What exactly makes a great sports franchise? Is it the cumulative talent of players and coaches or the rich history and winning tradition of previous eras?
In some cases, the actual owners of such organizations have some sort of say or hand in how their team is being built, much to the delight or disgust of their fan base. But then there are also owners that just take a back seat and are still just as fortunate in staying filthy rich even though their team is a garbage fire.
Regardless of the actual degree of success that these entrepreneurs’ teams have, though, the fact remains that their immense wealth is enough to last 10 lifetimes or even more. And with that, let’s find out more about the 10 richest sports team owners around today.
If this article encouraged you to brush up more about them dollar signs, then go on and check out our special feature on the most expensive teams in history as well as the biggest contracts in the sporting world right after this.
As a Detroit native, Michael Ilitch turned his hometown teams, the Tigers and Red Wings, as his own properties and with great, continued success to date.
Ilitch turned some of his fortunes as the proprietor of the Little Caesar’s Pizza franchise into his boyhood dream, and is now listed as the co-owner of the Tigers and Red Wings along with his wife, Marian.
His name may sound a whole lot like another wealthy mogul that used to own the Atlanta Braves, but Ted Lerner is nothing like that brash media magnate.
Lerner was born and raised in Washington DC, and is now largest private landowner of that area. He also owns the Nationals now, because why not? Now if only Lerner and his Nats can finally bring home a World Series title to the Nation’s Capital…
T-7. Richard DeVos
Net Worth: $5.6 Billion
Teams Owned: Orlando Magic
Not content with just being a co-owner of Amway, Richard DeVos ventured into the sporting world by purchasing the Orlando Magic franchise back in 1991.
Considering that DeVos only paid $85 million for the team then, it’s pretty much safe to say that he got a significant return on his investment, even though the Magic have yet to win an NBA title since their inception.
T-7. Shahid Khan
Net Worth: $5.6 Billion
Teams Owned: Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham FC
What’s not to like about Fulham FC owner Shahid Khan? He’s the first Muslim and Pakistani to ever own an American sports franchise, and just look at that mustache of his!
Well, some NFL fans may not be too fond of the eccentric-looking tycoon. Apart from taking the reins of the Jacksonville Jaguars organization in 2012, Khan also pretty much spearheaded the NFL’s decision to play several regular season games in London.
There’s also a possibility that the league will have a legitimate team in the UK in the near future, and Khan’s an integral part of such negotiations in making this happen, for better or for worse.
6. Stephen Ross
Net Worth: $6.7 Billion
Teams Owned: Miami Dolphins
You’re bound to notice that this list will showcase a lot of teams based in Florida. Given how lavish the lifestyle is out in the Keys, entrepreneurs consider the Sunshine State as a prime location to start a business, and Stephen Ross sure struck gold when he acquired 95 percent of the Miami Dolphins in 2009.
Yeah, the Dolphins still pretty much suck until now. But hey, at least they have the hottest cheerleaders in the business, wouldn’t you say so yourself?
5. Stan Kroenke
Net Worth: $7.6 Billion
Teams Owned: St. Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal FC
With five clubs under his belt (mostly around the Rocky Mountain Area), Stan Kroenke is the owner with the most sports teams in this here countdown.
Kroenke’s proposal to move the St. Louis Rams back to Los Angeles had just been been approved by the NFL. Fans from St. Louis are livid about this decision, but at least he didn’t move them across the pond to somewhere in England near his other, more successful team in Arsenal FC.
4. Micky Arison
Net Worth: $7.7 Billion
Teams Owned: Miami Heat
Mickey Arison is the chairman of Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise ship operator in the world. In 1995, he took his love for the high seas to the leisurely shores of South Beach to run the Miami Heat.
LeBron James may no longer be with the Heat, but there’s no doubt that Arison’s business acumen and friendly demeanor played a huge part in making “The Decision” happen. With his team seemingly back as a solid contender out in the East, what new, ground-breaking decision does the Israeli-born mogul have up his sleeve up next?
3. Philip Anschutz
Net Worth: $10.9 Billion
Teams Owned: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy
Now we’re down to the heavy-hitters, the ones whose value is in the jaw-dropping 11-digit mark.
Not only does Philip Anschutz own huge shares of the Lakers and Kings of Los Angeles, he’s also the majority owner of the LA Galaxy and, more importantly, a co-founder of Major League Soccer. If Anschutz’s efforts to bring soccer stateside had failed, at least he would’ve had other stakes in the real estate, energy, transportation and entertainment ventures to fall back on. Lucky guy.
2. Paul Allen
Net Worth: $17.8 Billion
Teams Owned: Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Sounders FC
You may know Paul Allen first and foremost as the co-founder of Microsoft together with Bill Gates, but he’s since been more known as the lovable yet nerdy-looking guy often popping up in Seattle Seahawks games. Well, that’s because he owns the Seahawks.
Allen’s love for his hometown doesn’t stop there, as he also owns the Seattle Sounders FC. But before he even bought the Seahawks and the Sounders, he already had the Portland Trail Blazers in his palms by 1988.
Now here’s a good question: if Allen didn’t acquire the Blazers back then, do you think the Seattle Supersonics would still be in the NBA?
1. Steve Ballmer
Net Worth: $21.6 Billion
Teams Owned: Los Angeles Clippers
First of all, how ironic is it that the top two richest sports team owners are technological geeks?
Anyway, having Steve Ballmer run the Los Angeles Clippers sure beats having Donald Sterling at the helm, doesn’t it? The former CEO of Microsoft not only saved the beleaguered franchise from a racist boss, but is also intent to keep the Clips away from mediocrity and shame from here on out.
While Ballmer is just a newbie amongst his peers in running a sports organization, his fiery persona and dedication to his craft is almost unparalleled, and that’s good news for Clippers fans. Could he have prevented the wild DeAndre Jordan-Dallas Mavericks fiasco from happening? Maybe, but at least he’s still not a bigot. He’s just, well… big.
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