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The Richest and ‘Poorest’ Owners in Professional Sports

Daniel Padavona / Shutterstock.com
Daniel Padavona / Shutterstock.com

Unless you inherited a sports team, you'll usually need a few million dollars -- or even billions of dollars -- to become a professional sports team owner. But because some teams have been passed down for generations -- and some teams are more valuable than others -- there's a large range in the wealth of the individuals and families who own these teams.

See: 24 Celebrities Who Tried and Failed To Start New Careers
Basketball Fans: The Richest NBA Owners

GOBankingRates referenced Forbes' most recent MLB, NFL and NBA team valuations, along with a variety of sources to find each team owner's net worth. Corporate entities and team owners with no reliable net worth information available were excluded from the final ranking. Find out if your favorite team's owner is among the richest in their sport.

Last updated: Oct. 18, 2021

Dphilmore / Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA 3
Dphilmore / Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA 3

The 'Poorest' Owners in Professional Sports

It's hard to call any of these team owners poor, as all have net worths in the millions -- and sometimes billions. But it's all relative, and the world of pro sports is an extremely wealthy one. Here are the 26 "poorest" team owners, ranked from least to most "poor."

See: How Esports Is Primed To Take Over Traditional Sports

Dan Weir/Ppauk/Shutterstock
Dan Weir/Ppauk/Shutterstock

23. (tie) David Blitzer -- Philadelphia 76ers

  • Net worth: $1 billion

  • Team value: $2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $287 million

  • Year purchased: 2011

Read: Which Athletes Earn the Most Per Hour

Rob Latour/Shutterstock
Rob Latour/Shutterstock

23. (tie) Wes Edens -- Milwaukee Bucks

  • Net worth: $1 billion

  • Team value: $1.6 billion

  • Team purchase price: $550 million

  • Year purchased: 2014

Take a Look: Biggest Sports Deals of 2020

Alex Brandon/AP
Alex Brandon/AP

23. (tie) Ted Leonsis -- Washington Wizards

  • Net worth: $1 billion

  • Team value: $1.8 billion

  • Team purchase price: $551 million

  • Year purchased: 2010

Christopher Szagola/Csm/Shutters
Christopher Szagola/Csm/Shutters

23. (tie) Dean Spanos -- Los Angeles Chargers

  • Net worth: $1 billion

  • Team value: $2.5 billion

  • Team purchase price: $72 million

  • Year purchased: 1984

John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock
John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock

22. Michael Brown -- Cincinnati Bengals

  • Net worth: $925 million

  • Team value: $2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $7.5 million

  • Year purchased: 1967

Paul Sancya/AP
Paul Sancya/AP

19. (tie) Martha Firestone Ford -- Detroit Lions

  • Net worth: $800 million

  • Team value: $2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $4.5 million

  • Year purchased: 1964

Eric Risberg/AP/Shutterstock
Eric Risberg/AP/Shutterstock

19. (tie) Peter Guber -- Golden State Warriors

  • Net worth: $800 million

  • Team value: $4.3 billion

  • Team purchase price: $450 million

  • Year purchased: 2010

Chris O'Meara/AP
Chris O'Meara/AP

19. (tie) Stuart Sternberg -- Tampa Bay Rays

  • Net worth: $800 million

  • Team value: $1.1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $200 million

  • Year purchased: 2004

Aaron Gash/AP/Shutterstock
Aaron Gash/AP/Shutterstock

16. (tie) Mark Attanasio -- Milwaukee Brewers

  • Net worth: $700 million

  • Team value: $1.2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $223 million

  • Year purchased: 2005

Andy Cross / Denver Post via Getty Images
Andy Cross / Denver Post via Getty Images

16. (tie) Richard & Charles Monfort -- Colorado Rockies

  • Net worth: $700 million

  • Team value: $1.3 billion

  • Team purchase price: $95 million

  • Year purchased: 1992

John G Mabanglo/EPA-EFE
John G Mabanglo/EPA-EFE

16. (tie) Vivek Ranadive -- Sacramento Kings

  • Net worth: $700 million

  • Team value: $1.8 billion

  • Team purchase price: $534 million

  • Year purchased: 2013

Jim Smeal/BEI
Jim Smeal/BEI

14. (tie) Jerry Buss Family Trusts -- Los Angeles Lakers

  • Net worth: $600 million

  • Team value: $4.4 billion

  • Team purchase price: $20 million

  • Year purchased: 1979

Mark J Terrill/AP/Shutterstock
Mark J Terrill/AP/Shutterstock

14. (tie) Ken Kendrick -- Arizona Diamondbacks

  • Net worth: $600 million

  • Team value: $1.3 billion

  • Team purchase price: $238 million

  • Year purchased: 2004

AP/Shutterstock
AP/Shutterstock

8. (tie) Ron Fowler -- San Diego Padres

  • Net worth: $500 million

  • Team value: $1.5 billion

  • Team purchase price: $600 million

  • Year purchased: 2012

Bill Kostroun/AP/Shutterstock
Bill Kostroun/AP/Shutterstock

8. (tie) John Mara -- New York Giants

  • Net worth: $500 million

  • Team value: $3.9 billion

  • Team purchase price: $500 million

  • Year purchased: 1925

Uncredited/AP
Uncredited/AP

8. (tie) Aubrey McClendon Estate -- Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Net worth: $500 million

  • Team value: $1.6 billion

  • Team purchase price: $325 million

  • Year purchased: 2006

Keith Srakocic/AP/Shutterstock
Keith Srakocic/AP/Shutterstock

8. (tie) Daniel Rooney Trust & Arthur Rooney II -- Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Net worth: $500 million

  • Team value: $2.8 billion

  • Team purchase price: $2,500

  • Year purchased: 1933

Jeff Roberson/AP/Shutterstock
Jeff Roberson/AP/Shutterstock

8. (tie) Bruce Sherman -- Miami Marlins

  • Net worth: $500 million

  • Team value: $1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $1.2 billion

  • Year purchased: 2017

Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock
Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock

8. (tie) Fred & Jeff Wilpon -- New York Mets

  • Net worth: $500 million

  • Team value: $2.4 billion

  • Team purchase price: $391 million

  • Year purchased: 2002

Rob Latour/Shutterstock
Rob Latour/Shutterstock

7. Stephen Pagliuca -- Boston Celtics

  • Net worth: $450 million

  • Team value: $3.1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $360 million

  • Year purchased: 2002

Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Christian Petersen / Getty Images

3. (tie) Clayton Bennett -- Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Net worth: $400 million

  • Team value: $1.6 billion

  • Team purchase price: $325 million

  • Year purchased: 2006

John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock
John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock

3. (tie) Robert Castellini -- Cincinnati Reds

  • Net worth: $400 million

  • Team value: $1.1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $270 million

  • Year purchased: 2006

Adam Glanzman / Getty Images
Adam Glanzman / Getty Images

3. (tie) Wycliffe Grousbeck -- Boston Celtics

  • Net worth: $400 million

  • Team value: $3.1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $360 million

  • Year purchased: 2002

Matt York/AP
Matt York/AP

3. (tie) Robert Sarver -- Phoenix Suns

  • Net worth: $400 million

  • Team value: $1.6 billion

  • Team purchase price: $404 million

  • Year purchased: 2004

Ben Margot/AP
Ben Margot/AP

2. Mark Davis -- Oakland Raiders

  • Net worth: $250 million

  • Team value: $2.9 billion

  • Team purchase price: $180,000

  • Year purchased: 1966

Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Christian Petersen / Getty Images

1. Holt Family -- San Antonio Spurs

  • Net worth: $200 million

  • Team value: $1.8 billion

  • Team purchase price: $76 million

  • Year purchased: 1996

jcamilobernal / Getty Images
jcamilobernal / Getty Images

The Richest Owners in Professional Sports

It takes a lot of money to own a pro sports teams -- and these individuals and families have a lot of it. These are the 26 richest team owners.

AP / Shutterstock.com
AP / Shutterstock.com

21. (tie) Stephen Bisciotti -- Baltimore Ravens

  • Net worth: $4 billion

  • Team value: $2.8 billion

  • Team purchase price: $600 million

  • Year purchased: 2004

Brian Blanco/AP
Brian Blanco/AP

21. (tie) Arthur Blank -- Atlanta Falcons

  • Net worth: $4 billion

  • Team value: $2.8 billion

  • Team purchase price: $545 million

  • Year purchased: 2002

Lm Otero/AP/Shutterstock
Lm Otero/AP/Shutterstock

21. (tie) William DeWitt Jr. -- St. Louis Cardinals

  • Net worth: $4 billion

  • Team value: $2.2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $150 million

  • Year purchased: 1996

AP/REX/Shutterstock
AP/REX/Shutterstock

21. (tie) Dee & Jimmy Haslam -- Cleveland Browns

  • Net worth: $4 billion

  • Team value: $2.2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $987 million

  • Year purchased: 2012

AP/Shutterstock
AP/Shutterstock

21. (tie) Ilitch Family -- Detroit Tigers

  • Net worth: $4 billion

  • Team value: $1.3 billion

  • Team purchase price: $82 million

  • Year purchased: 1992

Jason Behnken/AP
Jason Behnken/AP

21. (tie) Janice McNair -- Houston Texans

  • Net worth: $4 billion

  • Team value: $3.1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $600 million

  • Year purchased: 1999

Amy Sancetta/AP
Amy Sancetta/AP

20. Dan Gilbert -- Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Net worth: $4.2 billion

  • Team value: $1.5 billion

  • Team purchase price: $375 million

  • Year purchased: 2005

Invision/AP
Invision/AP

19. Mark Cuban -- Dallas Mavericks

  • Net worth: $4.5 billion

  • Team value: $2.4 billion

  • Team purchase price: $280 million

  • Year purchased: 2000

Mark Duncan/AP/Shutterstock
Mark Duncan/AP/Shutterstock

16. (tie) Lawrence & Paul Dolan

  • Net worth: $4.6 billion

  • Team value: $1.2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $323 million

  • Year purchased: 2000

Phelan M Ebenhack/AP
Phelan M Ebenhack/AP

16. (tie) Glazer Family -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Net worth: $4.6 billion

  • Team value: $2.2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $192 million

  • Year purchased: 1995

Mike Groll/AP
Mike Groll/AP

16. (tie) Terry & Kim Pegula

  • Net worth: $4.6 billion

  • Team value: $1.9 billion

  • Team purchase price: $1.4 billion

  • Year purchased: 2014

Wayne Parry/AP
Wayne Parry/AP

15. Tilman Fertitta -- Houston Rockets

  • Net worth: $4.7 billion

  • Team value: $2.5 billion

  • Team purchase price: $2.2 billion

  • Year purchased: 2017

Peter Cosgrove/AP
Peter Cosgrove/AP

14. DeVos Family -- Orlando Magic

  • Net worth: $5.4 billion

  • Team value: $1.4 billion

  • Team purchase price: $85 million

  • Year purchased: 1991

Andrew Cutraro/EPA
Andrew Cutraro/EPA

13. Lerner Family -- Washington Nationals

  • Net worth: $5.5 billion

  • Team value: $1.9 billion

  • Team purchase price: $450 million

  • Year purchased: 2006

Wilfredo Lee/AP
Wilfredo Lee/AP

11. (tie) Micky Arison -- Miami Heat

  • Net worth: $6.2 billion

  • Team value: $2 billion

  • Team purchase price: $32.5 million

  • Year purchased: 1988

Matt Slocum/AP
Matt Slocum/AP

11. (tie) Robert Kraft -- New England Patriots

  • Net worth: $6.2 billion

  • Team value: $4.1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $172 million

  • Year purchased: 1994

Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com
Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

10. Charles Johnson -- San Francisco Giants

  • Net worth: $6.7 billion

  • Team value: $3.1 billion

  • Team purchase price: $100 million

  • Year purchased: 1993

Steven Senne/AP/Shutterstock
Steven Senne/AP/Shutterstock

8. (tie) Stanley Kroenke -- Denver Nuggets/Los Angeles Rams

  • Net worth: $7.7 billion

  • Team value: $1.6 billion (Nuggets)/$3.8 billion (Rams)

  • Team purchase price: $202 million (Nuggets)/$750 million (Rams)

  • Year purchased: 2000/2010

Wilfredo Lee/AP
Wilfredo Lee/AP

8. (tie) Stephen Ross -- Miami Dolphins

  • Net worth: $7.7 billion

  • Team value: $2.8 billion

  • Team purchase price: $1.1 billion

  • Year purchased: 2008

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

7. Jerry Jones -- Dallas Cowboys

  • Net worth: $8.5 billion

  • Team value: $5.5 billion

  • Team purchase price: $150 million

  • Year purchased: 1989

John Cetrino/EPA-EFE/Shutterstoc
John Cetrino/EPA-EFE/Shutterstoc

6. Shahid Kahn-- Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Net worth: $9 billion

  • Team value: $2.3 billion

  • Team purchase price: $770 million

  • Year purchased: 2011

Str/EPA/Shutterstock
Str/EPA/Shutterstock

5. Joseph Tsai -- Brooklyn Nets

  • Net worth: $10.5 billion

  • Team value: $2.5 billion

  • Team purchase price: $3.3 billion

  • Year purchased: 2019

Shutterstock / Shutterstock
Shutterstock / Shutterstock

4. Philip Anschutz -- Los Angeles Lakers

  • Net worth: $11 billion

  • Team value: $4.4 billion

  • Team purchase price: $268 million

  • Year purchased: 1998

John Bazemore/AP/REX/Shutterstock
John Bazemore/AP/REX/Shutterstock

3. David Tepper -- Carolina Panthers

  • Net worth: $12 billion

  • Team value: $2.4 billion

  • Team purchase price: $2.3 billion

  • Year purchased: 2018

Elaine Thompson/AP/REX
Elaine Thompson/AP/REX

2. Paul Allen Estate/Trust -- Portland Trailblazers/Seattle Seahawks

  • Net worth: $20.3 billion

  • Team value: $1.9 billion (Trailblazers)/$2.8 billion (Seahawks)

  • Team purchase price: $70 million (Trailblazers)/$194 million (Seahawks)

  • Year purchased: 1988 (Trailblazers)/1997 (Seahawks)

Jae C Hong/AP
Jae C Hong/AP

1. Steve Ballmer -- Los Angeles Clippers

  • Net worth: $74.1 billion

  • Team value: $2.6 billion

  • Team purchase price: $2 billion

  • Year purchased: 2014

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: To find the richest and "poorest" owners in professional sports, GOBankingRates began by referencing Forbes' most recent Major League Baseball, National Football League, and National Basketball Association team valuations. GOBankingRates used Forbes' data to find the (1) notable owners, (2) 2020 team value, (3) purchase price and (4) year of purchase for every team in all three leagues analyzed. Then, GOBankingRates used a variety of sources (primarily Forbes, Celebrity Net Worth and the Los Angeles Times) to find (5) each owner's net worth. Corporate entities and team owners with no reliable net worth information available were excluded from the final ranking.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Richest and ‘Poorest’ Owners in Professional Sports

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