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Any conversation about Wrexham Football Club inevitably circles back to Hollywood co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds in one way or another.
The Welsh side has undergone a remarkable transformation under the duo's stewardship, propelling the Red Dragons from the National League all the way to the Championship through an extraordinary hat-trick of consecutive promotions and the loftiest finish in the club's 162-year existence.
Wrexham cannot sidestep the influence of financial investment in their ascent, though reducing their story to simply "buying success" would be an oversimplification. Manager Phil Parkinson has been the architect of their stunning rise over five seasons, ensuring funds have been channeled wisely into a competitive squad united by a shared hunger to win and the work rate to back it up.
How Wrexham Ownership Model Works
Ultimately, it all traces back to McElhenney and Reynolds. The pair retain firm control of Wrexham, holding a combined estimated ownership stake of between 70% and 75%, while the Allyn family—former owners of Welch Allyn—became minority investors in October 2024 with an approximate 15% share.
Apollo Sports Capital secured an additional minority stake—thought to be just below 10%—in December 2025, with a further 5% stake sold to a U.S.-based investment group headed by ASC Chief Executive Al Tylis and Chief Strategy Officer Sam Porter.
McElhenney and Reynolds prefer to describe themselves as "custodians" of the club rather than co-owners, yet there is no denying that both stand to gain enormously should they ever choose to sell.
Wrexham AFC carried an estimated value of around $2.5 million when McElhenney and Reynolds finalized their takeover in February 2021. The Hollywood pair paid a symbolic $1.40 to acquire the club while pledging an additional $2.5 million investment into the playing squad and club infrastructure. Following Apollo Sports Capital's involvement, Wrexham's valuation has soared to approximately $475 million—a staggering rise of around 18,900% compared to the club's worth at the time of the takeover.
That hasn't stopped the spending, however. Construction is in progress on a new $95 million Kop Stand set to expand the Racecourse Ground's capacity to 18,000, while the club also splashed $48 million on new signings over the summer transfer window. A new training pavilion was constructed at Colliers Park for approximately $9 million, with a further $2.5 million invested in a new playing surface.
As a result, Wrexham continue to operate at a loss, though the club acknowledges the need to speculate in order to accumulate as they position themselves for an anticipated push toward the Premier League. That outcome is far from guaranteed, however, and significant financial risk remains with no certainty of success.
The Unique Factor Behind Wrexham Success
A crucial driver of their expansion has been sponsorship revenue, which surged by 31.5% in the most recent financial year, coinciding with their League One promotion campaign. A remarkable 57.7% of total revenue originates from outside the UK, with North America accounting for the bulk of it, while annual kit sales have skyrocketed from just a few thousand per season to around 100,000.
"We definitely punch above our weight class when it comes to sponsorships," club CEO Michael Williamson told The Financial Times. "Because of the documentary, because of Rob and Ryan and because of our approach, [advertisers] get something really, really special that no other football club can provide."
Just last month, Wrexham went viral when McElhenney and Reynolds starred in a new Firefox advertisement that took aim at the Southampton "Spygate" controversy, while the co-chairmen also appeared in a recent Royal Bank of Canada commercial, which has become the club's new back-of-shirt sponsor.
Partners of the club not only receive prominent exposure through the hugely popular Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, but also become part of a narrative about a reinvigorated community that has reclaimed its confidence and blossomed into a thriving tourist destination.
Williamson added: "Their passion and their commitment are remarkable. But they aren't just here for the football club, they're here for the community. They understand the sustainability of the football club long term is ultimately dependent on the journey of the community coming along with us.
"Before Rob and Ryan there was uncertainty about brighter days ahead. And so people maybe didn't go and get a loan [or take out] a mortgage because they didn't know if they were going to have a job or not in the future. Now, people see hope."
The next chapter in that story could well be the Premier League. The Red Dragons currently sit 14th in the Championship standings after eight matches of the new campaign, having fallen agonizingly short of the playoff places last season. A victory over Middlesbrough on the final day would have secured sixth place, but a draw allowed Hull City to claim that spot, go on to win the playoffs, and now sit eighth in the top flight.
"That really stung because I felt we were so close," Williamson added.
With the unwavering backing of McElhenney and Reynolds, Wrexham are inching closer to that dream with each passing day.