20. Stephen Bisciotti (Baltimore Ravens), $7.2 billion
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The Aerotek founder, Bisciotti has won two Super Bowl titles since buying into the Ravens franchise. He’s responsible for the team’s brilliant state-of-the-art training facility and hiring current coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore has reached the playoffs 11 times under Harbaugh — his tenure began in 2008 — and it is consistently one of the best-operated organizations in football.
19. Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United), $7.9 billion
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While Blank’s Falcons are still waiting on the franchise’s first Super Bowl title (they came so close during the 2016 season), his Atlanta United won the MLS Cup in just its second year of existence in 2018. Blank is still one of the most influential owners in all of sports and also co-founded The Home Depot.
T-17. Tilman Fertitta (Houston Rockets), $8 billion
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The renowned restauranteur (Landry’s) bought the Rockets in 2017 for a reported $2.2 billion. The Rockets are currently one of the youngest teams in the NBA and are amidst a rebuild, it will be interesting to see if the current crop of players can finally make the club a serious contender to claim its first NBA title since the back-to-back runs of 1994 and ’95.
T-17. Rocco Commisso (ACF Fiorentina), $8 billion
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Born in Italy, Rocco Commisso moved to America at the age of 12 and eventually turned himself into a billionaire. Commisso made his wealth as the CEO of cable giant Mediacom. With a passion for sports, Commisso purchased a majority ownership stake in the New York Cosmos soccer club in 2017 — the team later folded — and purchased ACF Fiorentina in 2019.
T-15. Antony Ressler (Atlanta Hawks), $8.1 billion
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Antony Ressler has his hands on multiple sports franchises. A co-founder of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management and Ares Management, Ressler became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005. 10 years later Ressler would become the majority owner of the Atlanta Hawks. Most recently, Ressler’s Ares Management invested $500 million into Chelsea FC.
T-15. Tom Gores (Detroit Pistons), $8.1 billion
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Gores has been the lone owner of the Pistons since 2015. Detroit has had two playoff appearances since 2015-16 and it doesn’t look like that number will increase this season. While Gores was reportedly also involved with trying to bring an MLS franchise to the Detroit area, that apparently is no longer a priority for the Pistons owner.
14. Robert Pera (Memphis Grizzlies), $8.3 billion
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At 46 years old, Pera is still young, but has certainly done well for himself. The founder of Ubiquiti Networks, Pera bought the Grizzlies in 2012 and that season they reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in club history while also winning a franchise-best 56 games. Memphis is now a playoff contender in the West.
13. Jimmy Haslam (Cleveland Browns, Milwaukee Bucks, Columbus Crew), $8.7 billion
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Interestingly, Jimmy Haslam was a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers for four years before becoming the owner of the Cleveland Browns. Due to an NFL rule, Haslam sold his piece of the Steelers in order to become owner of the Browns in 2012. Haslam bought the Columbus Crew in 2018 and the team has won two MLS Cups (2020, 2023) under Haslam’s ownership.
12. Henry Samueli (Anaheim Ducks), $10 billion
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One of southern California’s most influential people. Samueli purchased the club then known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2005. During his watch, the Ducks became the first California-based NHL team to win the Stanley Cup (2006-07). Samueli also serves on the Executive Committee of the NHL Board of Governors.
11. Stephen Ross (Miami Dolphins), $10.1 billion
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Ross has been the principal owner of the Dolphins since 2009, but rumors are starting to spread that he might be interested in selling the team. Ross refuted such reports, telling the Miami Herald that he would own the team “until I die.” The Dolphins have made the playoffs just four times since the start of the 2002 season.
10. Robert Kraft (New England Patriots, New England Revolution), $11.1 billion
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One of the more well-known names on this list, Kraft owns one of the top franchises in NFL history as the Patriots have won six Super Bowls since 2001. On the MLS front, his Revolution has reached the MLS Cup five times. Of course, Kraft has had his issues and moments of controversy (that massage parlor thing comes to mind). Kraft’s biggest challenge at the moment is trying to bring the Pats back to the top of the league with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick no longer in town.
9. Shahid Khan (Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham FC), $12.2 billion
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Khan has gone from living in a YMCA as a college teenager in Illinois to one of the richest people on the planet. Also the owner of the Flex-N-Gate (auto manufacturer) and English football club Fulham, Khan was the first member of an ethnic minority to take ownership of an NFL team when he bought the Jaguars in 2012.
8. Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys), $14.5 billion
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If there’s one owner in all of sports history who draws more attention to himself than his team, it’s Jones. Yes, everything is bigger in Texas, but Jones’ life is much grander than the team’s persona. From the Cowboys’ home at “Jerry World”, to their massive training/practice facility, to his constant meddling with the team’s personnel and direction — Jones is as big as any celebrity around.
7. Stan Kroenke (Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal FC, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids), $14.6 billion
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Kroenke has not made a lot of friends over the years when it comes to the sports ownership portion of his resume. He moved the Rams out of his home state of Missouri back to L.A., and plenty of Arsenal supporters wish someone else was in charge of their side. Meanwhile, Kroenke’s wife, Ann, the daughter of Walmart co-founder “Bud” Walton, is technically (at least in name) the owner of the Avalanche and Nuggets.
6. Philip Anschutz (Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy), $14.8 billion
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He’s been dubbed “The Man Who Owns L.A.” The co-founder of MLS, Anschutz’s ownership interest goes beyond the Kings, Galaxy and Lakers (which he owns stakes in). Anschutz owns the popular Coachella music festival outside of Los Angeles, and his Anschutz Entertainment Group also owns and operates Staples Center.
5. Steve Cohen (New York Mets), $19.8 billion
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The founder of hedge fund Point72 Asset Management, Steve Cohen has made a big splash in MLB since becoming owner of the New York Mets. Cohen has gone on record multiple times stating he will do whatever it takes for the Mets to become a premier franchise in the league. And, nobody in baseball can match Cohen’s wallet — he is looking to make big moves constantly.
4. David Tepper (Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC), $20.6 billion
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At one time, Tepper had a small stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Panthers became all his in 2018. Carolina last made the playoffs in 2017 and the team is currently a disaster in 2024. Tepper, meanwhile, also is the owner of the MLS franchise Charlotte FC who joined the league in 2021.
3. Dan Gilbert (Cleveland Cavaliers), $21.3 billion
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Even the most casual sports fan should know about Gilbert. While the once perennial NBA doormat Cavaliers have thrived under Gilbert and finally won the city an NBA title in 2016, his relationship with LeBron James is still a talking point, specifically “The Letter” that Gilbert penned in response to James’ decision to leave Cleveland for Miami in 2010. While James returned to play for the Cavs, he and Gilbert still have an interesting relationship, to say the least.
2. Rob Walton & family, (Denver Broncos), $67.4 billion
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The 16th richest person in the world owns the Denver Broncos. The son of Sam Walton, co-founder of Walmart, Rob Walton was part of the group that purchased the Broncos in 2022 for $4.65 billion. While the team hasn’t been a contender for a handful of years, there is hope that Walton will oversee a turnaround in Denver.
1. Steve Ballmer (LA Clippers), $101 billion
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Ballmer not only has the cash, but he has the passion that is somewhat refreshing in a sports owner. The former CEO of Microsoft, Ballmer took over ownership of Los Angeles’ “other” NBA team when the disgraced Donald Sterling was forced by the league to sell the team. With Kawhi Leonard and James Harden in Clippers’ uniforms, the franchise has remained relevant despite still searching to reach the NBA Finals for the first time.
