{{Short description|American businessperson (born 1944)}} {{Other uses|William Foley (disambiguation){{!}}William Foley}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Bill Foley | image =Vegas Goldens Knights Bring the Stanley Cup to West Point (53486672358) (cropped).jpg | caption = Foley at the United States Military Academy in 2024 | image_size = 250 | birth_name = William Patrick Foley II | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|12|29}} | birth_place = Austin, Texas, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Carol Johnson|1969}} | children = 4 | known_for = Chairman of the Board of Fidelity National Financial<br>Owner of the Vegas Golden Knights<br>Owner of AFC Bournemouth<br>Owner of Auckland FC<br>Shareholder of Hibernian<br>Majority owner of Whitefish Mountain Resort | alma_mater = United States Military Academy (B.S.)<br>University of Washington School of Law (J.D.) | occupation = Financial services<br>Professional sports owner }} '''William Patrick Foley II''' (born December 29, 1944) is an American businessman and former attorney, specializing in financial services. He is chairman of Fidelity National Financial, Cannae Holdings and Black Knight Financial Services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://www.vegasishockey.com/Our-Story/Our-Team|website=Vegas Golden Knights|access-date=June 22, 2016}}</ref> Foley is the lead investor, chairman, and CEO of Black Knight Sports & Entertainment, a consortium that owns the Vegas Golden Knights. He is the owner of Indoor Football League team Vegas Knight Hawks.<ref name=":0" /> He is managing general partner of Black Knight Football Club,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Knight Football Club |url=https://blackknightfootballclub.com/ |access-date=2026-05-28 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref> which owns Premier League club AFC Bournemouth (England), A-League club Auckland FC (New Zealand), Primeira Liga club Moreirense (Portugal) and since January 2026 the full ownership of Ligue 1 club Lorient (France). As of 2023, he had an estimated net worth of US$1.6 billion according to ''Forbes''.
==Background== Growing up, Foley mostly lived in Texas with his family and extended family, who were ranchers. For a time, he lived in Ottawa, Ontario, when his father was posted in the United States Air Force there. Foley played shinny, an informal type of ice hockey, and started a lifelong appreciation for the sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/12012785/nhl-potential-las-vegas-expansion-team-owner-driven-man |title=NHL - Potential Las Vegas expansion team owner a driven man |work=ESPN |date=December 12, 2014 |access-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref>
Foley attended the United States Military Academy. While a cadet, he made $40,000 on the stock market, which he invested in during his spare time. Upon graduating from West Point, Foley was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, where during his career he negotiated million-dollar defense contracts with Boeing. After leaving the Air Force, Foley earned his J.D. from the University of Washington in 1974 and moved into corporate law. Later, he bought and revitalized the then-struggling title insurance firm Fidelity National Financial. He would go on to invest in wineries, golf courses, hotels, ski resorts, steak houses, fast-food restaurants and auto parts manufacturers.<ref name="SI" />
==Sports ownership== While Foley was living in Jacksonville, Florida, he explored buying the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars, before the team was acquired by Shahid Khan.<ref name="SI">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2017/01/23/las-vegas-golden-knights-behind-scenes|title=Las Vegas Golden Knights behind the scenes|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 23, 2017 |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref>
In late 2006, Foley became the majority shareholder of Winter Sports, Inc. (WSI), the operator of Whitefish Mountain Resort, in Whitefish, Montana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2016/07/13/whitefishs-mountain-mogul/ |title=Whitefish's Mountain Mogul |publisher=FlatheadBeacon.com |last=Tabish |first=Dillon |date=July 13, 2016 |access-date=2024-12-28}}</ref> Foley's takeover of WSI occurred through a series of two reverse stock splits that took WSI from a publicly traded company, with many shareholders living in the local Flathead Valley, to a private S corp. Foley was able to purchase 27% of the outstanding WSI shares in the early 2000s from Richard A. Dasen, a local shareholder who went to prison for 14 prostitution-related crimes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2004/nov/20/dasen-sells-shares-of-winter-sports-stock-6/ |title=Dasen sells shares of Winter Sports stock |publisher=DailyInterlake.com |last=Easterling |first=Camden |date=November 20, 2004 |access-date=2024-12-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://missoulian.com/news/kalispell-businessman-richard-dasen-charged-with-14-prostitution-related-crimes/article_f04ce8a9-fa02-54fa-addd-267d2357a4a9.html/ |title=Kalispell businessman Richard Dasen charged with 14 prostitution-related crimes |publisher=Missoulian.com |last=Jamison |first=Michael |date=April 28, 2005 |access-date=2024-12-28}}</ref>
In June 2016, Foley and Black Knight Sports & Entertainment was awarded a National Hockey League expansion franchise that became the Vegas Golden Knights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markewing/2017/07/16/bill-foley-and-the-national-hockey-leagues-newest-franchise-the-vegas-golden-knights/|title=Bill Foley And The National Hockey League's Newest Franchise, The Vegas Golden Knights|last=Ewing|first=Mark|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> The Golden Knights began play in the 2017–18 season at the new T-Mobile Arena, and also acquired a minority ownership of the facility.<ref name=kaplan>{{cite news|title=NHL's Vegas owner buys share of arena|newspaper=Sports Business Journal|first=Daniel|last=Kaplan|date=October 3, 2016|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/10/03/Franchises/NHL-Vegas.aspx|access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref><ref name=10k2017p72>{{cite report|title=Form 10-K: Annual Report|publisher=MGM Resorts International|date=March 1, 2018|page=72|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789570/000156459018003942/mgm-10k_20171231.htm|via=EDGAR}}</ref> Foley pledged to win a Stanley Cup in six seasons, and the Golden Knights made good on that promise in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vegas backs up owner's 'silly statement' by winning Cup within 6 seasons |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-back-up-owners-silly-statement-by-winning-stanley-cup-within-6-seasons/c-344870130 |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=NHL.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, Black Knight Sports & Entertainment purchased an American Hockey League franchise to act as a development team for the Golden Knights, relocating the San Antonio Rampage to become the Henderson Silver Knights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.8newsnow.com/sports/golden-knights/its-henderson-silver-knights/|title=It's Henderson Silver Knights!|website=8newsnow.com |date=May 28, 2020}}</ref> The Silver Knights played out of the Orleans Arena until the Dollar Loan Center, which is operated by Black Knight Sports & Entertainment, was completed in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/jun/10/renderings-released-of-henderson-event-center-futu/ |title=Renderings released of Henderson Event Center, future home of Silver Knights |access-date=June 10, 2020}}</ref>
In 2021, Foley announced Black Knight Sports & Entertainment had purchased an expansion team in the Indoor Football League to begin play in 2022 at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news3lv.com/newsletter-daily/vegas-golden-knights-indoor-football-league-franchise-henderson |title=Vegas Golden Knights buy Indoor Football League expansion franchise |website=KSNV |date=May 11, 2021}}</ref> On August 23, 2021, the team unveiled their name and logo as the Vegas Knight Hawks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/the-vegas-knight-hawks-are-the-newest-franchise-in-the-ifl/n-5737367 |title=The Vegas Knight Hawks Are the Newest Franchise in the IFL |website=OurSports Central |date=August 24, 2021}}</ref>
On December 13, 2022, a group of investors led by Foley completed a deal to purchase English football club AFC Bournemouth, with Foley assuming the role of chairman. Ahead of the deal, he was present at one of Bournemouth's Premier League matches against Leicester City, with the ''Cherries'' winning 2–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Foley completes Bournemouth takeover with actor Michael B. Jordan named a minority owner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3997432/2022/12/13/bill-foley-bournemouth-takeover-knights/ |access-date=December 24, 2022 |website=The Athletic |date=December 13, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Always advance, never retreat': Bill Foley seals Bournemouth takeover|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/13/bill-foley-seals-bournemouth-takeover-premier-league |access-date=December 25, 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=December 13, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bournemouth takeover: American businessman Bill Foley's consortium completes purchase worth over £100m |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11743/12767270/bournemouth-takeover-american-businessman-bill-foleys-consortium-completes-purchase-worth-over-100m |access-date=December 25, 2022 |website=sky sports |date=December 13, 2022 }}</ref> On January 13, 2023, Foley acquired a significant minority stake in French football club Lorient, creating a partnership with Bournemouth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foley-led acquisition of 'significant minority share' in FC Lorient |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/23247895.bill-foley-acquires-significant-minority-share-fc-lorient/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=Bournemouth Echo |date=January 13, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
On October 11, 2023, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced Foley as the preferred bidder to be the owner of a new A-Leagues expansion club, based in Auckland, New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Premier League owner confirmed as preferred bidder for A-Leagues expansion licence in Auckland |url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/aleagues-expansion-auckland-preferred-bidder-black-knight-bill-foley-bournemouth/ |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=A-Leagues |language=en-AU}}</ref> The APL officially confirmed the new team would be awarded a licence under Foley's ownership on November 21, with the Auckland FC men's team being introduced for the 2024–25 A-League Men season and the women's team competing from 2025–26 onwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-11-21 |title=Auckland expansion team awarded full A-Leagues license |url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-news-auckland-new-team-expansion/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=A-Leagues |language=en-AU}}</ref>
At an AGM held in February 2024, Black Knight ratified a deal to become a significant minority shareholder in Scottish football club Hibernian.<ref name = foley>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68418733 |title=Bill Foley: Hibernian shareholders vote through American's £6m investment in club |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2024 |access-date=27 February 2024 |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin}}</ref> Black Knight acquired 25% of Hibs for a £6 million investment<ref name = foley/> and Foley was appointed to the club's board of directors soon afterwards,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-bournemouth-billionaire-investor-boardroom-4548838 |first=John |last=Greechan |title=Billionaire Hibs investor in major boardroom move |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=8 March 2024 |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> but the stake was sold to the majority shareholders in November 2025, with "philosophical differences" cited for the partnership breaking down.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cyv80r210dno |title=Hibernian: Foley sells 25% stake back to Gordon family |website=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2025 |accessdate=12 November 2025 |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status= }}</ref>
As of April 2026, Bill Foley was reported to be in advanced negotiations to acquire Exeter Chiefs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Matt |last2=Kitson |first2=Robert |last3=Hughes |first3=Exclusive by Matt |date=2026-04-18 |title=AFC Bournemouth’s owner Bill Foley behind US takeover of Exeter Chiefs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/18/afc-bournemouths-bill-foley-takeover-exeter-chiefs-rugby-union |access-date=2026-04-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
==Personal life== Since 1969, Foley has been married to Carol Johnson, a former flight attendant for United Airlines, with whom he has four children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/6119504/William-Foley-the-billionaire-in-our-vines|title=William Foley - the billionaire in our vines|website=Stuff|first=John|last=Saker|date=December 13, 2011|access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref> His wife and daughters are all involved in the family winery,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ed-graney/golden-knights-owner-bill-foley-finds-inner-peace-as-winemaker/|title=Golden Knights owner Bill Foley finds inner peace as winemaker|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Ed|last=Graney|date=September 7, 2017|access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref> while his son is the chief business officer of the Vegas Golden Knights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/robert-foley-son-of-golden-knights-owner-gets-promoted-by-team/|title=Robert Foley, son of Golden Knights owner, gets promoted by team|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Ben|last=Gotz|date=August 24, 2018|access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref> His other son, who was also a part of the winemaking business, died at the age of 31 in August 2018, as a result of a traumatic head injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/son-of-golden-knights-owner-bill-foley-dead-at-31/|title=Son of Golden Knights owner Bill Foley dead at 31|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Adam|last=Hill|date=August 24, 2018|access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ed-graney/golden-knights-owner-bill-foley-on-nhl-teams-debut-loss-of-son-1560205/|title=Golden Knights owner Bill Foley reflects on team's debut and losing his son|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Ed|last=Graney|date=December 28, 2018|access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref>
Foley is a financial supporter of President Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/auckland-fc/bill-foley-backs-donald-trump-again-while-investing-in-auckland-fcs-future/TT7SCAH7XFHV7DO5HPJ64KREVQ/|title=Bill Foley backs Donald Trump again while investing in Auckland FC's future|newspaper=New Zealand Herald|first=Ben|last=McKay|date=16 October 2024|access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Vegas Golden Knights}} {{NHLOwners}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Bill}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:American businesspeople in finance Category:American sports businesspeople Category:National Hockey League owners Category:Businesspeople from Austin, Texas Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:University of Washington School of Law alumni Category:Vegas Golden Knights owners Category:Businesspeople from Jacksonville, Florida Category:Businesspeople from Las Vegas Category:Military personnel from Texas Category:Chairmen and investors of football clubs in England Category:Stanley Cup champions Category:United States Air Force officers Category:Hibernian F.C. directors and chairmen Category:Auckland FC people