The Richest Sports Team Owners in the World (2026)

Name: The Richest Sports Team Owners in the World (2026)
Uploaded: 2026-04-04T08:03:05.958Z
Duration: 5 min 33 s
Channel: The lives of billionaires
Description: Forbes Daily Briefing: The top 25, now collectively worth $903 billion, has a new No. 1, as a French luxury goods mogul dethrones Steve Ballmer—and an American rival also leapfrogs the embattled face of the Clippers.

The lives of billionaires

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1 Video View·Apr 4, 2026

Forbes Daily Briefing:
The top 25, now collectively worth $903 billion, has a new No. 1, as a French luxury goods mogul dethrones Steve Ballmer—and an American rival also leapfrogs the embattled face of the Clippers.

Today on Forbes, the world's richest sports team owners of 2026. Owning a sports team is often reserved for the ultra-wealthy and popular leagues like the NFL and the NBA, where every franchise is now worth more than $3 billion. The richest sports owners are collectively worth $903 billion, a 49% increase from 2025's $607 billion. Now, all 25 owners exceed $10 billion, with Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank setting the floor at $11.1 billion. This reflects a shift to a new generation of owners who made fortunes in other industries before entering sports, rather than having their wealth tied mostly to teams acquired at bargain prices decades ago. Even though the NFL is the world's most valuable sports league, its concentration of long-time family-owned franchises means only eight of the league's owners make the cut. The NBA is not far behind with seven owners listed. The most popular sport represented is soccer, part of the portfolios of 13 owners in the ranking, across seven leagues. The commercialization of the game is fitting for a group of global billionaires gearing up for a World Cup year. However, four owners from Major League Soccer, David Tepper, Stanley Kroenke, Robert Kraft, and Blank also control more valuable NFL teams. The 2026 list features three new additions, including Indonesian billionaire R. Buddy Hartono, who owns Italian soccer club Como 1907 with his brother, Michael, Peter Maluk, the new owner of MLS's Sporting Kansas City, and Dan Friedkin, who owns the Premier League's Here are the top five richest sports teams owners on the 2026 World's Billionaires list, and net worths are as of March 1st, 2026. Starting at number one is Bernard Arnault, the French billionaire with a $171 billion net worth who owns Paris FC. He's trying to build the club into a contender against rival Paris Saint-Germain with co-investor Red Bull, which hired ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as head of global soccer. Paris FC is currently 13th in the standings. Arnault, the 77-year-old CEO of LVMH, is also expanding his conglomerate sports involvement, notably with a reported $1 billion plus 10-year Formula One sponsorship deal announced in 2024. Next, at number two is Rob Walton, American billionaire and owner of the Denver Broncos. With a net worth of $146 billion derived from Walmart, his wealth grew 33% last year. Walton installed his son-in-law, Greg Penner, as the Broncos' official control owner in 2023. Since buying the franchise in 2022, Walton has quickly made Denver a contender, owning the best AFC record last season before a playoff derailment by quarterback Beau Nix's injury. The 81-year-old also quietly acquired a 10% stake in the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024 at a $2 billion valuation. Steve Ballmer, American billionaire and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is at number three, with a net worth of $126 billion, a 7% increase from his wealth last year. The increase came despite his Microsoft stock's tepid performance over the past year, and it's the least of his worries. The 69-year-old's $50 million investment in aspiration has been scrutinized due to the failed fintech startup's $28 million endorsement deal with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, as originally reported by Pablo Torre. Ranked at number four is American billionaire Miriam Adelson, with a $37.5 billion net worth. Adelson is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and the source of her wealth is from casinos. She and her son-in-law, control owner Patrick Dumont, angered fans by trading superstar Luka Doncic in February of 2025. However, the franchise was revitalized by a lottery pick, landing the number one pick in the 2025 NBA draft and drafting teenage phenom Cooper Flagg. And at number five is Idan Ofer, with a net worth of $34.6 billion. He's the owner of the soccer team FC Family Cow. The 70-year-old Israeli shipping tycoon's net worth has soared in recent years, rising almost tenfold since his fortune was estimated at $3.7 billion in 2020. The 70-year-old Israeli shipping tycoon's net worth has soared in recent years, rising almost tenfold since his fortune was estimated at $3.7 billion in 2020, with his Eastern Pacific shipping company now boasting a fleet of about 250 vessels. He owns a controlling stake in the Portuguese soccer team FC Family Cow through his holding company, Quantum Pacific Group, and also owns a share of Spain's Atletico Madrid. Family Cow is currently sixth in the Primera League, nearing its first top-five finish since its 2019 promotion. For full coverage and to see the whole list, check out Hank Tucker's piece on Forbes.com. This is John Palmer from Forbes, thanks for tuning in.