Forbes has released its 2026 ranking of the world’s richest sports team owners, highlighting the growing financial power of billionaires across football, basketball, American football, and other sports.
The list was sighted on the magazine’s website on Tuesday.
Football dominates, with 13 owners controlling clubs across seven leagues, followed by American football and basketball.
French luxury magnate Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH and owner of Paris FC, tops the list with an estimated net worth of $171 billion.
Arnault acquired a majority stake in the French soccer club in 2024 and has since overseen its promotion to Ligue 1, France’s top division.
American billionaire Rob Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune and owner of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, ranks second with $146 billion, while former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, comes in third with a net worth of $126 billion.
The Forbes ranking lists 25 owners collectively worth $903 billion, marking a 49% increase from last year.
Full list of the 25 richest sports team owners
- Bernard Arnault – Paris FC, $171 billion (football)
- Rob Walton – Denver Broncos, $146 billion (American football)
- Steve Ballmer – Los Angeles Clippers, $126 billion (basketball)
- Miriam Adelson – Dallas Mavericks, $37.5 billion (basketball)
- Idan Ofer – FC Famalicão, $34.6 billion (football)
- Robert Pera – Memphis Grizzlies, $31.7 billion (basketball)
- Henry Samueli – Anaheim Ducks, $30.8 billion (ice hockey)
- François Pinault – Stade Rennais FC, $29.5 billion (football)
- Daniel Gilbert – Cleveland Cavaliers, $27.9 billion (basketball)
- David Tepper – Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, $23.7 billion (American football and football)
- Steve Cohen – New York Mets, $23 billion (baseball)
- Stanley Kroenke – LA Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal FC and Arsenal Women FC, $22.2 billion (American football, basketball, ice hockey, football, football)
- Jerry Jones – Dallas Cowboys, $20.3 billion (American football)
- R. Budi Hartono – Como 1907, $19.6 billion (football). 14. Michael Hartono – Como 1907, $18.9 billion (football)
- Philip Anschutz – LA Kings and LA Galaxy, $19.4 billion (ice hockey and football)
- Stephen Ross – Miami Dolphins, $17 billion (American football)
- Anders Holch Povlsen – FC Midtjylland, $16.9 billion (football)
- Peter Mallouk – Sporting Kansas City, $16.1 billion (football)
- Shahid Khan – Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC, $15 billion (American football and football)
- Robert Kraft – New England Patriots and New England Revolution, $13.8 billion (American football and football)
- Hasso Plattner – San Jose Sharks, $13.8 billion (ice hockey)
- Joseph Tsai – Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty, $13.3 billion (basketball)
- Tilman Fertitta – Houston Rockets, $11.7 billion (basketball)
- Dan Friedkin – Everton FC and AS Roma, $11.4 billion (football)
- Arthur Blank – Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, $11.1 billion (American football and football)
Forbes calculated net worths as of March 1, 2026, including family assets in select cases, and focused on majority stakes or control positions in teams.
The methodology excluded minority stakes held through large conglomerates.
