LIVERPOOL FC owner John W Henry yesterday rejoined one of the world’s most exclusive clubs.

After a year’s absence, Mr Henry has made a comeback into Forbes annual list of world dollar billionaires. His return to the prestigious ranking is directly attributed by Forbes to his acquisition last year of the Anfield club.

Ranked joint 1,140th richest person in the world, the 61-year old American financier only just scrapes into the list, with his wealth valued at exactly $1bn. He dropped out last year when his wealth was judged by Forbes’ editors to have dipped below the $1bn threshold for inclusion.

Mr Henry, whose address is given as Boca Rotan, Florida, is ranked 410th richest American.

Forbes writes: “The former global futures trader . . . is once again a billionaire thanks to October acquisition of Liverpool soccer club.”

Mr Henry was part of the Fenway Sports Group that paid £300m for the club when it was bought from former owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks in a deal engineered by British Airways chairman Martyn Broughton.

As well as Liverpool, Mr Henry and his business partners own baseball team Boston Red Sox, which they paid $700m for in 2002.

However, one local football finance expert cast doubt on the idea that the purchase of Liverpool could, on its own, lift Mr Henry’s fortunes.

James Dow, a partner in Cheshire- based corporate finance firm Dow Schofield Watts, and who has advised Everton, Barcelona and Ajax, said: “The only reason he can be back in the list is that he has made a profit on the purchase of the football club. That’s not all that plausible. If he has made a profit, then Mr Hicks may have a justifiable complaint about the price at which the club’s shares changed hands.

“I don’t think the prospects for the club or its valuation have materially changed in the last few months.”