US President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to billionaire businessman Joe Lewis, the former owner of Tottenham Hotspur, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
According to the official, the eighty eight year old British investor sought the pardon so he could receive medical care and spend time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren in the United States. Lewis, whose family trust holds the majority interest in the Premier League club, had pleaded guilty in 2024 to a charge related to conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He avoided a prison sentence and currently resides in the Bahamas.
The official explained that Lewis accepted responsibility for his actions, cooperated with authorities, did not challenge extradition, and paid a fine of five million dollars. His wealth was estimated at six point eight billion dollars as of Thursday, based on figures from Forbes.
Lewis rose to prominence as a currency trader in the late twentieth century and expanded his business interests over the decades. His company ENIC acquired control of Tottenham in 2001 from British businessman Alan Sugar for twenty two million dollars. He stepped away from the club’s leadership in 2022, transferring his stake to a family trust.
