Denise Coates, the leading figure of Bet365, has received an additional windfall of £260 million, boosting her total payouts to £2.7 billion over the past 15 years. With this latest boardroom bonus, she solidified her position as one of the highest-paid executives in Britain and the best-paid woman. The recently disclosed financial reports of her family’s gambling business reveal a salary of £104 million for her alone, marking an increase from £94.7 million in 2024.
In addition to her salary, Bet365 Group distributed triple the amount of cash dividends to family shareholders, totaling £313.6 million last year, of which Ms. Coates, aged 58, was entitled to a significant portion due to her majority stake in the company. While the £260 million windfall is slightly lower than her record-breaking £469 million in 2021, it still surpasses the earnings of other notable business leaders in the UK.
The Coates family’s wealth, estimated at £9.44 billion according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, positions them as the 16th wealthiest individuals in Britain. Ms. Coates, known for avoiding the spotlight, founded Bet365 in a makeshift office in a Stoke on Trent parking lot in 2000. She and her husband, Richard Smith, previously resided in a farmhouse near Stoke but commissioned the design of a cutting-edge steel and glass mansion in rural Cheshire from Lord Norman Foster’s architectural firm.
Situated on a 52-acre estate, the £90 million property reportedly features amenities such as a sunken tennis court, stables, ornamental gardens, workers’ cottages, and a boathouse. Ms. Coates invested £8.5 million to acquire surrounding land to maintain privacy. In a rare interview, she expressed belief in the potential of online gambling, emphasizing its privacy, accessibility, and ability to offer diverse betting options to customers.
The Coates family is recognized for being among the highest taxpayers in Britain. The latest financial accounts illustrate the group’s total tax contribution to the UK Exchequer at £481.5 million, up from £364 million in 2024. Furthermore, the group reported substantial charitable donations to the Denise Coates Foundation, amounting to an additional £130 million last year.
Separate accounts for the Foundation, described as a company with trustees, revealed 27 donations and grants to 22 institutions in the previous year, totaling £16.7 million. Recipients included The University Hospitals of North Midlands Charity, which received grants for essential medical equipment and facilities. Stoke City football club, formerly owned by the Coates family until July last year, is now under the ownership of Ms. Coates’ brother, John.
Bet365’s revenue increased by 9% to over £4 billion in the year ending March, although its pre-tax profit nearly halved to £348.7 million. The financial reports do not consider the impact of the recent increase in online gambling taxes announced in the Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, following calls to address problem gambling and support initiatives against child poverty.
Bet365 emphasized its commitment to providing a safe gambling environment for customers and ongoing investments in this aspect, collaborating with regulators and industry partners to uphold best practices in responsible gambling.
