Most of the sports teams are owned by some of the richest billionaires in the world. American Steve Ballmer and Indian Mukesh Ambani are some of the richest sports team owners in the world.
These billionaires have other major sources of wealth, but they definitely have a passion for sports. Steve Ballmer who owns LA Clippers bought the NBA team for $2 billion in 2014.
This article lists the world’s 20 richest sports team owners. The top sports team owner has a fortune of $52.7 billion while the 20th sports team owner has a net worth of $5 billion. Robert Pera, who happens to be the youngest sports team owner is also on the list.
Continue reading to see the full list of these billionaires.
In this article
20. Terrence Pegula
From: United States
Sports team: Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres
Net Worth: $5 Billion
Source of Wealth: Natural gas, Real estate
Age: 69
Terrence is the world’s 330th richest individual and among the 20 richest sports team owners in the world.
He’s also a successful businessman with investments in the sectors of professional sports, entertainment, real estate, and development of natural gas.
Terrence owns Pegula Sports and Entertainment which owns Buffalo Sabres that competes in the NHL. Together with his wife, Pegula owns Buffalo Bills of the NFL.
19. Micky Arison
From: United States
Sports team: Miami Heat
Net Worth: $5.1 Billion
Source of Wealth: Carnival cruises
Age: 70
Micky is an American billionaire businessman. He’s the chairman of Carnival Corporation, the biggest cruise operator in the world. The company is involved in the hospitality and tourism industries. As of 2019, it generated $20.83 billion in revenues.
Micky Arison owns Miami Heat of the NBA. Miami Heat has won 3 NBA championships.
18. Tom Gores
From: United States
Sports team: Detroit Pistons
Net Worth: $5.7 Billion
Source of Wealth: Platinum Equity
Age: 55
In 2015, Tom Gores became the sole owner of the Detroit Pistons that competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He’s worth $5.7 billion which makes him one of the richest sports team owners in the world.
Tom founded Platinum Equity, a private equity company based in Beverly Hills, California.
17. Daniel Gilbert
From: United States
Sports team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Net Worth: $6.5 Billion
Source of Wealth: Quicken Loans
Age: 58
Daniel Gilbert is the co-founder and chairman of Quicken Loans. He owns the majority of Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Gilbert also owns Cleveland Monsters, an ice hockey team, and the Canton Charge of the NBA.
Quicken Loans is a top mortgage loaning firm based in Michigan, United States. Daniel Gilbert also owns Rock Ventures, the holding firm for the businesses that he owns. It’s the parent company of more than 100 companies.
16. Dmitry Rybolovlev
From: Russia
Sports team: FC Monaco, Cercle Brugge
Net Worth: $6.6 Billion
Source of Wealth: Fertilizer
Age: 53
He’s the 224th wealthiest individual and one of the richest sports team owners in the world. Dmitry is also a businessman and owns Uralkali, a manufacturer and exporter of potash fertilizer.
The Russian billionaire is the owner and president of FC Monaco that competes in the French League 1. Cercle Brugge, a Belgian football team that competes in the Belgian Pro League is also owned by Dmitry Rybolovlev.
15. Robert Kraft
From: United States
Sports team: New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Boston Uprising
Net Worth: $6.9 Billion
Source of Wealth: Patriots
Age: 78
He’s the owner of New England Patriots of the National Football League. Robert also owns New England Revolution that competes in the Major League Soccer. Both teams play at the Gillette stadium which is owned by Kraft. Boston Uprising, an esports team, is also owned by the American billionaire.
Robert Kraft is the founder, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group. The group consists of private corporations that are involved in the real estate, manufacturing and sports industries.
Kraft Group has operations in 90 countries and employs more than 5,000 people.
14. Robert Pera
From: United States
Sports team: Memphis Grizzlies
Net Worth: $7 Billion
Source of Wealth: Ubiquiti Networks
Age: 42
Pera is the founder, owner, and CEO of Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. Ubiquiti makes and sells wireless and wired networking products. Some of the brands by Ubiquiti include UFiber, AirFiber, AirMax, EdgeMax, and UniFi.
Robert Pera is the world’s 95th youngest billionaire and the 208th wealthiest person on the planet. He owns Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. He’s a former employee of Apple.
13. Stephen Ross
From: United States
Sports team: Miami Dolphins
Net Worth: $7.6 Billion
Source of Wealth: Real estate
Age: 80
He’s worth $7.6 billion and owns Miami Dolphins. This makes Ross one of the richest sports team owners in the world. Miami Dolphins is a U.S-based football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL).
Stephen Ross owns The Related Companies, L.P, a New York-based real estate corporation. The firm owns more than 8,000 residential units in New York City and is the biggest landlord in the City.
12. Shahid Khan
From: United States
Sports team: Jacksonville Jaguars, Fullham FC
Net Worth: $7.8 Billion
Source of Wealth: Auto Parts
Age: 69
He’s the owner of Jacksonville Jaguars, a Florida-based football club that competes in the National Football League. Fullham FC that competes in the English Football League Championship is also owned by Shahid Khan.
Shahid together with his son, Tony Khan own All Elite Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida, United States.
Shahid owns the Four Seasons Hotel and residential complex in Toronto, Canada. He also owns a yacht named Kismet.
11. Jerry Jones
From: United States
Sports team: Dallas Cowboys
Net Worth: $8 Billion
Source of Wealth: Cowboys
Age: 77
With a massive fortune of $ billion, Jerry Jones is one of the richest sports team owners in the world. He owns the Dallas Cowboys which competes in the National Football League. Jones also serves as the President and General Manager of the team.
Jerry Jones together with Yankee Global Enterprises owns Legends Hospitality. Legends is based in New York and is involved in Event Hospitality Services, Ticket Sales, and Merchandising. The company is worth an estimated $750 million.
9. Joseph Tsai
From: Canada
Sports team: Brooklyn Nets
Net Worth: $10 Billion
Source of Wealth: E-commerce
Age: 56
He’s the owner of Brooklyn Nets and the 9th richest sports team owner in the world. Brooklyn Nets competes in the NBA.
Tsai co-founded Alibaba E-commerce platform together with Jack Ma. Tsai is currently the Executive vice chairman of the E-commerce giant.
He’s ranked the world’s 135th wealthiest individual.
Also Read: The highest paid athletes in the world
9. Stanley Kroenke
From: United States
Sports team: Arsenal FC, Colorado Rapids, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Rams
Net Worth: $10 Billion
Source of Wealth: Real estate, sports
Age: 72
Kroenke is an American tycoon and businessman. He owns Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
Kroenke Sports and Entertainment owns the following sports teams:
- Arsenal FC, an English premier league soccer club
- Denver Nuggets of the NBA
- Colorado Rapids of the Major League Soccer
- Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League
- Colorado Mammoth that competes in the National Lacrosse League
- Los Angeles Gladiators of the Overwatch League
8. Philip Anschutz
From: United States
Sports team: Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy
Net Worth: $11 Billion
Source of Wealth: Investments
Age: 80
He’s an American billionaire and one of the richest sports team owners in the world. Philip is also a businessman and owns several companies that are involved in industries such as real estate, movies, entertainment, newspapers, sports, energy among others.
Philip owns the Los Angeles Kings, a Los Angeles-based soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer. He also co-owns the Los Angeles Kings together with Ed Roski. Los Angeles Kings is an ice hockey team that competes in the National Hockey League.
7. Roman Abramovich
From: Russia
Sports team: Chelsea FC
Net Worth: $11.3 Billion
Source of Wealth: Steel, Investments
Age: 53
Chelsea FC is an English premier league football club that’s owned by Roman Abramovich. With a net worth of $11.3 billion, Roman is Russia’s 10th wealthiest person and the 113th richest person in the world.
Roman Abramovich also owns Millhouse LLC, a London based investment company. He’s the founder and chairman of Millhouse.
Abramovich is a politician and served as a governor in Russia from 2000 to 2008.
6. David Tepper
From: United States
Sports team: Carolina Panthers
Net Worth: $12 Billion
Source of Wealth: Hedge Funds
Age: 62
He’s the 36th richest individual in the United States and one of the richest sports team owners in the world.
He owns Carolina Panthers which competes in the National Football League (NFL). Tepper is also the president and founder of the international hedge fund, Appaloosa Management.
5. Hasso Plattner & Family
From: Germany
Sports team: San Jose Sharks
Net Worth: $12.4 Billion
Source of Wealth: Software
Age: 76
Hasso Plattner co-founded SAP SE together with fellow billionaire Dietmar Hopp. He’s the chairman of the supervisory board of SAP SE (Since 2003).
Hasso owns the San Jose Sharks, a California based ice hockey team that competes in the National Hockey League.
SAP SE is a software giant and maker of enterprise software to manage operations of businesses and customer relations.
Also Read: The world’s highest paid soccer players
4. Dietrich Mateschitz
From: Austrian
Sports team: New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Alpha Tauri
Net Worth: $16.5 Billion
Source of Wealth: Red Bull Company
Age: 75
He’s the co-founder and Managing Director of Red Bull. Red Bull is an Austrian company that makes energy drinks. Dietrich owns 49% of Red Bull which accounts for most of his wealth.
The Red Bull company owns:
- New York Red Bulls, an American soccer team that plays in the Major League Soccer
- Red Bull Racing, a Formula One racing team
- Scuderia Alpha Tauri, an Italian Formula One racing team.
- RB Leipzig, a German football club that plays in the Bundesliga
- Red Bull Brasil, a Brazilian football club
- Red Bull Bragantino, a Brazilian football club
- EHC Munchen, a German ice hockey team
- EC Red Bull Salzburg, an Austrian ice hockey team
3. Francois Pinault & Family
From: France
Sports team: Stade Rennais FC
Net Worth: $27 Billion
Source of Wealth: Luxury goods
Age: 83
With a fortune of $27 billion, Francois Pinault is one of the richest sports team owners in the world. He owns the Stade Rennais football club that plays in the French League 1.
Pinault is also the founder of Kering, an international company that focuses on luxury goods including shoes, jewelry, watches, designer bags and clothing.
Some of the famous brands owned by Kering are Gucci, Brioni, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga among others.
2. Mukesh Ambani
From: India
Sports team: Mumbai Indians
Net Worth: $36.8 Billion
Source of Wealth: Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas
Age: 63
Mukesh Ambani is the owner of Mumbai Indians and the 2nd richest sports team owner. He’s the richest person in India with a huge fortune of $36.8 billion. Mumbai Indians is a cricket team that plays in the Indian Premier League.
Mukesh is the chairman, MD and the majority shareholder of Reliance Industries. The company is the most valuable firm in India by market value. It deals with products such as Petrochemicals, Oil and Gas.
Mukesh Ambani is also the richest person in Asia and the world’s 21st wealthiest individual.
1. Steve Ballmer
From: United States
Sports team: Los Angeles Clippers
Net Worth: $52.7 Billion
Source of Wealth: Microsoft
Age: 64
Steve Ballmer is the world’s wealthiest sports team owner. He owns the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association(NBA). He bought the NBA team for $2 billion in 2014 from Donald Sterling.
Ballmer served as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014 when he retired. It is during his tenure at Microsoft that he acquired most of his wealth. He’s the world’s 11th richest individual and the 9th wealthiest person in the United States.
That’s the end folks, you now know who are the 20 wealthiest sports team owners in the world. Feel free to drop a comment below.
