The Clippers’ Steve Ballmer once again leads a top 25 collectively worth $607 billion, edging out the Broncos’ Rob Walton—but both are in danger of being eclipsed next year. Among the wealthiest people on the planet, few had a better year than Rob Walton. The 80-year-old Walmart heir saw his fortune soar by $32.6 billion, to an estimated $110 billion, after a banner 12 months from the public company his father founded more than six decades ago. But for Walton—who bought the Denver Broncos in 2022 for $4.65 billion, then a record price for a sports team—even those outsized gains aren’t enough to make him the world’s richest sports team owner. In fact, he’s still $8 billion short. That particular honor once again belongs to Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers and the world’s 10th-richest person overall, worth an estimated $118 billion. Of course, the 69-year-old Ballmer’s gigantic fortune has little to do with his basketball team. The overwhelming majority of his wealth is tied up in shares of Microsoft, the company he led as CEO from 2000 to 2014. But even after a so-so 12 months for the publicly traded tech giant, with market fluctuations costing Ballmer $3 billion, he is No. 1 among sports owners for the second straight year. Looking ahead, Ballmer’s spot at the top could be in danger. Bernard Arnault, who owns the LVMH luxury goods empire and is the world’s fifth-richest man, worth an estimated $178 billion, bought control of French soccer club Paris FC near the end of 2024. Forbes does not include the owners of second-tier clubs for this list, leaving Arnault ineligible for now. But Paris FC could play its way into France’s first-division Ligue 1 after a strong season that currently has the club just outside Ligue 2’s automatic promotion zone. Despite Arnault’s exclusion, Forbes adjusted its methodology for the world’s richest sports owners list this year to cover a broader collection of first-tier European soccer leagues and expanded the ranking to 25 owners, rather than the top 20 used in 2023 and 2024. Those changes allow three newcomers with European soccer clubs to join the list: Israeli shipping magnate Idan Ofer (worth an estimated $22.5 billion), who owns Portugal’s FC Famalicão; Danish fashion mogul Anders Holch Povlsen ($12.8 billion), who controls Denmark’s FC Midtjylland; and Egyptian construction tycoon Nassef Sawiris ($9.6 billion), who co-owns Aston Villa in England’s Premier League. Combined, the 25 richest sports owners in the world are worth $607 billion, with the top 20 accounting for $557 billion of that total—a 16% increase from 2024’s ranking of 20 owners. Nearly every owner saw their net worth climb amid a robust year for the stock market, with Walton posting the single biggest gain by value ($32.6 billion) and Memphis Grizzlies owner and Ubiquiti Networks CEO Robert Pera, worth an estimated $15.7 billion, leading by percentage growth (145%). Only three owners from the top 25—Ballmer, Stade Rennais FC owner François Pinault and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia—saw their fortunes decline. For the second consecutive year, basketball is the most represented sport on the list, with 13 teams (11 from the NBA and two from the WNBA). Soccer has 12 teams featured (six from Europe, four from MLS and two from the Women’s Super League in England), followed by the NFL (eight) and the NHL (four). Steve Cohen is the only MLB owner to qualify. Here are the 25 richest sports team owners on the 2025 World’s Billionaires list NET WORTHS AS OF MARCH 7, 202 Leon Bennett/Stringer/Getty Images #1. Steve Ballmer Net Worth: $118 billion One-Year Change: -3% Team: Los Angeles Clippers Source of Wealth: Microsoft Citizenship: United States Ballmer long wanted to move the Clippers out of the arena they shared with Los Angeles’ Lakers and Kings, and his dream finally became a reality last year when their new home, the Intuit Dome, opened in Inglewood. The high-tech venue has been busy ever since, hosting more than 100 events (including both concerts and basketball games) and bringing in more than a million fans total. Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images #2. Rob Walton & family Net Worth: $110 billion One-Year Change: +42% Team: Denver Broncos Source of Wealth: Walmart Citizenship: United States Walton paid a record price to become an NFL owner in 2022, but his investment is already showing healthy returns. Forbes estimates the Broncos—whose official control owner is Walton’s son-in-law, Greg Penner—are now worth $5.5 billion, up 18% since the purchase. That increase, however, pales in comparison with the rise in Walmart stock, which has more than doubled over the same period. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool/Getty Images #3. Miriam Adelson & family Net Worth: $32.1 billion One-Year Change: 0% Team: Dallas Mavericks Source of Wealth: Casinos Citizenship: United States The 79-year-old Adelson, the widow of former Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson (d. 2021), bought the Mavericks in December 2023 and hit an early bump in her tenure as owner with this year’s trade of superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. A year after reaching the NBA finals, Dallas is in danger of missing the playoffs, but the team still announced higher season-ticket prices for next season, heightening the tension with fans. #4. Daniel Gilbert Net Worth: $27.8 billion One-Year Change: +6% Team: Cleveland Cavaliers Source of Wealth: Mortgage lending Citizenship: United States Gilbert’s Rocket Companies has had a tumultuous 12 months, with shares trading for more than $20 in September and dipping below $11 in January. The stock has since bounced back, closing at $15.77 on March 7, the day Forbes locked in net worths for the 2025 World’s Billionaires list. The 63-year-old Gilbert has seen the Cavaliers climb, too, to a $3.95 billion valuation. #5. Idan Ofer Net Worth: $22.5 billion One-Year Change: +42% Team: FC Famalicão Source of Wealth: Shipping Citizenship: Israel The younger son of the late shipping magnate Sammy Ofer (d. 2011), the 69-year-old Idan Ofer acquired majority control of Famalicão in 2018, a year after he bought a minority stake in Spanish soccer club Atlético Madrid. Famalicão reached Portugal’s first tier in 2019 and has remained there since, although the team has not finished higher than sixth in the standings. Chesnot/Getty Images #6. François Pinault & family Net Worth: $21.7 billion One-Year Change: -31% Team: Stade Rennais FC Source of Wealth: Luxury goods Citizenship: France In the 27 years that Pinault, the 88-year-old honorary chairman of luxury group Kering, has owned Stade Rennais FC, the club has not won a title in France’s first division. This year won’t be any different: 27 matches into the 2024-25 season, Rennes is in 12th place, with less than half the points of league-leading Paris Saint-Germain. #7 (tie). Steve Cohen Net Worth: $21.3 billion One-Year Change: +8% Team: New York Mets Source of Wealth: Hedge funds Citizenship: United States Cohen, the 68-year-old founder of Point72 Asset Management, reminded the baseball world this winter that he wasn’t afraid to flex his financial muscles, signing slugger Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract. Outside the ballpark, his plans to build a casino in Queens also took a step forward as the City Planning Commission approved a needed change to zoning regulations in February. #7 (tie). David Tepper Net Worth: $21.3 billion One-Year Change: +3% Teams: Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC Source of Wealth: Hedge funds Citizenship: United States The Panthers have yet to reach the postseason under Tepper, the 67-year-old founder of Appaloosa Management, who bought the franchise for $2.275 billion in 2018. It’s not just fans complaining about his ownership, either: In the NFL Players Association’s most recent survey of its members, Tepper received a D-, the second-worst grade among the league’s 32 owners. #9. Henry Samueli Net Worth: $19.7 billion One-Year Change: +40% Team: Anaheim Ducks Source of Wealth: Semiconductors Citizenship: United States Samueli’s overhaul of the Ducks has left some wondering whether the 70-year-old Broadcom cofounder could rescue another Orange County franchise: the Los Angeles Angels, whose owner, Arturo Moreno, briefly put the team up for sale in 2022. Samueli would certainly have deep enough pockets. A strong year from his chipmaker has his net worth up roughly 40% from 2024, the sixth-highest gain among the 25 richest owners. Megan Briggs/Getty Images #10. Stephen Ross Net Worth: $18.4 billion One-Year Change: +82% Team: Miami Dolphins Source of Wealth: Real estate Citizenship: United States After NFL owners voted in August to allow institutional investors to acquire team stakes, Ross was one of the first to take advantage. In December, the 84-year-old Related Companies founder sold 10% of the Dolphins (as well as Hard Rock Stadium and Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix) to Ares Management at an $8.1 billion valuation. Forbes valued the NFL franchise (excluding the other assets) at $6.2 billion last year. #11. Stanley Kroenke Net Worth: $18 billion One-Year Change: +11% Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal FC, Arsenal Women FC Source of Wealth: Sports, real estate Citizenship: United States Kroenke, 77, owns a slew of successful sports teams, winning championships in the NFL, the NHL, the National Lacrosse League and the NBA within the last four years, and he received another honor in March when a survey by the Athletic ranked the NHL’s 32 owners and placed Kroenke at seventh. The Avalanche also have the fourth-most wins in the NHL (1,030) dating to 1999-2000, the season during which Kroenke agreed to buy the club. #12. Philip Anschutz Net Worth: $16.9 billion One-Year Change: +11% Teams: Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy Source of Wealth: Energy, sports, entertainment Citizenship: United States Anschutz’s Galaxy are currently suffering from a championship hangover, falling to 13th place in the Western Conference just months after the club captured its sixth MLS Cup. But the 85-year-old founder of AEG, which owns sports teams, venues and events around the world, has a pretty good consolation prize: The Galaxy recently became the third club in MLS history to land a $1 billion valuation. Jerome Miron/Associated Press #13. Jerry Jones & family Net Worth: $16.6 billion One-Year Change: +20% Team: Dallas Cowboys Source of Wealth: Dallas Cowboys, energy Citizenship: United States When Jones bought the Cowboys for $150 million in 1989, the franchise was a financial mess and hemorrhaging $1 million each month. More than three decades later, Dallas is the most valuable sports franchise on the planet at an estimated $10.1 billion and generated record revenue of $1.2 billion in 2023. The 82-year-old Jones also controls oil and gas company Comstock Resources, whose shares are up 112% over the last 12 months. #14. Robert Pera Net Worth: $15.7 billion One-Year Change: +145% Team: Memphis Grizzlies Source of Wealth: Wireless networking Citizenship: United States Ubiquiti Networks, the tech company the 47-year-old Pera founded and currently runs as CEO, had a stellar year, with its share price nearly tripling over the past 12 months. In more good news for Pera, the Grizzlies are poised to return to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus, although the team announced last week that it was firing coach Taylor Jenkins in a decision that shocked the NBA. #15. Hasso Plattner & family Net Worth: $15.2 billion One-Year Change: +26% Team: San Jose Sharks Source of Wealth: Software Citizenship: Germany A lifelong hockey fan who first joined the Sharks’ ownership group in 2002 and took majority control eight years later, the 81-year-old Plattner now has the difficult task of turning around the franchise. San Jose is currently trapped in the NHL’s basement, with a league-worst 49 points. Plattner should have plenty of time to focus on that task, however, after he stepped down from SAP’s supervisory board in May following 21 years as its chairman. James Gilbert/Getty Images #16. Shahid Khan Net Worth: $13.4 billion One-Year Change: +10% Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham FC Source of Wealth: Auto parts Citizenship: United States After another middling season in Jacksonville, Khan, who owns auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate, brought in new—and much younger—leadership for the Jaguars: Head coach Liam Coen is 39, and James Gladstone is believed to be the second-youngest general manager in NFL history, at 34. Across the pond, the 74-year-old Khan recently added a new Sky Deck premium experience to Fulham’s home venue, Craven Cottage. #17. Anders Holch Povlsen Net Worth: $12.8 billion One-Year Change: +2% Team: FC Midtjylland Source of Wealth: Fashion retail Citizenship: Denmark The 52-year-old billionaire behind fashion retailer Bestseller, who also owns more than 1% of all the land in Scotland, Povlsen first bought into Midtjylland in 2021, and two years later, he upped his 25% stake to a reported 95.5%. The club brought home its domestic title last season and has eyes on repeating: The team currently sits atop the Danish Superliga’s table. #18. Joseph Tsai Net Worth: $12.1 billion One-Year Change: 42% Teams: Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty Source of Wealth: Alibaba Citizenship: Canada After winning his first WNBA title with the New York Liberty in October, Tsai expanded his sports empire two months later when the 61-year-old Alibaba Group cofounder purchased a small stake in the Miami Dolphins. Asked by the New York Post if he was interested in becoming a control owner in the NFL, however, Tsai said, “I’ve got to take care of the Brooklyn Nets first.” Richard Heathcote/Getty Images #19. Robert Kraft Net Worth: $11.8 billion One-Year Change: +6% Teams: New England Patriots, New England Revolution Source of Wealth: Manufacturing, New England Patriots Citizenship: United States The 83-year-old Kraft, who got his start in paper and packaging, has openly expressed his desire to return the Patriots to their winning ways, and he is putting his money where his mouth is. In the early weeks of NFL free agency, New England leads the league with nearly $360 million in commitments, according to Spotrac, headlined by the signings of defensive tackle Milton Williams and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. #20. Antony Ressler Net Worth: $11.4 billion One-Year Change: +9% Team: Atlanta Hawks Source of Wealth: Private equity Citizenship: United States After Ressler’s group reportedly paid $850 million for the Atlanta Hawks in 2015, the franchise is now worth an estimated $3.8 billion—growth of 347%, among the best marks in a league that has skyrocketed across the board. Ressler, the 64-year-old cofounder of private equity giant Ares Management, sees even more room for the industry to grow, saying recently that sports is a “$2.5 trillion or $3 trillion asset class.” #21. Tilman Fertitta Net Worth: $11.3 billion One-Year Change: +20% Team: Houston Rockets Source of Wealth: Entertainment, Houston Rockets Citizenship: United States Fertitta is the CEO of Landry’s, the holding company behind the Golden Nugget casinos and a number of restaurant chains, but he may be on the verge of a career change. President Donald Trump has appointed the 67-year-old billionaire as the United States’ ambassador to Italy and San Marino, and Fertitta has said that he will resign from his corporate role if confirmed (although he would retain a passive interest). He would also have to step away from the day-to-day operations of the Rockets, with his 30-year-old son, Patrick, likely to take the reins. #22 (tie). Josh Harris Net Worth: $9.9 billion One-Year Change: +18% Teams: Washington Commanders, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils Source of Wealth: Private equity Citizenship: United States The 60-year-old cofounder of Apollo Global Management, Harris set a record for the purchase of a sports team in 2023 when he led a group that bought the Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion, adding to an empire that already included the 76ers and the Devils. That price tag won’t be No. 1 for much longer: Fellow private equity billionaire Bill Chisholm is leading a group that is buying the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion. Nic Antaya/Getty Images #22 (tie). Mat Ishbia Net Worth: $9.9 billion One-Year Change: -1% Teams: Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury Source of Wealth: Mortgage lending Citizenship: United States Shortly after he took over the Suns in 2023, Ishbia, the 45-year-old CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, brought in prolific scorers Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to complement the team’s homegrown star, Devin Booker. Things have hardly gone as planned: Phoenix is currently 11th in the NBA’s Western Conference, fighting to qualify for the play-in round of the postseason. #24. Nassef Sawiris Net Worth: $9.6 billion One-Year Change: +9% Teams: Aston Villa FC, Aston Villa Women FC Source of Wealth: Construction, investments Citizenship: Egypt An heir of Egypt’s wealthiest family, the 64-year-old Sawiris has owned Aston Villa alongside Fortress Investment Group cofounder Wes Edens since 2018, but his sports holdings don’t end there. He has stakes in Portugal’s Vitória SC and Spain’s Real Unión, and in 2020, he disclosed in a regulatory filing that he had acquired 6.3% of Madison Square Garden Sports, the public company that owns the New York Knicks and Rangers. #25. Tom Gores Net Worth: $9.4 billion One-Year Change: +3% Team: Detroit Pistons Source of Wealth: Private equity Citizenship: United States Gores, the 60-year-old founder of Platinum Equity, expanded his sports portfolio year, buying a 27% stake in the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Now, he is trying to bring a WNBA team to Detroit, leading a bid that reportedly includes rap legend Eminem, Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp, Red Wings and Tigers owner Denise Ilitch, General Motors CEO Mary Barra and former NBA stars Chris Webber and Grant Hill. Methodology Forbes’ ranking of the world’s 25 richest sports owners includes the control owners of franchises in the following North American leagues: MLB, MLS, the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, the NWSL and the WNBA. The “big five” European men’s soccer leagues—England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1—and the Women’s Super League are also included, as are several other first-division men’s competitions: Argentina’s Liga Professional, Belgium’s Pro League, Brazil’s Serie A, Denmark’s Superligaen, Mexico’s Liga MX, the Netherlands’ Eredivisie and Portugal’s Primeira Liga. Minority owners of teams were not included unless they qualified under a control stake with a different franchise. Net worths are calculated as of March 7, 2025. More From Forbes ForbesThe World’s 50 Most Valuable Sports Teams 2024By Brett KnightForbesMeet The Billionaire March Madness BoostersBy Brett KnightForbes8 Winning Lessons From The Billionaire Behind Dick’s Sporting GoodsBy Jemima McEvoyForbesPopulist Capitalist: How The UFC’s Dana White Epitomizes Business In The Trump EraBy Matt Craig Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Send me a secure tip. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades