20 Most Valuable Sports Teams in the World

Throughout the pandemic, the phrase “the rich get richer” took on a deeper meaning. Tech leaders weren’t alone, and owners of teams sports saw their values rise significantly. According to Forbes, the average value of the world’s top sports teams jumped 9.9% in 2021 to $3.4 billion.

Here are the top 20:

1. Dallas Cowboys (NFL)

• Value: $5.7 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 43%

• Owner: Jerry Jones

• Year Purchased: 1989

• Price Paid: $150 million

2. New York Yankees (MLB)

• Value: $5.25 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 54%

• Owner: Steinbrenner family

• Year Purchased: 1973

• Price Paid: $8.8 million

3. New York Knicks (NBA)

• Value: $5 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 67%

• Owner: Madison Square Garden Sports

• Year Purchased: 1997

• Price Paid: $300 million

4. Barcelona (Soccer)

• Value: $4.76 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 34%

• Owner: club members

• Year Purchased: not applicable

• Price Paid: not applicable

5. Real Madrid (Soccer)

• Value: $4.75 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 30%

• Owner: club members

• Year Purchased: not applicable

• Price Paid: not applicable

6. Golden State Warriors (NBA)

• Value: $4.7 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 147%

• Owner: Joe Lacob, Peter Gruber

• Year Purchased: 2010

• Price Paid: $450 million

7. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

• Value: $4.6 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 70%

• Owner: Jerry Buss Family Trusts, Philip Anschutz

• Year Purchased: 1979, 1998

• Price Paid: $20 million, $268 million

8. New England Patriots (NFL)

• Value: $4.4 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 38%

• Owner: Robert Kraft

• Year Purchased: 1994

• Price Paid: $172 million

9. New York Giants (NFL)

• Value: $4.3 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 54%

• Owner: John Mara, Steven Tisch

• Year Purchased: 1925, 1991

• Price Paid: $500, $150 million

10. Bayern Munich (Soccer)

• Value: $4.21 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 57%

• Owner: club members

• Year Purchased: not applicable

• Price Paid: not applicable

11. Manchester United (Soccer)

• Value: $4.2 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 27%

• Owner: Glazer family

• Year Purchased: 2005

• Price Paid: $1.4 billion

12. Liverpool (Soccer)

• Value: $4.1 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 165%

• Owner: John Henry, Tom Werner

• Year Purchased: 2010

• Price Paid: $476 million

13 (tie). Los Angeles Rams (NFL)

• Value: $4 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 176%

• Owner: Stanley Kroenke

• Year Purchased: 2010

• Price Paid: $750 million

13 (tie). Manchester City (Soccer)

• Value: $4 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 108%

• Owner: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan

• Year Purchased: 2008

• Price Paid: $385 million

15. San Francisco 49ers (NFL)

• Value: $3.8 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 41%

• Owner: Denise DeBartolo York, John York

• Year Purchased: 1977

• Price Paid: $13 million

16. Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)

• Value: $3.57 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 43%

• Owner: Guggenheim Baseball Management

• Year Purchased: 2012

• Price Paid: $2 billion

17. New York Jets (NFL)

• Value: $3.55 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 37%

• Owner: Johnson family

• Year Purchased: 2000

• Price Paid: $635 million

18. Chicago Bears (NFL)

• Value: $3.53 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 44%

• Owner: McCaskey family

• Year Purchased: 1920

• Price Paid: $100

19. Washington Football Team (NFL)

• Value: $3.5 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 23%

• Owner: Daniel Snyder

• Year Purchased: 1999

• Price Paid: $750 million

20. Boston Red Sox (MLB)

• Value: $3.47 billion

• Five-Year Change In Value: 51%

• Owner: John Henry, Tom Werner

• Year Purchased: 2002

• Price Paid: $380 million

You can read Forbes’ full list, which goes to 50, but here are some thoughts on the top 20:

It’s eye-opening to see the prices paid and what the teams are worth now. $150 million for the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. It’s 2021 and the team is now worth $5.7 billion. That’s an ROI the rich guys dream of.

I expected to see the Cowboys at No. 1, but I didn’t expect to see the Yankees and Knicks, teams 2 and 3, in the same $5 billion category. Granted, there is a difference between $5.7 billion (Cowboys) and $5 billion (Knicks).

It’s rather surprising to see the Warriors ahead of the Lakers, no? Did you expect that?

Nevertheless, owning a sports team is a good life, if you can find a way to have it.