Who is Willie Mullins’ friend Rich Ricci, what’s his net worth and which horses does he own?

RICH Ricci is one of the most high profile people in horse racing and a close friend of Willie Mullins. 

The star’s legendary horses will be competing at Cheltenham 2025, which kicked off on March 11, 2025. 

Rich Ricci is a close friend of star trainer Willie MullinsSportsfile

Rich rocketed to fame as a millionaire bankerSportsfile

A star banker

Rich was born in Nebraska, United States, in 1964. 

After earning a finance degree from Creighton University, he started working at the Bank of Boston before moving to the Bank of New England. 

In 1994, he started working at Barclays de Zoete Wedd and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming head of Barclays Investment Banking and Management. 

Rich has been highly successful in business, earning £44 million as a bonus in 2011.

As of 2024, he has a reported net worth of £100 million. 

A racing mogul

Rich became involved with horse racing in Ireland in 2005, where he became friends with champion trainer Willie Mullins. 

The pair have worked together ever since and even collaborated for Cheltenham 2025. 

Their star horse Gaelic Warrior was withdrawn from the Champion Chase, after Rich became skeptical about its campaign performance.

Willie also withdrew two other huge horses from the same competition, as he reduced the number of runners in several key races.

Speaking about his close working relationship with Willie, Rich said: “I think Willie’s great that our horses are around the big festivals. 

“When I first met him, his yard was nowhere near as it is now.

“I remember saying to him ‘why aren’t you a champion trainer’.

“He replied, ‘I don’t have the ammunition’, so I said to him if we have success I’ll give you the ammunition and we went from there.”

Marital bliss

Rich is married to Susannah Ricci, an accountant with whom he owns the Yotes Court vineyard in Kent. 

His wife is the inspiration for the iconic pink and fluorescent green colours that his jockeys wear, when riding his horses. 

She reportedly chose the colours after having a handbag of a similar design.

Cheltenham Festival 2025

Rich will be taking part in the highly anticipated Cheltenham Festival 2025, where a total of £4,930,000 will be divided across 28 races.

ITV will be broadcasting the first five of seven main races at the festival. 

The remaining races will be available to watch on Racing TV.