Most valuable sports teams in the world
The world’s 50 most valuable sports teams are worth a combined $256 billion, with the Dallas Cowboys being the most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth $9.2 billion.
This is despite the team not winning an NFL Superbowl title in the past 30 years, and it represents an immense investment return for its owner, Jerry Jones, who bought the team in 1989 for just $150 million.
Perhaps the greatest investment in a sports franchise ever made was the McCaskey family’s purchase of the Chicago Bears. They bought the team for $100 in 1920, and their ownership stake is now valued at $5.8 billion.
The value of NFL franchises is only set to grow as the league is set to allow private equity firms to invest in its teams.
Investment from private equity firms will be limited to 10% of the overall value of individual teams as the NFL seeks to maintain its franchises’ historic family ownership.
NFL teams dominate the list of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, with the average team being valued at $6.49 billion, according to CNBC. Seven of the top 10 come from this single league.
Purchase prices for franchises have skyrocketed in recent years. The Washington Commanders sold for $6.25 billion in 2023, the Denver Broncos changed hands for $6.2 billion in 2022, and the Carolina Panthers sold in 2018 for $2.275 billion.
However, European football clubs are growing strongly in terms of value. Forbes said the value of football clubs around Europe has grown by 114% in the past five years.
Teams in the English Premier League also saw significant increases in value. Liverpool grew by 173% and Manchester City by 102% in 2024.
While there is much more money in European football, it is spread across a much larger number of teams, resulting in relatively low valuations compared to NFL teams.
There is also a much lower return on investment in European football, with ownership requiring much more significant spending on players and their salaries.
Strangely, success also plays a much more important role in the valuation of European football clubs than with NFL teams.
While the Dallas Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl in 30 years and retain their number one ranking, the value of European football clubs can plummet if they do not consistently play Champions League football.
Formula 1 is the fastest-growing sport in the world regarding value, with an eye-watering growth rate of 232% over the last five years.
The world’s premier motorsport only has two teams in the top 50, represented by Ferrari and Mercedes – worth $3.9 billion and $3.8 billion respectively.
Forbes said the value of the top 50 teams rose 15% compared to 2023. This was driven by the increased prices of franchises sold in 2024.
No team from cricket’s most lucrative league, the Indian Premier League, managed to crack the top 50. The Mumbai Indians are the most valuable cricket team in the world, worth $1.3 billion.
The table below shows the ten most valuable sports franchises in the world.
Franchise | Owners | Value |
Dallas Cowboys | Jerry Jones | $9.2 billion |
New York Yankees | Steinbrenner family | $7.1 billion |
Golden State Warriors | Joe Lacob, Peter Guber | $7 billion |
New England Patriots | Robert Kraft | $7 billion |
Los Angeles Rams | Stanley Kroenke | $6.9 billion |
New York Giants | John Mara, Steven Tisch | $6.8 billion |
Chicago Bears | McCaskey family | $6.3 billion |
Las Vegas Raiders | Mark Davis | $6.2 billion |
New York Knicks | Madison Square Garden Sports | $6.1 billion |
New York Jets | Johnson family | $6.1 billion |
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