How a Greek shipping magnate became a global force in sports and media

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Evangelos Marinakis has built a sprawling empire that spans international maritime logistics, professional football, and major media outlets. Beyond his business ventures, he is a prominent philanthropist and political figure in Piraeus. His influence is as controversial as it is vast, marking him as a quintessential modern Greek oligarch.

Born in Piraeus in 1967, Marinakis followed in the footsteps of his father, Miltiadis, a shipowner and politician. He began his career in the shipping industry in 1992, eventually establishing Capital Maritime & Trading Corp in 2005. By 2025, his family-controlled fleet had grown to manage over 146 vessels, ranging from tankers to specialized energy carriers. His influence in the maritime sector is well-documented; Lloyd's List has consistently ranked him among the industry's most powerful figures, placing him 10th in 2025.

Marinakis is perhaps most visible through his ownership of football clubs, including Olympiacos in Greece, Nottingham Forest in England, and Rio Ave in Portugal. His tenure at Olympiacos has been marked by significant domestic success, including multiple league titles and a historic 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League victory. While his sporting investments have brought him acclaim, they have also attracted scrutiny. He has faced various allegations, including match-fixing and referee interference, though he has been acquitted in all such cases. Similarly, he was cleared of charges related to the Noor 1 ship case due to a lack of evidence.

His reach extends into media and local politics. Through Alter Ego Media, he acquired the historic Lambrakis Press Group in 2017, securing control over major Greek newspapers and digital outlets. In his home city of Piraeus, he served as a municipal councillor, winning re-election in 2019 despite criticism regarding his attendance record. Throughout his career, Marinakis has maintained a high profile as a philanthropist, funding everything from disaster relief and hospital infrastructure to academic chairs and cultural heritage projects. Whether through his shipping innovations or his high-stakes acquisitions, he remains a central, if polarizing, figure in contemporary Greek life.

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