Top 10 richest MLB owners: Find out the richest baseball team owner

Top 10 richest MLB owners: Find out the richest baseball team owner

Babu Tendu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:27 PM

Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the most lucrative sports leagues in the world, with an estimated revenue of $10.3 billion in 2022. This success has made its team owners some of the wealthiest people on the planet. From media moguls to tech giants, the list of the richest MLB owners is diverse and impressive.

Richest MLB owners
The Major League Baseball hosts some of the richest sports team owners. Photo by Ronald Martinez. (Modified by author).
Source: Getty Images

We will closely examine some of the wealthiest MLB owners and how they made their fortunes. From the New York Yankees' Steinbrenner family to the LA Dodgers' Guggenheim Partners, we'll explore the stories behind the massive wealth of these team owners and how they have influenced the league's landscape. The owners have left their mark on the MLB and the sports industry through wise business decisions or inherited wealth.

Who are the wealthiest MLB owners in 2023?

According to many publications, there are many affluent baseball team possessors. However, today, we will reveal well-equipped facts, what the actual statistic is, and who the owners are who deserve bragging rights. The following are the richest MLB owners ranked.

10. Arturo Moreno

Arturo Moreno is known for being the first Mexican-American to own a major professional sports team in the United States. He purchased the Anaheim Angels for $184 million in 2003 and has since rebranded the team as the Los Angeles Angels. In addition to his ownership of the Angels, Moreno is involved in various philanthropic efforts, including supporting veterans' organizations and educational initiatives.

Richest ownerships in MLB
Arturo Moreno attends the game against the San Diego Padres during their spring training on March 5, 2004, at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Photo by Stephen Dunn.
Source: Getty Images

Arturo Moreno has become a prominent figure in the sports and business worlds with his ownership of the Angels and his success in the billboard advertising industry. His net worth of $3.6 billion puts him among the wealthiest owners in Major League Baseball, and his leadership of the Angels has made him a respected figure in the league. The Angels are one of the richest MLB teams.

9. John Henry

John Henry, with a net worth of $3.5 billion, is the principal possessor of the Boston Red Sox, one of the most storied franchises in all sports. Since acquiring the team in 2002, Henry has overseen three World Series titles for the Red Sox, cementing his place in the team's history.

Richest MLB teams
John W. Henry, the owner of Liverpool, ahead of the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Norwich City at Anfield on August 09, 2019, in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Photo by Michael Regan.
Source: Getty Images

Beyond the Red Sox, Henry's sports empire includes stakes in other teams and sports networks, making him a significant player in the sports world. Despite some criticism from fans, Henry's stewardship of the Red Sox has been marked by success on the field, ensuring that the team remains one of the most valuable franchises in all sports.

8. Steinbrenner Family

The Steinbrenner family's net worth is estimated at $3.8 billion, largely thanks to the success of the New York Yankees, which George Steinbrenner purchased in 1973 for $8.8 million. Under his leadership, the team won seven World Series titles and became the most valuable franchise in baseball. Today, his sons Hal and Hank Steinbrenner run the team and continue to invest heavily in the organization.

Richest owners in sports
Jennifer Steinbrenner looks on during an MLB baseball game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees on June 30, 2017, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. Photo by Juan DeLeon.
Source: Getty Images

In addition to the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family also owns a stadium and event concession business valued at $800 million. Legends Hospitality operates at numerous sports and entertainment venues worldwide, generating significant revenue and contributing to the family's wealth.

7. Ilitch Family

Marian Ilitch's success as a businesswoman has allowed her family to become significant players in sports ownership. Along with the Detroit Tigers, the Ilitch family also owns the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, which has won multiple Stanley Cups championships. With a net worth of $4.4 billion, Marian Ilitch is among the wealthiest women in the United States. Her family's ownership of multiple sports franchises has solidified their place globally.

Richest MLB owners in order
Marian Ilitch (L) and her son President and CEO of the Detroit Red Wings, Christopher Ilitch, at Little Caesars Arena on November 3, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Dave Reginek
Source: Getty Images

6. Ricketts Family

The Ricketts family, with a net worth of $4.4 billion, is among the wealthiest possessors in Major League Baseball. Patriarch Joe Ricketts made his fortune in finance, founding the online brokerage firm Ameritrade, which later became TD Ameritrade after a merger with TD Waterhouse. His children now control the Chicago Cubs, one of the most storied franchises in all sports. This family is one of the richest ownerships in MLB.

Richest MLB owners in 2023
Jake Arrieta shakes hands with Chicago Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts during a ceremony in recognition of pitching a no-hitter at Wrigley Field on August 31, 2015, in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Jon Durr.
Source: Getty Images

Under the Ricketts family's possession, the Cubs ended a 108-year championship drought in 2016, winning the World Series for the first time since 1908. The family has continued to invest in the team, intending to bring multiple championships to Chicago. With their vast wealth and commitment to winning, the Ricketts family will remain a significant force in baseball for years to come.

5. John Middleton and the Buck Family

John Middleton and the Buck family are the majority owners of the Philadelphia Phillies, which they acquired in 1981. Since then, the Phillies have won two World Series titles under their ownership.

List of Richest MLB owners
Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton poses with John Kennedy's daughter, Tazema Kennedy and great-grandson, Elijah Cooper on June 29, 2022, in Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Gregory Fisher.
Source: Getty Images

With a net worth of $4.4 billion, Middleton is one of the richest MLB owners and continues to invest in the team's success both on and off the field. The Phillies' recent signings of high-profile players like Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto are a testament to Middleton's commitment to building a championship team.

4. Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson's net worth of $5.1 billion makes him one of the wealthiest possessors in Major League Baseball. Johnson made his fortune as the CEO of Franklin Resources, a company that his father founded in 1947. Under Johnson's leadership, Franklin Resources grew from $2.5 million in managed assets to $800 billion when he retired in 2013.

Richest MLB owners ranked
Owner Jerry Richardson sits with Charles Johnson Jr., son of Charles Johnson, before a game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 8, 2013, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Grant Halverson.
Source: Getty Images

Johnson's vast wealth has also allowed him to become a significant player in the world of sports. As the possessor of the San Francisco Giants, he has made significant investments in the team and helped guide them to several World Series championships.

With his deep pockets and business savvy, Johnson will be a substantial force in baseball for years to come. He will be one of the wealthiest MLB owners in 2023.

3. Lawrence and Paul Dolan

With a net worth of $5.5 billion, Lawrence and Paul Dolan are among the wealthiest possessors in Major League Baseball. The Dolan family purchased the Cleveland Indians in 2000 for $323 million, a record-setting price. Lawrence Dolan made his fortune by owning stock in Cablevision, which his brother, Charles Dolan, owned.

Wealthiest MLB owners in 2023
The Cleveland Indians logo is seen at the team's Progressive Field stadium on December 16, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Jason Miller.
Source: Getty Images

The Dolan family's possession of the Cleveland Indians has made them a significant player in the world of sports. Under Paul Dolan's leadership, the team has seen success both on and off the field.

With his experience in law and business, Paul has made wise investments in the group and built a strong foundation for the future. As the primary control person of the team, he is poised to guide the Indians to even greater success in the years to come.

2. John Malone

With a net worth of $7.5 billion, John Malone is one of the wealthiest owners in Major League Baseball. Malone made his fortune as the CEO of TCI, a cable company that he led to enormous success before AT&T acquired it for over $50 billion in 1999.

Richest MLB owners ranked
John Malone speaks to the media as he arrives for a session during the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S., on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Photo by Matthew Staver.
Source: Getty Images

Today, Malone is the chairman of Liberty Media, which owns several major media and entertainment companies, including the Atlanta Braves. He is one of the richest owners in sports.

Malone's possession of the Atlanta Braves has made him a significant player in the world of sports. As one of the wealthiest possessors in the league, he has the resources to make substantial investments in the team and keep them competitive year after year. With his vast wealth and business acumen, Malone is poised to be a significant force in baseball for years to come.

1. Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen's net worth of $17.4 billion makes him one of the wealthiest sports owners. His vast fortune has given him the resources to make significant investments in the Mets and turn them into a competitive franchise. With his deep pockets, Cohen has already made a splash in the league by signing top players and upgrading the team's infrastructure. He is on top of the list of richest MLB owners.

Richest MLB owners in 2023
New York Mets owner Steven A. Cohen attends the Tom Seaver statue unveiling ceremony before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 15, 2022, in New York City. Photo by Jim McIsaac.
Source: Getty Images

Cohen's net worth also makes him a significant player in finance. As the founder of Point72 Asset Management, he oversees a hedge fund with assets worth $16 billion. Despite his past legal troubles with SAC Capital Advisors, Cohen's success in the finance industry has made him a billionaire many times over. His ownership of the Mets is just one example of how he's using his wealth to make a mark on the world.

The richest MLB owners, in order, are a small group of billionaires whose fortunes were built through diverse industries such as finance, real estate, and media. These wealthy individuals own their respective teams and have significant investments in other sports ventures, including stadiums, broadcasting networks, and racing teams.

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Babu Tendu
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