Hull City owner Acun Ilicali is preparing for the club’s return to the Premier League, the latest milestone in a life shaped by bankruptcy, personal tragedy and an unlikely rise to television superstardom.
Often described as Turkey’s Simon Cowell, Ilicali is one of the country’s most recognisable public figures — a status that would have seemed improbable when he was declared bankrupt in his early twenties. Yet as Hull gear up for their first top‑flight campaign since his takeover in 2022, he says he is approaching the challenge with the same relentlessness that has defined his journey.
In Istanbul, recognition follows him everywhere. Walking through a bustling street‑food market near the Bosphorus, faces lit up as people realised who was in their midst. Within seconds, he was surrounded — selfies, greetings, questions, a constant stream of attention that bordered on overwhelming. It was a glimpse into the megastar status he holds in Turkey, built through two decades of television success.
A life rebuilt from collapse
Ilicali’s story begins far from the glamour of television studios or Premier League boardrooms. Married at 20 and a father at 21, his life was shattered when his parents were killed in a car crash while travelling with his young daughter for a family holiday.
“We drove six hours to the hospital,” he recalls. “I asked if I could see my mother — they said she passed away. Then my father — they said he passed away too. I begged God that it was a nightmare.”
His daughter survived but suffered 15 broken bones and spent three months in hospital. The trauma left him housebound for a year. His marriage collapsed soon after, and within 12 months he had lost the inheritance left by his parents.
“At 21, I opened a shop and tried to trade, but the currency collapsed and I lost everything.”
From ‘lazy student’ to media mogul
Born in Edirne in 1969, near the Greek border, Ilicali describes himself as “the lazy boy of the house” and “the worst student in high school”.
“I couldn’t concentrate. If I wasn’t interested, I forgot everything. But if I was focused, I remembered everything.”
His rise began almost accidentally. A chance encounter with a well‑known sports commentator led to a job as a reporter on Show TV. He thrived, eventually launching his own travel programme, Acun Firarda, which made him a household name.
In 2004, he founded Acun Medya, the production company that would transform Turkish television. He acquired rights to global franchises including MasterChef and Deal or No Deal, and launched Turkey’s Got Talent, where he served as a judge.
He has met Simon Cowell several times.
“When they call me ‘Simon Cowell’, I’m never disturbed. He’s a good guy. On stage, I can say I’m the Simon Cowell of Turkey — no problem.”
His shows attracted global stars — Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Bruce Willis — often appearing for charity. But behind the entertainment empire, his first love remained football.
Why Hull City?
A lifelong Fenerbahce supporter, Ilicali dipped into football ownership with Fortuna Sittard before turning his attention to England.
“Derby County was an option. Cardiff and Swansea too. Hull City was one of them.”
He flew to Humberside to meet then‑co‑owner Ehab Allam. The Humber Bridge immediately caught his eye — its resemblance to Istanbul’s First Bridge stirred something familiar.
“I always follow my feelings. The feel-good factor was top for me.”
With the relationship between the Allams and supporters fractured, Ilicali sensed an opportunity to rebuild trust. In January 2022, he completed the takeover, arriving with bold promises and a clear ambition: return Hull City to the Premier League.
Promotion — and pressure
The journey was not straightforward. Hull flirted with relegation to League One in 2025, surviving only on goal difference. Financial scrutiny followed, with accounts showing underlying losses of £41.7m and promotion adding new pressures under profit and sustainability rules.
But twelve months later, a dramatic play‑off final at Wembley delivered promotion — a moment Ilicali ranks above every achievement in his career.
“If you’d given me eight years, I’d say we can do it. In four and a half years, to get promotion — it’s my biggest achievement in business.”
His enthusiasm for Hull’s Premier League project is infectious. During a meeting in Istanbul, he took a video call with a potential signing, delivering a persuasive pitch about the club’s future. By the end, even as an observer, it was hard not to be convinced.
A new chapter
Now, after years spent alongside global celebrities, Ilicali is preparing to stand among football’s elite. Hull City’s Premier League return begins with a visit from Manchester United — a fixture that symbolises just how far he has travelled.
From a childhood without enough money to buy football shirts to owning a Premier League club, Ilicali’s story is one of resilience, reinvention and relentless ambition. And as Hull City step back into the spotlight, he insists the journey is only just beginning.
