Billionaires have a strong affinity for owning sports teams, and many of the world's wealthiest individuals possess some of the most renowned teams in various sports. According to a 2023 compilation by Statista and Forbes, Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man, holds the title of the wealthiest sports team owner globally. His wealth, which is well accounted for, places him at the forefront of this exclusive list.
However, the second richest sports team owner is not someone you might expect. This billionaire's path to success started with an association with tech legend Bill Gates and his brainchild, Microsoft. The individual in question is Steve Ballmer, who served as Microsoft's CEO from 2000 to 2014, succeeding Bill Gates. Despite stepping down as CEO, his significant wealth from his Microsoft tenure allowed him to venture into new territories, leading him to acquire the NBA team Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 for approximately $2 billion. Remarkably, Ballmer also ranks 10th on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals, trailing closely behind Mukesh Ambani.
Mukesh Ambani, meanwhile, has not only secured his position as the richest sports team owner but also as the ninth richest person in the world, with a staggering net worth of $83.4 billion. He proudly owns the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, which holds a remarkable valuation of $1.3 billion as of 2022.
Notably, there are other notable Indian billionaires in the mix, like Gautam Adani, whose conglomerate owns sports teams named Gujarat Giants. However, he doesn't appear on either of the aforementioned lists of the richest sports team owners.
Shah Rukh Khan, a world-famous face and one of India's richest film stars, also deserves a mention in the realm of sports team ownership. He holds ownership of Kolkata Knight Riders, a cricket team in the IPL. With an estimated net worth of around $770 million, Khan's team, KKR, boasts an impressive valuation of about $1.1 billion.
In the world of sports team ownership, billionaires have positioned themselves at the forefront, with their prized assets ranging from basketball teams to cricket franchises, showcasing the fusion of sports and wealth at its finest.
