Forbes has released its 2026 ranking of the world’s richest sports team owners, underscoring the rising financial influence of billionaires across football, basketball, American football and other sports.
The list was published on the magazine’s website on Tuesday.
Football leads the ranking, with 13 owners controlling clubs across seven leagues, ahead of American football and basketball.
French luxury billionaire Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH and owner of Paris FC, sits at the top with an estimated net worth of $171 billion.
Arnault bought a majority stake in the French club in 2024 and has since guided its rise to Ligue 1, the top tier of French football.
American billionaire Rob Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune and owner of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, is second with $146 billion, while former Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, ranks third with a net worth of $126 billion.
According to Forbes, the 25 owners on the list have a combined fortune of $903 billion, representing a 49 per cent jump 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)
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 said the net worth estimates were calculated as of March 1, 2026, with family assets included in some cases, and only majority stakes or controlling ownership positions considered.
Its methodology excluded minority holdings tied to large conglomerates.