TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Owning a professional sports team has long been the ultimate emblem of global affluence. The richest sports owners in 2025 stand as living testaments to financial mastery, strategically transforming athletic franchises into dynastic enterprises.
Leveraging strategic foresight and creative innovation, these figures sustain their dominance amid volatile markets. For them, the thrill of competition is matched only by the allure of ownership and investment.
List of Richest Sports Owners in 2025
In 2025, Forbes, Statista, and Business Insider all named Steve Ballmer, Rob Walton, and Miriam Adelson as the top three richest sports owners, whose gigantic fortunes are both overwhelming and transcend beyond multiple lineages. Other noteworthy figures mentioned on the list are as follows:
1. Steve Ballmer - $118 billion (Los Angeles Clippers)
Officially the richest sports owner in 2025, Steve Ballmer epitomizes what it means to carry responsibilities as techno brilliant and a sports supporter. Ballmer began as Bill Gates’ trusted lieutenant in 1980 within the corridors of Microsoft, making his ascent to CEO an even more underscoring step of his career.
In 2014, Ballmer made headlines with his bold $2 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Clippers, a figure many deemed exorbitant at the time. In retrospect, it proved to be a masterstroke. Under his stewardship, the franchise’s valuation has soared to an estimated $4.7 billion, solidifying his reputation as a shrewd and forward-thinking owner.
2. Rob Walton - $110 billion (Denver Broncos)
As the former Walmart chairman and eldest son of founder Sam Walton, Rob inherited a substantial portion of the family fortune upon his father’s passing in 1992. Decades later, his wealth and leadership continue to shape industries far beyond the aisles of Walmart, extending into the dynamic world of professional sports.
While many viewed his record-breaking $4.65 billion purchase of the Denver Broncos as a losing gamble, Forbes now estimates the team’s value at an impressive $5.5 billion, reflecting an 18% surge since his entry into the NFL.
3. Miriam Adelson - $32.1 billion (Dallas Mavericks)
Hailed among the richest women in the world, Miriam Adelson started her tenure as sports owner under a cloudy future, with the controversial trade of superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on the line. Yet, despite the team’s struggle to recapture its former glory, Adelson’s leadership reflects the same tenacity that built her family’s dynasty. Now, at the age of 79, the widow of the late Las Vegas Sands magnate Sheldon Adelson continuously strides towards philanthropic efforts.
4. Daniel Gilbert - $27.8 billion (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Built on resilience, innovation, and an unyielding entrepreneurial spirit, Dan Gilbert’s empire clinched resounding victories in multiple paths, including the professional sports industries. A turbulent year for Rocket’s shares never deterred its financial stature, thanks to a vast business portfolio spanning over a hundred ventures. Since acquiring the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005 for a then-record $375 million, Gilbert has overseen the franchise’s ascent to a $3.95 billion valuation, solidifying his reputation as both a visionary investor and a steadfast force in American sports ownership.
5. Idan Ofer - $22.5 billion (FC Famalicao)
As one of the richest sports owners in 2025, Idan Ofer has steadily carved a powerful niche within European football through calculated and strategic acquisitions. Between 2017 and 2018, Ofer secured a 32% stake in Atletico Madrid, one of Spain’s most storied clubs, before taking majority control of Portugal’s FC Famalicao soon after. Under his ownership, Famalicao rose to Portugal’s top division in 2019 and has maintained its standing ever since.
6. Francois Pinault - $21.7 billion (Stade Rennais FC)
The 88-year-old founder and honorary chairman of the luxury conglomerate Kering, home to global fashion powerhouses such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga, Francois Pinault first built his empire in timber before diversifying into retail, wine, and prestige branding.
In 1998, Pinault extended his entrepreneurial touch to his beloved hometown club, Stade Rennais FC, acquiring it with the same passion that fueled his business triumphs. After nearly thirty years under Pinault’s stewardship, Rennes still finds itself in pursuit of the elusive glory in France’s top division, making him one of the richest sports owners.
7. Steve Cohen - $21.3 billion (New York Mets)
Among the richest sports owners in 2025, Steve Cohen has brought Wall Street boldness to the world of baseball. The 68-year-old founder of Point72 Asset Management, which commands nearly $34 billion in assets, operates his fortune on sharp instincts and fearless investments.
Since purchasing a 95% stake in the franchise in 2020 for $2.4 billion, Cohen has transformed the team into a financial and cultural powerhouse. His recent 15-year, $765 million signing of slugger Juan Soto sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball.
8. David Tepper - $21.3 billion (Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC)
David Tepper amassed his wealth after departing Goldman Sachs in the early 1990s to establish Appaloosa Management, a hedge fund that now oversees $6.7 billion in assets with major holdings in firms such as Alibaba and Adobe.
In 2018, the 67-year-old billionaire made waves in the sports world when he purchased the Carolina Panthers for a record-breaking $2.275 billion, signaling his ambitious foray into NFL ownership. While his NFL tenure has been met with frustration, Tepper has found redemption in soccer, with his MLS franchise, Charlotte FC, reaching the playoffs for two straight years and consistently ranked among the league’s top in attendance.
9. Henry Samueli - $19.7 billion (Anaheim Ducks)
Bolstered by Broadcom’s stellar performance, Samueli’s fortune has soared roughly 40% in the past year, making him one of the fastest-rising billionaires among the 25 richest team owners. Forbes reports his net worth has skyrocketed from $6.7 billion in 2022 to $19.7 billion today, a remarkable surge that reshaped the billionaire rankings.
The Ducks’ own trajectory mirrors his success since Samueli purchased the franchise for $70 million in 2005; its valuation has soared nearly 1,800% to $1.3 billion, solidifying his reputation as a master builder both in business and sports.
10. Stephen Ross - $18.4 billion (Miami Dolphins)
When the NFL approved institutional investment in team ownership last August, Stephen M. Ross wasted no time seizing the opportunity. Forbes estimated the Dolphins alone at $6.2 billion in 2024, underscoring the franchise’s soaring market power. As chairman and managing general partner, Ross has spent over 15 years shaping the Dolphins and their surrounding ventures, fulfilling a lifelong passion rooted in his South Florida upbringing.
As the curtain falls on the financial giants redefining global sports, the richest sports owners in 2025 exemplify how vision and enterprise transcend the playing field. Their vast empires have turned athletic franchises into symbols of power, legacy, and ambition. In an era where wealth shapes the pulse of competition, these magnates prove that the business of sports is, indeed, the ultimate arena for modern dynasties.
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