The six wealthiest sports team owners in America have been revealed, with Donald Trump donor Miriam Adelson the only female representative on the list.
Adelson, whose family was the largest donor of Trump throughout his previous term as president, assumed majority control of NBA franchise the Dallas Mavericks back in December 2023.
According to Forbes, the Israeli-American physician and businesswoman is worth a staggering $34.4billion, which makes her the third richest owner in American sports.
Adelson is the widow of the late Sheldon Adelson, who formerly owned and ran the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. She is one of the wealthiest people in the world and the fifth-richest woman, Forbes states.
Three male tycoons trail her in the sports-owner rich list, including billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper – who owns the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and MLS team Charlotte FC.
Tepper, the founder and president of global hedge fund company Appaloosa Management, acquired the Panthers back in 2018 after previously purchasing a five percent stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Donald Trump donor and Mavs chief Miriam Adelson is the third richest American sports owner
Adelson, who was Trump’s largest donor in 2016, has owned the NBA team since 2023
After closing his deal to buy the Panthers, he then placed a bid to form an MLS expansion team in Charlotte, which was granted in December 2019. The soccer club eventually got off the ground in 2022.
Tepper is said to enjoy a net worth of $21.3bn, which ties him directly level with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Cleveland Cavaliers chief Daniel Gilbert.
Cohen, another American hedge fund manager, became controlling owner of the Mets in 2020 after previously holding a minority stake in the MLB franchise.
As for Gilbert, the businessman and philanthropist paid a then-record $375m to purchase the Cavaliers back in 2005, almost a decade before the team landed its first NBA Championship.
The two richest sports team owners in America each have more money than the aforementioned four combined, with both of them worth a staggering 12 figures.
Second in the list is Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton and his family, who are valued at an astonishing $109.1bn.
Walton – heir to the fortune of Walmart, the largest retailer on the planet – is ranked as the 13th richest man in the world.
The 80-year-old has been in control of the Broncos for two-and-a-half years after sealing a record $4.65m deal to purchase the NFL team in the summer of 2022.
Mets chief Steve Cohen (left) and David Tepper (right), owner of the Panthers and Charlotte FC, are both worth $21.3bn
Denver Broncos owner Rob Walton and his family are second with a $109.1bn net worth
But top of the list is LA Clippers titan Steve Ballmer, who is valued at an incredible $125.3bn
After acquiring Denver, Walton and his family added Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the ownership group. However, under their ownership the Broncos are yet to make it past the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.
Yet in top spot with a mind-blowing net worth of $125.3bn is Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
Balmer, who served as CEO of Microsoft from 2000-14, was the highest bidder in the race to buy the Clippers after the Donald Sterling scandal in May 2014 after bidding $2m – the second-highest bid for a sports franchise in North American history at the time.
However, despite being owned by the eighth-richest man on earth, the Clippers are still seeking their first ever NBA Championship.
