reported that Short was poised to become the new owner of Sunderland, ready to complete a deal with the eight-man Drumaville Consortium
Drumaville Consortium
The Drumaville Consortium was a group of seven Irish businessmen and one English businessman led by former footballer Niall Quinn, who were involved in the 2006 takeover of English Premier League football club Sunderland A.F.C....
for their remaining shares in the club.
Short's purchase of the club made Sunderland the fourth in the Premiership to have American owners, alongside Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. It was revealed on 21 February 2009 that his controlling interest in Sunderland played a role in the departure of Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
from the club. On the 27th May 2009 Ellis assumed 100% control of the club.
Personal life
He is an intensely private person who rarely speaks to media or grants interviews.He has lived in London for 14 years.