Ares Joins Mbappé’s France SailGP Team

Ares Management, the U.S.-based private equity firm and co-owner of Chelsea FC, has acquired a minority stake in the France SailGP Team. This move deepens its footprint across elite global sports and underscores growing institutional interest in SailGP’s rapidly evolving franchise model. The investment sees Ares join a star-studded ownership group led by French football icon Kylian Mbappé as the high-speed sailing league continues to attract high-profile backers ahead of its expansion to 14 teams in 2026.

The France SailGP Team has been among the standout performers in SailGP’s high-octane circuit, which features nation-based teams racing identical foiling catamarans capable of speeds nearing 100 km/h. With the league’s mix of elite competition, environmental messaging, and global event hosting, SailGP has positioned itself as the “Formula 1 of the sea,” drawing growing attention from media rights holders, tech sponsors, and institutional investors.

Ares’ decision to invest in the France team aligns with its broader sports portfolio, which includes equity in Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, Inter Miami CF and the McLaren Formula 1 team. The firm’s entry into SailGP signals confidence in the commercial trajectory of the league’s centralised model, which combines team autonomy with shared governance, global broadcast rights and unified commercial strategy.

The deal strengthens the France team’s access to capital and expertise as it looks to compete more aggressively in the championship standings and expand its commercial footprint. It also adds strategic value to the broader SailGP ecosystem, which has recently welcomed other celebrity investors, such as Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, through franchise ownership.

For Kylian Mbappé, the growing momentum around the France SailGP Team supports his stated ambition to elevate French sport on a global stage beyond football. His role as lead investor and brand ambassador offers crossover appeal between two of France’s most internationally recognised sporting exports: football and sailing.

Ares is expected to bring strategic oversight across sponsorships, content production and monetisation of digital platforms, areas where the France team and SailGP as a whole see high growth potential. The investment may also open doors to collaborative campaigns with Ares’ existing sports properties, enabling further opportunities for athlete-led storytelling.