Dan Snyder
Net worth: $2.2 billion
Owns Washington Redskins (NFL)
At the age of 55, University dropout Dan Snyder has just purchased a $100-million Superyacht which is the first yacht to be equipped with an IMAX-certified movie theater. He purchased the Washington Redskins in 1999 for an astounding $800 million which at the time was the highest price ever paid for a sports team.
He and his sister Michelle began a career in an advertising venture in 1989 which they later sold for $2.5 billion. He has now made investments in Red Zebra Broadcast through Redskins Radio ESPN and is a married father to three children.
Stephen Bisciotti
Net worth: $4.1 billion
Owns: Baltimore Ravens
The Philadelphia-born Stephen Bisciotti is the owner of the NFL team the Baltimore Ravens and thus makes all the team’s decisions for them. Now living in Maryland, he was once a student at Salisbury State University and was raised watching the games of the Orioles and the Colts with his family. He also serves as a board member for ACC (Associated Catholic Charities).
Bisciotti started earning big when he started the medical and healthcare staffing group Aerotek based in Maryland. He also established the talent management group Allegis Group which is the owner of several other companies like Aerotek and Allegis Global Solutions.
Terry Pegula
Net worth: $4.3 billion
Owns: Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres
Billionaire Terry Pegula credits his wealth to his investments in gas and oil, real estate, gas development, entertainment, and professional sports. He holds ownership over the NHL team the Buffalo Sabres, the NFL team the Buffalo Sabres, the AHL team the Rochester Americans, and the NLL teams the Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks.
He bought out the investment firm behind the Sabres and the Bandits for $189 million, impressing fans and critics everywhere who lauded him for his leadership and innovation capabilities with running both teams.
Roman Abramovich
Net worth: $12.7 billion
Owns: Chelsea Football Club
Russian-Israeli oligarch Roman Abramovich got his wealth after the Soviet Union’s fall. Once just another face in the crowd, he takes his place amongst the top 100 wealthiest people around the world, holding ownership over many steel and nickel companies and making precious investments in several real estate properties across the world.
Abramovich bought the Chelsea Football Club in 2003 after they made their mark as second-placers to Manchester United. The billionaire loves to collect art and is the owner of a Boeing 767 jet and a couple of yachts.
Martha Ford
Net worth: $1.4 billion
Owns: Detroit Lions
American entrepreneur Martha Ford was born in Akron in 1925 and was once a student at Vassar College. Now worth over $1 billion, she inherited ownership over the NFL team the Detroit Lions after her husband William Clay Ford, to whom she was wed since 1947, passed away in 2014.
Ford is the granddaughter of the family behind Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, making her an heiress as well. Her late husband was the owner of the Lions since 1963 before she acquired ownership. Her children have their own shares of the ownership as well.
Clark Hunt
Net worth: $2 billion
Owns: Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has helped start and made investments in MLS (Major League Soccer) while also handling the MLS team the Columbus Crew. He serves as the chairman of the Hunt Sports Group which manages the operations of the soccer team FC Dallas. He was the grandson of oil mogul H.L. Hunt who was one of the wealthiest men in the country during his time.
He acquired the NFL team and was pretty hands-on with them. He was always present in the team owners’ meetings in the NFL as their representative without a proxy and made several decisions for the team.
Alex Spanos
Net worth: $2.4 billion
Owns: LA Chargers
Formerly the primary owner of the sports team the LA Chargers, Alex Spanos has turned control of the team over to his estate. The University of the Pacific alumnus was born in Stockton, California in 1923. His involvement with real estate development deserves credit for much of his wealth. He started A.G. Spanos Companies which would later provide him with capital to buy the Chargers in 1984 with Eugene Klein.
He bought a share worth 60% or about $43.8 million, granting him the title of the majority shareholder. If he paid for the team with that same price that is adjusted for today’s inflation rates, it would’ve nearly doubled over.
Jed York
Net worth: $100 million
Owns: San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers franchise CEO Jed York is born to John and Denise York who claim a huge share of the ownership of the team, even though Jed shares ownership, too. His uncle Edward J. DeBartolo used to be the team’s sole owner. Jed is recognized for his steadfast devotion to his team.
He was known for predicting that the 49ers would get to the 2010 playoffs despite being five games behind. He was bullied for it, but his prediction eventually became a reality.
David Tepper
Net worth: $11.6 billion
Owns: Carolina Panthers (NFL)
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is currently in his 60s and has since retired from the public eye. He came from humble beginnings, born and raised by his middle-class family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He holds an MBA degree for Science in Industrial Administration from Carnegie-Mellon.
His hedge fund group Appaloosa Management takes credit for his wealth. He bought the NFL team the Carolina Panthers from Jerry Richardson for $2.2 billion in May 2018, reasoning that he aims “to launch a major expansion of the team’s footprint in both Carolinas”. Many Panthers fans can attest to the success of his goal.
Dan Gilbert
Net worth: $7.2 billion
Owns: Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and NBA legend LeBron James have had a pretty rocky relationship for some years now, but that all ended on a high note in 2014 when James came back to the team despite still playing for the LA Lakers.
Gilbert shared a huge portion of ownership over the Cavaliers in March 2005 who soon went on to claim 6 Central Division championships, 5 Eastern Conference championships, and one NBA title. Fans of the team are nevertheless impressed with Gilbert’s guidance and approach with the team.