Bet365: UK's Best-paid Boss Hits ₤ 323m Jackpot Bet365: UK's best-paid manager hits ₤ 323m prize Bet365 boss Denise Coates has received a ₤ 323m payday, verifying her position as the UK's best paid executive. The co-founder of the online betting firm was paid a ₤ 277m income plus dividends as the popularity of online betting continues to grow. The firm's accounts, external program that in the year to end-March her wage rose from ₤ 220m on the previous period. But the increase comes as the industry dealt with mounting criticism, including over children gambling. Gambling: How much do we spend in the UK? The privately held business is owned jointly by Ms Coates and members of her direct family, including her sibling John, who is joint president, and her father Peter, the firm's chairman. Ms Coates earned a first-rate degree in econometrics - the application of statistical methods to economic data - from Sheffield University before signing up with the High Street wagering company, run by her daddy. She identified the potential of online gaming in 2000 and bought the domain name Bet365.com so that she might drive the family organization in that instructions. Bet365 earned a profit before tax of ₤ 791m in the year, compared with ₤ 661m the year before. The firm paid dividends of ₤ 92.5 m, half of which are believed to have actually gone to Ms Coates, as the owner of about half of Bet365's shares. The group of firms owns Stoke City Football Club, that made a loss of ₤ 8.7 m in the year. The High Pay Centre, a think tank which monitors earnings, said the timing of the release of the Bet365 results looked "negative", offered it was simply after a basic election.