Every team has a star player. But every team also has a boss. Not the coach. Not the captain. The one who signs the checks, owns the stadium, and decides what happens next.
That person rarely shows up on the scoreboard. But they control more than anyone else.
These are the billionaires behind the scenes. The ones who turned business wins into sports power. Some came from tech. Others from oil, real estate, fashion, or casinos. A few built it from scratch. Others were born into it. Different stories, but all of them run the game from the top.
In this article, we will look at the top names on the list of the world’s richest sports team owners. These billionaires use their money and business skills to buy teams and grow them.
Top 15 World’s Richest Sports Team Owners in 2025:
1. Steve Ballmer—$118 Billion
✦ Team: Los Angeles Clippers
✦ Source of Wealth: Microsoft
✦ Country: United States
Steve Ballmer is one of the richest sports team owners in the world. He owns the Los Angeles Clippers. Most of his wealth comes from Microsoft, where he served as CEO from 2000 to 2014. Even though Microsoft stock went down slightly this year, Ballmer still sits at the top. He recently opened the Clippers’ new home, the Intuit Dome, in Inglewood.
2. Rob Walton—$110 Billion
✦ Team: Denver Broncos
✦ Source of Wealth: Walmart
✦ Country: United States
Rob Walton, the Walmart heir, is close behind. He bought the Denver Broncos in 2022 for $4.65 billion. This was a record price at the time. His wealth grew by $32.6 billion in one year. This rise was driven by strong performance from Walmart.
3. Miriam Adelson—$32.1 Billion
✦ Team: Dallas Mavericks
✦ Source of Wealth: Casinos
✦ Country: United States
Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson, bought the Dallas Mavericks in 2023. Her first year as team owner saw a major trade and mixed results. Still, her net worth remains steady.
4. Daniel Gilbert—$27.8 Billion
✦ Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
✦ Source of Wealth: Mortgage Lending
✦ Country: United States
Daniel Gilbert, founder of Rocket Companies, owns the Cleveland Cavaliers. His company faced market ups and downs, but his team’s value rose. The Cavaliers are now worth almost $4 billion.
5. Idan Ofer—$22.5 Billion
✦ Team: FC Famalicão
✦ Source of Wealth: Shipping
✦ Country: Israel
Idan Ofer is one of the new names on the list. He owns Portugal’s FC Famalicão. He also holds a stake in Spain’s Atlético Madrid. His wealth grew by 42% this year.
6. François Pinault—$21.7 Billion
✦ Team: Stade Rennais FC
✦ Source of Wealth: Luxury Goods
✦ Country: France
François Pinault owns Stade Rennais in France. His net worth dropped by 31% this year. His club has not won a top title under his ownership.
7. Steve Cohen—$21.3 Billion (tie)
✦ Team: New York Mets
✦ Source of Wealth: Hedge Funds
✦ Country: United States
Steve Cohen made headlines by signing Juan Soto to a $765 million contract. He also plans to build a casino in Queens.
8. David Tepper—$21.3 Billion (tie)
✦ Teams: Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC
✦ Source of Wealth: Hedge Funds
✦ Country: United States
David Tepper owns teams in both the NFL and MLS. His soccer team has done well, but his NFL team continues to struggle.
9. Henry Samueli—$19.7 Billion
✦ Team: Anaheim Ducks
✦ Source of Wealth: Semiconductors
✦ Country: United States
Henry Samueli saw a 40% jump in his wealth thanks to strong growth at Broadcom. He owns the Anaheim Ducks and is now one of the wealthiest in the NHL.
10. Stephen Ross—$18.4 Billion
✦ Team: Miami Dolphins
✦ Source of Wealth: Real Estate
✦ Country: United States
Stephen Ross sold 10% of the Dolphins and related assets at a high valuation. His deal added major value to his total wealth, which rose by 82%. He is also one of the richest sports team owners in the world.
11. Stanley Kroenke—$18 Billion
✦ Teams: Rams, Nuggets, Avalanche, Rapids, Arsenal FC, Arsenal Women FC
✦ Source of Wealth: Real Estate and Sports
✦ Country: United States
Kroenke owns teams in many sports and countries. His clubs have won several titles in the last four years.
12. Philip Anschutz—$16.9 Billion
✦ Teams: LA Kings, LA Galaxy
✦ Source of Wealth: Energy and Entertainment
✦ Country: United States
Anschutz owns AEG, which runs teams and events worldwide. His soccer team, the Galaxy, is now worth over $1 billion.
13. Jerry Jones—$16.6 Billion
✦ Team: Dallas Cowboys
✦ Source of Wealth: Cowboys and Energy
✦ Country: United States
Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989. Today, they are the most valuable sports team in the world, worth more than $10 billion.
14. Robert Pera—$15.7 Billion
✦ Team: Memphis Grizzlies
✦ Source of Wealth: Wireless Technology
✦ Country: United States
Pera had the biggest percentage gain this year. His company, Ubiquiti Networks, saw its stock nearly triple.
15. Hasso Plattner—$15.2 Billion
✦ Team: San Jose Sharks
✦ Source of Wealth: Software
✦ Country: Germany
Plattner owns the Sharks and is trying to turn the team around. He stepped down from SAP leadership to focus on other projects.
Similar Article: Here are Your Top 50 Highest Paid Athletes in the World, #2 will Surprise You
Conclusion:
These richest sports team owners do not sit on the sidelines. They step in, make decisions, and change what happens next. Each one of them saw something in sports that others missed. They saw value, reach, and potential.
Steve Ballmer is still ahead. Rob Walton is close. Others are watching and waiting. The numbers will shift again, but the pattern is clear. Ownership is no longer quiet. It is bold. It is global. It shapes the future of every game we watch.
This list shows who is in control today. What happens next depends on who moves first.
