Billionaire investor Ken Griffin, head of Citadel, made the largest financial contribution to hire Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino for the U.S. national soccer team. Pochettino, who previously coached Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, was brought in after the U.S. squad was eliminated from the Copa America in 2024 and has since guided them to the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
Pochettino's annual base salary is approximately $6 million, making him the highest-paid coach in U.S. Soccer history. His contract included an estimated $2.5 million signing bonus. U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone confirmed that the hire would not have been possible without significant external funding. While the exact amount of Griffin's contribution has not been disclosed, it is understood to be substantial, likely in the millions, and was a "philanthropic leadership gift." Fellow hedge fund manager Scott Goodwin, co-founder of Diameter Capital, also contributed and helped connect Griffin to U.S. Soccer.
Griffin, a lifelong soccer fan, has a history of supporting the sport. He previously donated $3 million to the U.S. Soccer Foundation in 2017 to fund 50 mini-pitches in Chicago, where Citadel was then headquartered. Six years later, he contributed another $5 million to develop 50 mini-pitches in Miami-Dade County, Florida. For the 2026 World Cup, Griffin and real estate developer Stephen Ross also donated over 1,200 tickets to Miami residents. His involvement in securing top talent for the U.S. team reflects his philosophy of paying top dollar for elite performers, a strategy he employs in his $68 billion hedge fund, Citadel, which was named the most profitable hedge fund of all time for the fourth consecutive year in 2025.
