The world’s largest family-owned or -controlled sports franchises are heavily concentrated in North American leagues—specifically, the NFL and NBA—and are all valued at more than US$6 billion. Valuations have skyrocketed in the past 10 years.
While some teams have been owned by families for decades—and for a century in some cases, building up generational ownership legacies—others have been acquired more recently by owners who have paid billions to acquire majority stakes. Increasingly, however, outside investors are playing a role in team ownership, as restrictions by professional leagues have eased.
Just two years ago, the NFL voted to allow private equity firms to buy a stake in ownership, to a maximum of 10 per cent, with no voting powers; the controlling owner must still own at least 30 per cent of the team. There are similar rules in place for the NBA, MLB and NHL, although those leagues allow investment firms and funds to purchase a combined 30 per cent of a franchise’s total equity.
Still, family-owned or -controlled franchises remain dominant players in the sports financial landscape. Here are 20 of the most valuable “family enterprise” teams in the world:
1. Dallas Cowboys. The Jones family. US$12.5-$13 billion
Jerry Jones acquired the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for US$150 million, but he made his initial fortune in oil and gas investments in the 1970s, according to Forbes. Today, Jones serves as owner, president and general manager of the team, while his three children hold executive front-office roles.
2. Los Angeles Lakers. Robert Iger and Josh Kushner. US$12.5 billion
Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and Josh Kushner, a venture capitalist and brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, purchased the high-profile NBA team in August for a reported US$12.5 billion, the largest sum ever paid for a sports franchise. The deal came barely a year after Mark Walter, co-founder and CEO of the global financial and investment advisory firm Guggenheim Partners, acquired a majority stake in the Lakers that valued the team at roughly US$10 billion. After the most recent sale, the Buss Family Trusts retains a 15 per cent minority stake, and Jeanie Buss will stay on as governor until 2030. Walter, meanwhile, continues to hold controlling interests in baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers, the English Premier League’s Chelsea F.C. and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
2. LA Rams. E. Stanley Kronenke. US$10.5-$10.7 billion
The largest landowner in the United States, according to the New York Times, E. Stanley Kronenke is a real estate developer and first purchased a minority stake in the then-St. Louis Rams in 1995 for US$60 million and subsequently increased his stake to 40 per cent. He became principal owner in 2010 for a reported US$750 million. He also owns English Premier League team Arsenal, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, of which his son serves as president.
3. New York Giants. The Mara & Tisch families. US$10.1-$10.5 billion
John Mara’s family has owned the team since its founding in 1925, when grandfather Tim purchased the team for US$500, according to ESPN. American businessman, founder and chairman of the Loews corporation Preston Robert Tisch acquired a 50 per cent stake in 1991 from the Mara family. His son, Steve Tisch, is executive vice-president and chairman of the board. In fall 2025, the league approved the sale of a 10 per cent minority, non-controlling interest of the team to David Koch’s widow, Julia Koch, and her family.
4. New York Knicks. The Dolan family. US$9.75-$10.1 billion
Charles Dolan, founder of telecommunications and media company Cablevision and HBO, purchased the Knicks in 1994, in partnership with ITT, for US$1.1 billion (along with Madison Square Garden and the NHL’s New York Rangers). Dolan bought out ITT’s half of the Knicks and Madison Square Garden in 1997, giving the family full control, according to USA Today. His son, James Dolan, took over as executive chairman in 1999.
6. Seattle Seahawks. The Khosla family. US$9.6 billion
Vinod Khosla, tech investor and billionaire co-founder of Sun Microsystems, purchased the Seahawks for a record US$9.6 billion in July from the estate of Paul G. Allen, the Microsoft co-founder who bought the team in 1997 for US$194 million and remained owner and chairman of the franchise (as well as the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers) until his death in 2018. Allen’s estate has since owned the franchises, but his will directed that both teams would eventually be sold. After the Seahawks’ 2026 Super Bowl victory, the team was put up for sale in February—attracting the highest price ever paid for an NFL franchise.
Indian-born Khosla, who already owns a minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers (he will have to divest it in order to complete the Seahawks purchase), is expected to give significant leadership roles to his wife, Neeru, and son Neal. Allen’s estate has stated that all proceeds from the sale will be directed towards philanthropy.
7. New England Patriots. The Kraft family. US$9-$9.25 billion
Entrepreneur and investor Robert Kraft purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for a then-record US$172 million, according to Boston.com, after having already purchased their stadium six years earlier. Currently the owner, chairman and CEO of the team, he made his fortune by founding the Kraft Group, one of America’s top 90 largest privately owned businesses; it has interests in paper and packaging, the manufacturing and distribution of forest products, sports and entertainment, construction and real estate management and private equity/venture capital investing.
8. San Francisco 49ers. The DeBartolo York family. US$8.5-$8.6 billion
Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. made his fortune in real estate, including by pioneering the indoor shopping mall concept in the United States. He purchased the San Francisco 49ers in 1977; the franchise is now overseen by his daughter Denise DeBartolo York and son-in-law John York as co-chairs, and by grandson Jed York, who serves as CEO and principal owner. The family also owns UK soccer club Leeds United. In 2025, the NFL approved the sale of 6.2 per cent of the 49ers to three local investors.
9. Philadelphia Eagles. The Lurie family. US$8.3-$8.5 billion
Jeffrey Lurie, a former professor of social policy and executive of General Cinema Corp., which his grandfather founded, took out a loan to purchase the Philadelphia Eagles franchise in 1994 for US$185 million, according to Forbes. Today, he serves as chairman and chief executive officer of the organization. He has also won two Academy Awards for documentary production.
10. Chicago Bears. The McCaskey family. US$8.2-$8.9 billion
The McCaskeys’ history with the Chicago Bears dates back to 1921, when current chairman of the board George McCaskey’s grandfather, George Halas, took over the team from the Staley Starch Company. At the time, the team was called the Decatur Staleys; a year later, it was renamed the Chicago Bears. Halas went on to coach the team for 40 seasons. His daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey took over as the principal owner of the Bears after George’s death in 1983, and she remained in the role until her death in 2025.
11. New York Yankees. The Steinbrenner family. US$8.5-$9 billion
Ohio shipbuilding magnate George M. Steinbrenner III purchased the Yankees in 1973 for US$10 million as part of an investor group, gradually growing his ownership stake to a controlling 57 per cent by the time of his death in 2010. His children now control the team, including son Hal Steinbrenner, who serves as chairman and managing general partner; private, minority investors own the other 50 per cent of the team.
12. New York Jets. The Johnson family. US$8.1-$9.1 billion
The New York Jets were purchased by Woody Johnson, heir to pharmaceutical industry giant Johnson & Johnson, for US$635 million in 2000, according to ESPN. The team is currently owned by Woody, who serves as principal chairman and CEO, and brother Christopher Johnson, as co-owner and vice-chairman. Christopher took over as team chairman for four years as Woody served as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom between 2017-2021.
13. Las Vegas Raiders. The Davis family. US$7.7-$11 billion
Al Davis was the youngest person in pro football to serve as coach and general manager when he took over those roles with the Raiders at age 33 in 1963, notes NFL.com. A few years later, in 1972, he became managing general partner, and in 2005 he acquired a majority interest in the team. Following his death in 2011, his son, Mark Davis, took over at the helm, and currently holds a 36 per cent share of the Raiders, with other stakes held by private equity and other shareholders, including his designated successor. The sale of a 3.5 per cent minority stake in the team in early 2026 valued the franchise at more than US$11 billion.
14. Los Angeles Clippers. Steve Ballmer. US$6.9-$7.5 billion
Businessman and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer purchased the NBA’s Clippers for US$2 billion in 2014, according to Time, and holds a 99 per cent ownership stake in the team. He is currently principal owner and chairman.
15. Miami Dolphins. The Ross family. US$7.5-$8.5 billion
Real estate developer Stephen M. Ross purchased a 50 per cent stake in the Miami Dolphins in 2008 and another 45 per cent the following year for a total of US$1 billion. According to Forbes, he sold 13 per cent of the franchise to outside groups in 2024.
16. Houston Texans. The McNair family. US$7.25-$7.4 billion
Bob McNair made his fortune as founder of energy company Cogen Technologies, which he sold to Enron in 1999 for US$1.5 billion, according to Forbes. With the proceeds of that sale, he secured the purchase of a new NFL expansion team, the Houston Texans, for US$700 million. Following his passing in 2018, his wife, Janice, took over control of the team; in 2024, son Cal was named principal owner. The family currently owns an 80 per cent stake in the team.
17. Denver Broncos. The Walton-Penner family. US$6.8-$7.2 billion
Former Walmart chairman Rob Walton, his daughter Carrie Walton Penner and son-in-law Greg Penner purchased the Denver Broncos for a record US$4.65 billion in 2022. Greg Penner took over as controlling owner of the franchise in 2023, with the Penners’ four children also receiving an ownership stake, according to the NFL. Also holding a combined six per cent stake in the team are three limited partners: Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Starbucks board chair Mellody Hobson. In 2026, the Penner group also purchased a 40 per cent interest in the Colorado Rockies MLB team.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Glazer family. US$6.6-$7.3 billion
Billionaire entrepreneur and investor Malcolm Glazer bought the Buccaneers in 1995 for a then-record US$192 million, according to Forbes. After his death in 2014, his children Joel, Bryan and Edward took over as owners and co-chairs of the team, with Joel overseeing day-to-day operations.
19. Manchester United. The Glazer family. US$6.3-$6.6 billion
Malcolm Glazer also purchased the well-known English Premier League club in 2005, but while his family retains majority ownership, they are currently in a transition period. In 2024, the family sold a 29 per cent stake in the club to INEOS Group chairman Jim Ratcliffe, according to Reuters, and gave him control of soccer operations. Joel and Avram Glazer are executive co-chairs and directors of the team.
20. Cleveland Browns. The Haslam family. US$6.4-$9 billion
Truck stop and travel centre magnate Jimmy Haslam purchased the Cleveland Browns in 2012 for US$1 billion. Haslam and his wife, Dee, currently serve as managing and principal partners of the Browns; they also own a minority stake in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. Private equity firm Actos recently purchased a three per cent stake in the Browns in a deal that reportedly valued the team at US$9 billion.
Sources of team values: Forbes, CNBC. (Because values differ, ranges have been provided.)
Helen Burnett-Nichols is a Hamilton, Ont.-based business and financial writer. For more than 20 years, she has covered investment, legal, wealth management, entrepreneurship, benefits and pensions, financial planning and personal finance topics for national and industry-focused publications. Prior to embarking on a freelance career, Helen held editorial roles in both Toronto and London, England.
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