Denise Coates CBE is among the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. She is a British billionaire businesswoman and the founder, majority owner, and joint chief executive officer of Bet365, an online gambling company. Coates has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the online betting industry and built a fortune in the process. As of 2025, Denise Coates’s net worth is approximately $9.3 billion (£7.5 billion), making her one of the wealthiest women globally.
Her strategic decisions and innovative approach to sports gambling and online casinos have made Bet365 one of the world’s largest and most profitable companies in the space. In addition to her business empire, Coates is a renowned philanthropist who supports multiple local and international charity causes through her foundation.
This article provides a detailed overview of Denise Coates’s financial portfolio, career, business endeavors, and impact on the gambling industry.
Denise Coates bio
| Full name | Denise Coates |
| Date of birth | September 26, 1967 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | First-class degree in Econometrics from Sheffield University |
| Occupation | Businesswoman, Founder, and co-CEO of Bet365 |
| Net worth | Approximately $9.3 billion (£7.5 billion) as of 2025 |
| Family | Married to Richard Smith; Five children |
| Residence | Cheshire, UK |
| Notable titles | Highest-paid woman, Joint CEO of Bet365 |
Early life and education
Denise Coates was born on September 26, 1976, in Stoke-on-Trent, England. She was the first daughter of Peter Coates, chairman of Stoke City Football Club, and a key player in the family business, particularly the director of Bet365. Growing up in a family deeply immersed in business and the betting industry, Coates was introduced to the gambling business at a very young age.
She attended Staffordshire University and later transferred to Sheffield University, graduating with a first-class degree in Econometrics. Her time at Sheffield provided her with exceptional financial and analytical skills. At 22, she became the managing director of her family’s chain of betting outlets.
Background and career
Denise Coates began her career in the betting industry as a cashier in the Provincial Racing department, her family’s betting shop. After graduating, she became an accountant and a managing director in 1995. Under her guidance, Coates’s betting business expanded significantly. However, she foresaw the shift toward online gambling sites and decided to take the business digital.
In 2000, she mortgaged her family’s betting shops and, with her brother, set up an online betting platform. She purchased the domain name bet365.com and launched the business in 2001 after securing an $18.6 million (£15 million) loan against her father’s betting shops. This was a strategic move, as Bet365 quickly gained traction and became one of the biggest sports betting companies globally.
Business ventures
The decision to shift to online gambling was a bold move that transformed the industry. In 2005, Coates sold her family’s chain of betting outlets for $49.8 million (£40 million) to Coral, using the proceeds to pay off the initial loan and focus solely on online gambling. Today, Bet365 is among the world’s largest and most profitable betting companies. It generates billions of dollars annually in revenue, keeping Denise Coates’s net worth on a constant upward trajectory.
As one of the pioneers of online betting, Bet365 introduced innovative features such as in-play betting, which allowed users to place bets during live games. This was a revolutionary feature as it set new standards in the betting industry. As the majority shareholder of the betting company, Coates continues to expand Bet365’s horizons, cementing its status as a leading online gambling company.
Besides Bet365, the Coates family remains active in sports, owning a majority stake in Stoke City FC. Their ownership is crucial in the club’s operations, as they invest in both the players and infrastructure.
Philanthropic efforts
Besides her enormous financial success with Bet365, Denise Coates CBE is a renowned philanthropist. She established the Bet365 Foundation in August 2014 and renamed it the Denise Coates Foundation in February 2016. The British billionaire businesswoman has donated millions of dollars to UK charities. The foundation supports several causes, including:
- University scholarships
- Medical research and healthcare initiatives
- Arts through theater donations
- Disadvantaged groups through community welfare projects
In the last year, Denise Coates donated nearly $149 million (£120 million) to charitable causes. Her foundation also funds provincial racing and grassroots sports organizations.
Net worth and salary
As of 2025, Denise Coates’s net worth is estimated at $9.3 billion (£7.5 billion). She is one of the wealthiest women in the UK and the world. In the financial year ending in March 2024, the Bet365 boss earned nearly $118 million (£94.7 million) in salary and around $136 million (£110 million) in dividends from Bet365. Over the years, her income has placed her among the highest-paid business executives globally.
Despite her instrumental role in building Bet365, Coates has been criticized for her income. However, she has always defended her earnings, citing the company’s strong financial performance and emphasizing the role she has played to get it to that point in success. In response to this criticism, she took a pay cut last year, reducing her annual income from previous years.
Denise Coates’ impact on the betting industry
Denise Coates has had an indelible impact on the global betting industry. She has played a critical role in shaping the modern digital betting industry, from building one of the pioneer online betting platforms to introducing revolutionary betting features. Her contributions include the following:
- The rise of digital betting sites, which reshaped the gambling landscape.
- The introduction of in-play betting revolutionized sports wagering.
- Building mobile-friendly betting sites made sports betting more accessible.
- She introduced responsible gambling approach policies, promoting player protection.
Denise Coates has also been recognized for her contributions to the business community, receiving multiple accolades and an honorary doctorate for her tremendous achievements. She was inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame in 2019, solidifying her legacy in the business.
Personal life and public profile
Despite her immense wealth and influence, Denise Coates keeps her personal life private. She is married to Richard Smith, and they have five children. She and her family reside in a $112 million (£90 million) estate in Betchton near Sandbach, Cheshire. She avoids media appearances and rarely grants interviews. Her primary focus is running the betting company and expanding its horizons.
Her family is deeply involved with the community, where most of their businesses and philanthropic activities have a lasting impact. Through her foundation, Coates has supported multiple projects in the community, including religious, educational, healthcare, and community welfare initiatives.
