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Apart from retaining his position as Asia’s richest person in the Forbes Billionaire 2024 list, Mukesh Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians cricket franchise, has also become one of the World’s Richest Sports Owners 2024, which was issued on 4 April.
Ambani surpassed Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to reclaim the top rank. Yet, Ambani’s company Reliance Industries’ share price has dropped 3% in the last year—though not as much as shares of Microsoft, where Ballmer served as CEO from 2000 to 2014.
Ambani’s net worth was $83.7 billion as of 10 March 2024, when Forbes locked in net worth for the 2024 World’s Billionaires list, compared to Ballmer’s net worth of $80.7 billion. Ballmer is currently the world’s second-richest team owner. Let’s Check out the full list of world’s richest sports owners 2024.
Here Are the 20 World’s Richest Sports Owners 2024:
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| Rank | Name | Citizenship | Team | Net Worth |
| 1 | Mukesh Ambani | India | Mumbai Indians | $83.7 Billion |
| 2 | Steve Ballmer | US | Los Angeles Clippers | $80.7 Billion |
| 3 | Rob Walton | US | Denver Broncos | $60.8 Billion |
| 4 | François Pinault & family | France | Stade Rennais F.C. | $40.1 Billion |
| 5 | Mark Mateschitz | Austria | New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Racing, RB Leipzig | $34.7 Billion |
| 6 | James Ratcliffe | UK | OGC Nice | $22.9 Billion |
| 7 | Masayoshi Son | Japan | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | $22.4 Billion |
| 8 | David Tepper | US | Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC | $18.5 Billion |
| 9 | Daniel Gilbert | US | Cleveland Cavaliers | $18 Billion |
| 10 | Steve Cohen | US | New York Mets | $17.5 Billion |
| 11 | Robert Pera | US | Memphis Grizzlies | $15.5 Billion |
| 12 | Jerry Jones | US | Dallas Cowboys | $13.3 Billion |
| 13 | Stanley Kroenke | US | Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal FC | $12.9 Billion |
| 14 | Shahid Khan | US | Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham FC | $12.1 Billion |
| 15 | Stephen Ross | US | Miami Dolphins | $11.6 Billion |
| 16 | Philip Anschutz | US | Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy | $10.9 Billion |
| 17 | Robert Kraft | US | New England Patriots, New England Revolution | $10.6 Billion |
| 18 | John Malone | US | Atlanta Braves | $9.2 Billion |
| 19 | Hasso Plattner & family | Germany | San Jose Sharks | $8.6 Billion |
| 20 | Tilman Fertitta | US | Houston Rockets | $8.1 Billion |
1. Mukesh Ambani
- Net worth: $83.7B
- Team: Mumbai Indians (Cricket)
Mukesh Ambani, India’s second richest man, owns the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise cricket team Mumbai Indians.
He is the chairman and founder of Reliance Industries, a conglomerate that operates in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, and retail.
Ambani is also said to be in the running to buy Liverpool, an English football team.
2. Steve Ballmer
- Net Worth: $80.7 Billion
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
Steve Ballmer is the former CEO of Microsoft and the current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. Following the Donald Sterling controversy, he purchased the franchise for $2 billion. Ballmer was a staunch Microsoft supporter who forbade team members from using iPhones. He wished to replace all products with Microsoft-owned products.
Steve Ballmer was chosen as the finest owner an NBA franchise could have in a 2020 poll done by The Athletic.
3. Rob Walton
- Net Worth: $60.8 billion
- Team: Denver Broncos (Football)
Rob is Walmart founder Sam Walton’s eldest son. He is currently the director of his father’s company.
Once his father died in 1992, he took over the company’s affairs.
Walton took over as chairman after his father died.
In 2022, Watson paid $4.7 billion for the NFL’s Denver Broncos, setting a sports franchise record.
4. François Pinault & family
- Net Worth: $40.1 Billion
- Team:Stade Rennais F.C.
Kering’s founder purchased the French Ligue 1 soccer club Stade Rennais FC. The net wealth of François Pinault and his family is $40.1 billion.
François Pinault owns the French football club Stade Rennais FC.
He is the chairman of the parent company Kering’s top luxury fashion labels Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Gucci.
His family controls the famed auction firm Christie’s as well as a collection of 3,000 Picasso, Mondrian, and Koons pieces.
5. Mark Mateschitz
- Net Worth: $34.7 Billion
- Team: New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Racing, RB Leipzig
Dietrich Mateschitz’s son owns New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Racing, and RB Leipzig and is worth $34.7 billion.
6. James Ratcliffe
- Net Worth: $22.4 Billion
- Team: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
In 2019, the founder and chairman of INEOS purchased Ligue 1 club OGC Nice. His net worth is $22.9 billion dollars.
7. Masayoshi Son
- Net Worth: $22.4 Billion
- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Baseball)
Masayoshi Son is the founder of SoftBank Group, a mobile telecommunications and investment conglomerate.
He has been in charge of the company’s affairs for the past 40 years. In 2005, Son purchased the Nippon Professional Baseball Hawks. Since then, it has been a successful club, winning seven Japan Series championships.
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8. David Tepper
- Net Worth: $18.5 Billion
- Teams: Carolina Panthers (Football, United States), Charlotte FC (Soccer, United States)
Appaloosa Management, a worldwide hedge fund based in Miami Beach, Florida, was founded and led by David Tepper.
He owns the National Football League’s (NFL) Carolina Panthers and Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC (MLS). In 2018, he paid $2.3 billion for the Carolina Panthers professional football team.
The Panthers are currently worth an estimated $2.91 billion, $600 million more than they were when they were purchased.
9. Daniel Gilbert
- Net Worth: $18 Billion
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
The owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers is ranked eighth on our list. He has had a tremendous career with the Cavs. He won six Central Division titles, five Eastern Conference titles, and one NBA title.
Gilberts’ two teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Monsters, won two titles in eight days in 2016. The NBA title and the Calder Cup.
10. Steve Cohen
- Net Worth: $17.5B
- Team: New York Mets (Baseball, United States)
Steve Cohen is the founder of Point72 Asset Management, a $26 billion hedge fund management firm.
Cohen paid $2.4 billion to the New York Mets in 2020, the highest sum ever paid to an MLB team.
Cohen is the richest individual owner in baseball, and his team has the league’s second-highest payroll, at $252 million, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
11. Robert Pera
- Net Worth: $15.5 Billion
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies
In 2012, the Memphis Grizzlies were purchased by the founder and CEO of wireless equipment manufacturer Ubiquiti Networks. He has a net worth of $15.5 billion.
Robert Pera became a billionaire at the age of 36, and Forbes named him one of the Top Youngest Billionaires. He took over the Memphis Grizzles in 2012, and the team made its first NBA Finals berth under his leadership.
12. Jerry Jones
- Net Worth: $13.3 Billion
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are owned by the American billionaire, who has a net worth of $13.3 billion. Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and rebuilt the team into the top NFL franchise of the 1990s. But, as the 2000s dawned, Jones faced more criticisms. Sports Illustrated called him the least favourite in three US states. Several supporters chastised him for attempting to be the team’s face despite being the team’s owner and general manager.
13. Stanley Kroenke
- Net Worth: $12.9 Billion
- Team: Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal FC
With a net worth of $12.9 billion, he owns the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and Arsenal FC.
Also Read: 10 Wealthiest Men
14. Shahid Khan
- Net Worth: $12.1 Billion
- Team: Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham FC
Khan also holds shares in Premier League club Fulham FC and All Elite Wrestling, which he co-owns with his son Tony.
15. Stephen Ross
- Net Worth: $11.6 Billion
- Team: Miami Dolphins
He is the owner of the Miami Dolphins and is worth $11.6 billion. Stephen Ross is an American international who owns 95% of the Miami Marlins and was the Drone Racing League’s first investor. He purchased the team, the stadium, and the surrounding land for $550 million (50%) in 2008 and increased his share in the firm to 95% the following year, totalling $1.1 billion.
16. Philip Anschutz
- Net Worth: $10.9 Billion
- Team: Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy
Anschutz owns the Los Angeles Kings and the Los Angeles Galaxy and has a net worth of $10.9 billion.
17. Robert Kraft
- Net Worth: $10.6 Billion
- Team: New England Patriots, New England Revolution
He owns the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution, and his net worth is $10.6 billion. Robert Kraft, one of the most successful sports club owners, has won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. The chairman and CEO of Kraft Group have an extremely wide business. In 2017, Robert Kraft was named Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup bid.
18. John Malone
- Net Worth: $9.2 Billion
- Team: Atlanta Braves
The billionaire owns the Atlanta Braves and is worth $9.2 billion.
19. Hasso Plattner & family
- Net Worth: $8.6 Billion
- Team: San Jose Sharks
The German billionaire owns the San Jose Sharks and is worth $8.6 billion. Hasso Plattner is a German billionaire who owns the NHL team San Jose Sharks but acts as an absentee owner. The hockey operations are overseen by General Manager Mike Grier.
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20. Tilman Fertitta
- Net Worth: $8.1 Billion
- Team: Houston Rockets
The billionaire owns the Houston Rockets and is worth $8.1 billion.
Conclusion
The 25 world’s richest sports owners 2024 are led by India’s Mukesh Ambani, who owns the Mumbai Indians cricket team and has reclaimed the top spot from Steve Ballmer. Reliance recently purchased a Women’s Premier League franchise and owns South Africa and UAE cricket teams.
