What did Mihai Rotaru, the patron of the University of Craiova, make a fortune of 300 million euros

The University of Craiova leaves year after year as the favorite for the title, but the Oltenians fail during the championship, even if they benefit from good financial stability. This season, although they started like a gun in the Super League, the “Juvets” went through a weaker period, but they repaired the domestic failures with spectacular results in the Conference League, where they are close to a qualification in the European spring.

Mihai Rotaru hopes to bring the title to Craiova, after 35 years. Sportpictures photo

With all the syncopations of recent years, when it even missed the title by a whisker, Craiova University has always had financial stability, thanks to patron Mihai Rotaru. This is because the businessman has a considerable fortune, of 300 million euros, according to the estimates of one close to him, Dumitru Dragomir.

But few know in which fields Rotaru made the money, which invested more than 25 million euros from the moment it became the majority shareholder of the Oltean club. He disclosed that his main businesses are in agriculture, energy, real estate and stock market. “The main businesses are agriculture and energy. But also real estate, which at the moment is frozen. I mean, I have a real estate portfolio, but I'm not doing developments at the moment.

Owner of 4,000 hectares of arable land

I am a big investor in agriculture. Or let's call it medium. I am focused on Dolj and Olt counties, on the border between them. We do agriculture there, but also energy. I have around 30 machines, but their number is less important. I don't have more, because we are not the Big Island of Brăila. We work on 4,000 hectares that we own.

It's an interesting business. The money is mainly from agriculture, energy and the stock market. At the moment, my holdings have reduced significantly. A few years ago, I was one of the most important investors in the Bucharest Stock Exchange”declared Mihai Rotaru for gsp.ro.

There are 11 other shareholders in Craiova

But the University of Craiova is not only financed by the majority shareholder, but also by several people who do not come forward, a total of 12 shareholders. “The list of shareholders is still open, but we are looking carefully. It is a much too nice group at the moment, we are together, we communicate very well, it is a thing that works“Mihai Rotaru also declared.

According to the 2024 balance sheet, Mihai Rotaru invested 23 million euros in Craiova University, and the club borrowed 13 million euros. Another 3.4 million euros came last year from sponsors, 2.3 million euros from television rights, and 1.5 million euros went into the club's accounts from tickets and subscriptions.