Owning a sports team has proved to be a centerpiece asset in several family dynasties, providing double-digit returns. With no indication of values or earnings in the sports world decreasing, the future looks bright for these and future sports billionaires.
Meet the Top Sports Billionaires Who Control the Game in 2024
Here are the newest sports billionaires on Forbes’ 2024 World’s Billionaires list, ordered by net worth.
Robert “Woody” Johnson
Net worth: $3.4 billion | Team: New York Jets | Citizenship: U.S.
Robert “Woody” Johnson is a sports billionaire who made his fortune through his family’s business holdings, which include ownership of the New York Jets NFL team and the multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson, a leader in the healthcare industry.
Johnson served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom during Donald Trump’s presidency for four years, after which he returned to help manage his family’s assets.
Larry Tanenbaum
Net worth: $2 billion | Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts | Citizenship: Canada
As of 2024, Larry Tanenbaum is one of the sports billionaires whose wealth is largely derived from his role as the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which grants him ownership stakes in all of Toronto’s major sports teams, including the Maple Leafs (NHL), Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), and the Argonauts (Canadian Football League).
Tanenbaum is also the longtime CEO and owner of Kilmer Van Nostrand Co., a construction company, and has built a significant real estate portfolio over the years.
David Blitzer
Net worth: $1.9 billion | Teams: Cleveland Guardians, Real Salt Lake, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Crystal Palace, Pittsburgh Steelers | Citizenship: U.S.
David Blitzer is also listed as one of the sports billionaires in 2024, who has accumulated his wealth from being an executive at Blackstone and a team owner. Blitzer possesses ownership shares in a number of professional sports teams, such as the Guardians in the MLB and Real Salt Lake in the MLS.
Along with Josh Harris, the co-founder of Apollo Global, Blitzer is a co-owner of various other teams, including the 76ers in the NBA, the Devils in the NHL, Crystal Palace in the Premier League, and the Steelers in the NFL.
Mark Davis
Net worth: $1.9 billion | Team: Las Vegas Raiders |Citizenship: U.S.
Mark Davis is a sports billionaire in 2024 who has amassed his wealth from his lifelong dedication to football. As a child, Davis grew up around the Raiders, a team where his father, Al Davis, held numerous positions including coach, general manager, and principal owner of the NFL franchise.
Through this upbringing, Mark gained valuable experience and knowledge of the industry. Following his father’s passing in 2011, Mark assumed ownership of the team and played a crucial role in overseeing their relocation to Las Vegas in 2020. This move has significantly increased the team’s value and boosted Davis’s net worth.
Amy Adams Strunk
Net worth: $1.7 billion | Team: Tennessee Titans | Citizenship: U.S.
Amy Adams Strunk is also listed as a billionaire in the sports industry, having made her fortune as the owner of the Tennessee Titans in the NFL. Following her father’s passing, Bud Adams, in 2013, Adams Strunk took over the team in 2015 and currently holds a 50% stake in the organization.
Her astute leadership has resulted in doubling the value of her stake and firmly establishing her as one of the growing number of women owners in the NFL. Despite her achievements, Adams Strunk expressed her surprise at leading a football team in an interview with Forbes in September, stating that she never imagined herself in that role.
Irving Grousbeck
Net worth: $1.6 billion | Team: Boston Celtics | Citizenship: U.S.
As of 2024, Wyc Grousbeck is a billionaire in the sports industry, having made his fortune as a co-founder of Continental Cablevision (later MediaOne) and owner of the Boston Celtics NBA franchise. In 2003, Grousbeck led an investment group that purchased the Celtics for $360 million. Under his ownership, the team won its first NBA championship in 22 years in 2008.
Today, Grousbeck’s 30% stake in the Celtics is valued at $1.1 billion, solidifying his place as one of the wealthiest owners in professional sports.
Hal Steinbrenner, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and Jessica Steinbrenner
Net worth: $1.3 billion each | Team: New York Yankees |Citizenship: U.S.
In 2024, the New York Yankees have become the most valuable team in Major League Baseball, with a current valuation of $7.1 billion, a significant increase from the $1.6 billion valuation at the time of George Steinbrenner’s passing in 2010.
Today, Steinbrenner’s three children hold a portion of ownership in the team, along with stakes in the YES Network broadcasting company and Major League Soccer team, New York FC.
LeBron James
Net worth: $1 billion | Source of Wealth: Basketball |Citizenship: U.S.
As of 2024, LeBron James is a wealthy athlete and entrepreneur. In February, he broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record, cementing his place as one of the greatest basketball players ever. James has consistently topped Forbes’ highest-paid players list for nearly a decade and this season he is set to earn an estimated $124.5 million from his Lakers contract and lucrative endorsement deals with major brands like Nike, AT&T, and Pepsi.
James has invested his earnings in a variety of ventures, including real estate, entertainment company SpringHill, stakes in Blaze Pizza and fitness company Tonal, and ownership of a Major League Pickleball franchise and Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox.
Toto Wolff
Net worth: $1 billion | Team: Mercedes-AMG Petronas |Citizenship: Austria
As of 2024, Toto Wolff is a sports billionaire, thanks to his success as the team principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team. A former racecar driver, Wolff acquired a stake in the team in 2013, long before the surge in team valuations. Under his leadership, Mercedes has won eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships. In addition, he is also a well-known personality, having appeared as a star in Netflix’s popular series “Drive to Survive”.