John Magnier

John Magnier (born 10 February 1948) is an Irish business magnate. He is a thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside the horse-breeding industry. He is based at Coolmore Stud at Fethard in County Tipperary, considered one of the world's best stallion stations.

When Charles Haughey became Taoiseach after the 1987 election, he nominated Magnier to Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas; Magnier served as senator until the 1989 dissolution.

Career Origins Magnier was born in Fermoy, County Cork, the eldest son of Thomas Magnier (1909–1962) a County Cork landowner. His aunt Mary Elizabeth Hallinan married Rupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton, Senior Steward of the Jockey Club 1982–1985.

Early life Magnier received his formal education at Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick but had to leave school at 15 to take charge of the family estate near Fermoy after his father died.

Coolmore

Magnier later moved to County Tipperary, where he helped transform Coolmore Stud into a multi-million-euro international business. The business is headquartered in County Tipperary where a number of other stud farms are part of an extensive network which includes Longfield and Castlehyde studs. The operation also has branches in Versailles, Kentucky and at Jerrys Plains, New South Wales, Australia.

Magnier began his association with Coolmore in partnership with his father-in-law and champion racehorse trainer, Vincent O'Brien, and Vernon's Pools magnate, Robert Sangster. They developed successful racing horses and breeding stock, mainly by purchasing the progeny of the Canadian stallion Northern Dancer. Eventually, Magnier came to head the operation. His racing empire is nowadays powered by blue-blooded thoroughbreds trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O'Brien, plus many others in the care of other trainers.

Champion sires to have stood at Coolmore include Sadler's Wells who was leading sire (by prizemoney won) in Great Britain and Ireland in 14 of the 15 years between 1990 and 2004, though his success in his later years was eclipsed by three other Coolmore stallions, namely Danehill and his own sons Galileo and Montjeu. Other notable Group 1 winners who have turned successfully to stud duties are Danehill Dancer, Giant's Causeway, and Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral.

Less successful at Coolmore was George Washington, winner of the 2,000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2006.. George Washington proved infertile, was returned to racing, and suffered a fatal breakdown in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic. George Washington was replaced at stud by another son of Danehill, Holy Roman Emperor, removed from training at the start of his three-year-old season. Eleven of the fifteen winners of The Derby between 1998 and 2012 were sired by Coolmore stallions (High Estate, Fairy King, Grand Lodge, Sadler's Wells (two), Danehill, Montjeu (four) and Galileo)

Other business ventures A high-profile venture was his stake of 28.89 per cent shareholding in football club Manchester United, which was sold in May 2005 to Malcolm Glazer, an American businessman. A friendship with manager Alex Ferguson was tested in a dispute over bloodstock rights to prolific Group 1 winner (seven wins) Rock of Gibraltar.

Wealth The Sunday Independent estimated his wealth at €2.3 billion in 2018, although this is conservative as Coolmore Stud is valued at more than €4 billion alone, in addition to his personal property portfolio and other investments and holdings.

Personal life He is married to Susan O'Brien, a daughter of Irish racehorse-trainer Vincent O'Brien. The couple have five children.