With the amount of news coverage provided for record-breaking contracts, multi-million dollar stakes, and juicy sponsorship deals, the fact that there’s money in sports should not surprise anyone. But who amongst them reigns supreme? More specifically, which teams retain the most eye-watering valuation figures. Here are the most valuable sports teams of 2020 according to Forbes.
1. Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
Value: US$5.5 billion
Owner: Jerry Jones
Year of Purchase: 1989
Initial Purchase Price: US$150 million
2. New York Yankees (MLB)
Value: US$5 billion
Owner: Steinbrenner Family
Year of Purchase: 1973
Initial Purchase Price: US$8.8 million
3. New York Knicks (NBA)
Value: US$4.6 billion
Owner: Madison Square Garden Company
Year of Purchase: 1997
Initial Purchase Price: US$300 million
4. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Value: US$4.4 billion
Owner: Jerry Buss Family Trusts, Philip Anschutz
Year of Purchase: 1979, 1998
Initial Purchase Price: US$20 million, US$268 million
5. Golden State Warriors (NBA)
Value: US$4.3 billion
Owner: Joe Lacob, Peter Guber
Year of Purchase: 2010
Initial Purchase Price: US$450 million
6. Real Madrid (Soccer)
Value: US$4.24 billion
Owner: Club members
Year of Purchase: N/A
Initial Purchase Price: N/A
7. New England Patriots (NFL)
Value: US$4.1 billion
Owner: Robert Kraft
Year of Purchase: 1994
Initial Purchase Price: US$172 million
8. Barcelona (Soccer)
Value: US$4.02 billion
Owner: Club members
Year of Purchase: N/A
Initial Purchase Price: N/A
9. New York Giants (NFL)
Value: US$3.9 billion
Owner: John Mara, Steven Tisch
Year of Purchase: 1925, 1991
Initial Purchase Price: US$500, US$150 million
10. Manchester United (Soccer)
Value: US$3.81 billion
Owner: Glazer Family
Year of Purchase: 2005
Initial Purchase Price: US$1.4 billion
Other eyebrow-raising list entrants include the Chicago Bears at #13 – purchased in 1920 for just US$100, now worth US$3.45 billion – the Chicago Bulls at #17 – purchased in 1985 for just US$16.2 million, now worth US$3.2 billion – and the Kansas City Chiefs – purchased in 1960 for just US$25,000, now worth US$2.3 billion.
Read Forbes’ complete most valuable sports teams list here.
