Eddie Jordan, who owned the Jordan Grand Prix Formula 1 team in the 1990s and 2000s before moving into a career as a television pundit and serial investor, has died aged 76.
The Dubliner passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning at his home in Cape Town after being diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer last year.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Jordan OBE, the ex-Formula 1 team owner, TV pundit and entrepreneur," his family said in a statement.
"He passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town in the early hours of 20 March 2025."
Jordan made its F1 debut in 1991 and won four grands prix in 15 years before Jordan sold the team for $60m in 2005. The team has since been known as Midland MF1, Force India, Racing Point and latterly Aston Martin.
At its peak in the late 1990s, Jordan finished third in the F1 constructors' championship behind Ferrari and McLaren, led by drivers Damon Hill and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher also drove for the team in 1991.
The Irishman remained in the F1 paddock after selling the team, serving as a pundit for the BBC and Channel 4 and writing a column for F1 Racing Magazine.
He also presented Top Gear and hosted a podcast with former driver David Coulthard, on which he revealed his cancer diagnosis last December. Last year, he brokered leading designer Adrian Newey's move to Aston Martin.
Jordan's family said he was "working until the last, having communicated on St Patrick's Day about his ambitions for London Irish Rugby Football Club."
Jordan was part of a consortium that purchased the defunct English rugby club in February. The new owners have plans for the club to return to rugby in 2026, three years after it was liquidated after racking up debts of £30m.
"Eddie and Jordan Grand Prix were known for their rock and roll image, bringing a fun and exciting element to F1, as well as consistently performing above their weight," the Jordan family said.
"Many successful F1 drivers owe their career breaks to Eddie, and world champions including Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill drove for him.
"EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went. We all have a huge hole missing without his presence.
"He will be missed by so many people, but he leaves us with tonnes of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow."
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jordan was worth an estimated $600m from his investments in Formula 1, property, gaming, entertainment and health and fitness.
In addition to London Irish, Jordan was also once a shareholder in Celtic FC, and he had invested in Kinmont Advisory and hedge fund Clareville Capital.
His property investments included commercial real estate, residential developments, a Bulgarian resort and a PGA golf course.
He founded JKO Capital for his gaming and entertainment investments in 2021, and he was subsequently linked with 10-figure bids to buy online sportsbook OpenBet and gambling software company Playtech.
He was already an investor in OpenBet owner Scientific Games prior to the unsuccessful 2021 takeover, and he also held a stake in Coral and Ladbrokes parent Entain. His other investments include Irish food and drink group Valeo Foods and online cycling and physical training firm Zwift.
Jordan was also known to have bought several luxury yachts, including the £32m Blush, a 47-metre Sunseeker 155 yacht.
In a statement, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said Jordan "always knew how to make people smile, remaining genuine and brilliant at all times.
“Eddie has been a protagonist of an era of F1 and he will be deeply missed.”
Jordan is survived by his wife Marie, and children Zoe, Miki, Zak and Kyle.
Photo: Eddie Jordan walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 23, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Pic: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
