The world’s richest sports team owners, ranked

Proudly owning a sports team has lengthy been one of many final billionaire standing symbols. For lots of the planet’s most moneyed people, it is as a lot in regards to the thrill of competitors and lifelong fandom as it’s a few savvy funding. Plum tax breaks and accounting loopholes solely add to the enchantment, serving to to make franchises profitable property.

From basketball bosses to American soccer and soccer supremos, learn on for the world’s wealthiest sports team homeowners in 2025, as recognized by Forbes. All greenback quantities in US {dollars}.

Compiled in March, Forbes’ 2025 rating consists of solely majority/controlling homeowners of top-tier groups throughout main North American leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, NWSL, WNBA), in addition to main world competitions similar to Europe’s ‘huge 5’ soccer leagues, and different top-flight divisions in Europe and Latin America.

For that reason, LVMH’s Bernard Arnault, who snapped up Paris FC final 12 months when it was nonetheless in France’s Ligue 2, is not included. If he had been, his $178 billion (£133bn) internet price would place him firmly within the primary spot. However with the facet promoted to Ligue 1 for this season, Arnault will nearly actually function within the 2026 round-up.

A number of billionaires wealthier than the present primary have flirted with proudly owning sports groups however by no means sealed a deal. Elon Musk has joked about shopping for Manchester United FC and reportedly confirmed curiosity in Liverpool FC, whereas Invoice Gates was allegedly provided the Merseyside soccer membership in 2010.

Mark Zuckerberg has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur FC, Oracle’s Larry Ellison made a number of failed bids for NBA and NFL groups (and had “superior talks” to amass Aston Villa FC), and Warren Buffett as soon as dreamed of proudly owning the Washington Commanders.In keeping with stories, Spanish fast-fashion tycoon Amancio Ortega explored a Manchester United takeover in 2022. Onto the countdown…

Tony Ressler made his billions in non-public fairness, co-founding powerhouse companies Apollo International Administration and Ares Administration within the Nineties.

In 2015, Ressler led the group that bought the Atlanta Hawks NBA franchise for a reported $850 million ($1.2m/£900k in in the present day’s cash). He additionally owns a minority stake in MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers. Ressler is pictured right here at a Lakers-Hawks sport in January together with his Hollywood actress spouse Jami Gertz and fellow sports team proprietor Will Ferrell.

Robert Kraft constructed his fortune from a paper and packaging enterprise initially owned by his former father-in-law, which he took over and expanded within the Seventies, remodeling it right into a multibillion-dollar conglomerate.

Kraft went on to purchase the New England Patriots in 1994, paying $172 million ($380m/£288m in the present day). The NFL franchise, thought of probably the most profitable of all time, is now valued at $9 billion (£6.7bn). The paper tycoon turned sports mogul additionally based and owns the top-tier US soccer team New England Revolution.

Taiwan-born Joe Tsai made his billions as co-founder of Alibaba Group, the place he stays its second-largest particular person shareholder after Jack Ma. A Yale-educated lawyer and economist, Tsai rose to turn into chairman of the Chinese language e-commerce big in 2023.

In 2019, he purchased the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and their dwelling area, the Barclays Middle, for a reported $3.3 billion (£2.5bn), breaking the then-record for a sports-team buy. He additionally owns the WNBA’s New York Liberty and not too long ago acquired a small stake within the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Inheritor to Danish trend retailer Bestseller, Anders Holch Povlsen has expanded the household enterprise into a worldwide group with over 20 manufacturers, together with Jack & Jones and Vero Moda. He is additionally the most important shareholder in British on-line retailer ASOS and Scotland’s largest non-public landowner.

In 2021, Povlsen purchased a 25% stake in FC Midtjylland for about $20 million (£15.7m), rising it to 95.5% in 2023 for an undisclosed sum. Underneath his possession, the membership has damaged switch data, topped the Danish Superliga and set its sights on becoming a member of Europe’s top-flight elite.

Shahid Khan made his fortune via Flex-N-Gate, the US auto elements producer he purchased from his former employer in 1980. The Pakistan-born engineer’s breakthrough one-piece truck bumper design helped flip it into a worldwide juggernaut with greater than 70 crops and 27,000 workers.

Khan purchased the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 for $770 million ($1.1m/£835k in the present day) and Fulham FC two years later for $300 million ($420m/£318m in the present day). He is invested closely in each golf equipment and teamed up with son Tony in 2019 to launch All Elite Wrestling, now a significant competitor to WWE.

German entrepreneur Hasso Plattner made his fortune after co-founding business-software big SAP in 1972, later taking it public and turning it into one in all Europe’s most beneficial tech companies.

A diehard hockey fan, he joined the San Jose Sharks’ possession group in 2002, paying $147 million ($265m/£200m in the present day), and took majority management eight years later. Plattner now faces the problem of reviving a team that has spent current seasons close to the underside of the NHL standings.

Former Apple engineer Robert Pera based Ubiquiti Networks in 2003, constructing it right into a multibillion-dollar wireless-equipment agency with world attain. He nonetheless owns about 93% of the Nasdaq-listed firm.

Pera bought management of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012 for $377 million ($533m/£405m in the present day) alongside minority traders together with Justin Timberlake. In 2018, he purchased out two companions in a deal that valued the NBA team between $1.3 billion (£975m) and $1.4 billion (£1bn), in response to ESPN.

Former oil prospector Jerry Jones is the one billionaire on this rating whose fortune stems primarily from sports possession. He purchased the loss-making Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for $150 million, the equal of $395 million (£300m) in in the present day’s cash. It was a gamble that paid off spectacularly: the NFL team is now price $13 billion (£9.7bn), making it probably the most useful sports franchise on this planet.

Regardless of not reaching a Tremendous Bowl in three many years, the Cowboys generated a file $1.2 billion (£890m) in income final season. Jones additionally holds a controlling stake in Texas power firm Comstock Sources and invests closely in property and artwork.

A seasoned tycoon, Philip Anschutz has amassed billions of {dollars} from a slew of ventures spanning oil, property, telecoms, leisure and extra. His firm AEG owns occasions and arenas worldwide, together with the Coachella Music Pageant and the O2 in London.

Anschutz acquired the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings in 1995 and have become a founding investor within the top-tier MLS, serving to to maintain the league afloat in its early years. By means of AEG, he has owned a number of MLS groups and stays the outright proprietor of LA Galaxy, one of many division’s most profitable and high-profile franchises.

Stan Kroenke derives his fortune from property, with a portfolio that features hundreds of thousands of acres of procuring malls and ranches throughout North America.

The actual property mogul has constructed a transatlantic sports empire as well, encompassing the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and the UK’s Arsenal FC. But Kroenke is not the most well-liked billionaire sports proprietor, to place it mildly. He is particularly loathed by Arsenal followers for his hands-off strategy and hard-nosed concentrate on the London membership’s profitability.

One other actual property mogul, Stephen Ross helms Associated Firms, which has constructed or acquired developments internationally price tens of billions of {dollars}, together with New York Metropolis’s Hudson Yards.

Ross paid $1.1 billion ($1.7bn/£1.3bn in the present day) in 2008 and 2009 to purchase a 95% stake within the Miami Dolphins, in addition to its dwelling area, the Arduous Rock Stadium. He is additionally the bulk proprietor of the System One Miami Grand Prix. Final 12 months he bought a ten% stake within the Dolphins, its stadium, and his F1 curiosity to Ares Administration, and offloaded a 3% piece of the pie to the aforementioned Joe Tsai in a deal that valued the NFL team at $8.1 billion (£6.1bn).

Broadcom co-founder and chairman Henry Samueli has seen his wealth skyrocket because of the AI-fuelled surge within the semiconductor chief’s share value, together with his 2% stake now price a bewildering sum.

Samueli has additionally struck gold within the area of sports possession. Alongside his spouse, Susan, he purchased the NHL’s Anaheim Geese in 2005 for $70 million ($115m/£87m in 2025 cash). Right this moment, the ice hockey team is price a cool $1 billion (£750m).

Considered one of many biggest hedge fund geniuses of all time, David Tepper has led the storied Appaloosa Administration since 1993. He has constructed a profession turning daring bets into enormous payoffs. And his sports ventures aren’t any exception.

The super-shrewd investor acquired the Carolina Panthers in 2018 for a then file $2.3 billion (£1.7bn). Right this moment, the NFL franchise is price $5.7 billion (£4.3bn). A 12 months later, Tepper parted with $325 million (£244m) to determine Charlotte FC, which is now valued at a really tidy $705 million (£528m).

Staying with heavyweight hedge fund managers, Steve Cohen ran probably the most profitable outfits within the sport, SAC Capital, which was later shuttered following insider buying and selling violations. He returned to the enterprise in 2018 with Point72 Asset Administration.

In 2020, Cohen paid $2.4 billion (£1.8bn) to purchase the New York Mets from Fred Wilpon, smashing the file for an MLB franchise sale. However regardless of splurging nearly $1.6 billion (£1.2bn) on gamers, the team is but to win a World Collection beneath his possession.

François Pinault based a timber-trading firm in 1963 and later remodeled it into the luxurious group Kering, which owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga. His household additionally controls Christie’s public sale home and expertise company CAA via their funding group Artémis.

A proud Breton, Pinault purchased Stade Rennais FC in 1998 and has poured hundreds of thousands into the membership. Underneath his possession, Rennes lifted the 2019 Coupe de France, its first main trophy in practically half a century, but it surely continues to chase a maiden Ligue 1 title.

Idan Ofer is the son of the late Sammy Ofer, Israel’s one-time richest particular person, and the brother of Eyal Ofer. He owns a significant maritime logistics firm and has a 51% stake in chemical substances, power, and transport conglomerate Israel Corp.

Ofer snagged a 15% stake in Spanish soccer team Atlético Madrid in 2017 for $50.2 million (£44.6m) and purchased an additional 17% in 2018 for an undisclosed value. That very same 12 months, he dropped “a number of million euros” for 51% of Portuguese second division facet FC Famalicão and elevated his possession to 85% in 2019, the 12 months the team was promoted to the Primeira Liga.

Detroit-born billionaire Dan Gilbert made his fortune because the co-founder of Rocket Mortgage, America’s second-largest dwelling lender. He launched the enterprise in 1985 at simply 22 years outdated and took it public in 2020. A 12 months earlier, the lending tycoon began up on-line sneaker gross sales platform StockX.

Gilbert purchased the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005 for $375 million ($625m/£475m in the present day). Underneath his possession, the Cavs captured their first-ever NBA Championship in 2016, led by LeBron James, and the team is now price $4.8 billion (£3.6bn).

Israeli-born doctor Miriam Adelson inherited her fortune in 2021 from her late husband Sheldon Adelson, the founding father of on line casino colossus Las Vegas Sands, which operates resorts in Macao and Singapore. A outstanding Republican Occasion megadonor and powerful Trump ally, she wields main political affect within the US and Israel.

In 2023, Adelson paid round $3.5 billion (£2.6bn) to amass a majority stake within the Dallas Mavericks from Mark Cuban. Her possession started controversially after the NBA franchise traded away star participant Luka Dončić, although its valuation has jumped to $5.1 billion (£3.8bn) from $4.5 billion (£3.4bn) in 2023.

The first of two centibillionaires on this round-up, Rob Walton is the firstborn son of late Walmart founder Sam Walton. He owns round 11% of the retail behemoth, which is the world’s largest firm by income.

In 2022, Walton led a gaggle that purchased the NFL’s Denver Broncos for $4.7 billion (£3.5bn), a then file value for a sports team. The following 12 months, he transferred official management to his son-in-law Greg Penner however stays the de facto proprietor. The funding is paying off properly, with the Broncos now valued at $6.8 billion (£5.1bn).

Microsoft CEO from 2000 to 2014, Steve Ballmer owns round 4% of the tech titan, a holding that has made him very wealthy certainly.

Ballmer acquired the Los Angeles Clippers the 12 months he stop the Redmond-headquartered firm, paying $2 billion ($2.7bn/£2.1bn in the present day) for the privilege. The NBA franchise is now price $7.5 billion (£5.6bn). One of the passionate billionaire sports team homeowners, Ballmer’s animated courtside celebrations are the stuff of legend and regularly go viral.

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