Ballydoyle master has triple digits in his sights as he heads to his happy hunting ground of once again. The Irish handler has won all there is to win on the level, establishing himself as one of the world's most revered, and it is at the five-day Royal meeting where he .
O'Brien has saddled a staggering 91 Royal Ascot winners to date, and , reaching a century is a mere inevitability.
In 2025, he holds leading claims for many of the renewal's Group 1 affairs, taking into consideration that the likes of and will miss the meet, the former having been retired.
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Nevertheless, many of O'Brien's charges are still likely to score across the week, as we take a look at the trainer's net worth, extraordinary sons and scathing criticism of the ground at Ascot.
What is Aidan O'Brien's net worth?With over 400 Group 1 winners across the globe, O'Brien has earned millions for his connections at Ballydoyle and Coolmore - pocketing himself a fortune too. He was also an iconic trainer in the National Hunt realm, most notably with star hurdler Istabraq, a three-time Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner.
It is estimated that through his years at the top, O'Brien's net worth stands at an approximate £34million, which will only be bolstered should he taste further Ascot success.
O'Brien was named British Champion Flat Trainer in 2024 for an unfathomable seventh time, and thanks to an 11th success in the Derby already this year with colt Lambourn, he looks well in the mix to retain the title.
Not only has O'Brien created a dynasty for the ages at Ballydoyle, but he, like many of his great thoroughbreds, has sired offspring that are also making their mark. Joseph, born in 1993, is the eldest of O'Brien and his wife Anne-Marie's four children. Their family is completed by Sarah, Anastasia and Donnacha.
Every one of O'Brien's children has ridden a winner for him at some point as a jockey, but it was Joseph who rose to critical acclaim, prevailing in the 2012 Derby aboard Camelot. Having been named Irish Champion Jockey in 2012 and repeating that feat in 2013, Joseph stepped down from riding three years later to take up training.
His younger brother, Donnacha, picked up some rides for Joseph, and he has saddled some notable winners both over obstacles and on the flat, including King George Chase winner Banbridge and Irish Derby champion Latrobe.
Donnacha, too, has taken to handling after ending a riding career, and tasted debut Royal Ascot success in 2023 with star filly Porta Fortuna, who also won the Coronation Stakes 12 months ago. Both of O'Brien's sons send charges over to the Royal meeting this time around, hoping to get one over on their legendary father.
What did Aidan O'Brien say about Ascot?O'Brien's visits to Ascot have not all been plain sailing. In 2024, superstar colt Auguste Rodin, who won the Derby in 2023 as well as the Breeders' Cup Turf, arrived at the track looking to claim the valuable Group 1 King George.
Ryan Moore, Ballydoyle's retained rider, sat aboard the four-year-old as favourite for the second year running, though O'Brien's star was again well beaten, finishing back in fifth, 11-and-a-half lengths behind the winner Goliath.
After the £700,000 affair, the son of Deep Impact's handler came out with a deep-cutting criticism of the track at Ascot, claiming that the going description of good to firm was incorrect.
"When we walked the track, we were very worried," O'Brien said. "It was good, good to soft in places. It was nowhere near good to firm anywhere. It was cut up on the rails and full of sand.
"We knew we had no choice, and we had to go down there. With the benefit of hindsight, we should have kept out of the bad ground and on the quicker ground. That's the way it is, and that's the way it fell for us today. There will be other days."