The World’s 10 Richest Sports Franchises in 2025
The Top 10 Richest Sports Franchises in the World
Team valuations continue to climb on the back of global media rights, premium stadium districts and international merchandising.
But what are the all-time richest sports franchises in the world? The Sporting Blog tells all…
The Patriots are worth $9.0 billion, but where will they land in our rankings? Image credits: Washington Post
For our rankings of the top 10 richest sports franchises in 2025, we’ve tied each club to a current valuation from Forbes’ 2025 team lists or a documented stake sale reported by major outlets.
These are enterprise values, not single-season revenues, and they bundle brand strength, venue economics and rights upside. The result is a clear - often surprising - picture of where the money can actually be found at the very top of world sport. So, let’s dive in!
1. Dallas Cowboys
Net worth: $13.0 billion
The Cowboys remain the world’s most valuable sports franchise, with a Forbes 2025 mark of $13.0 billion, a new all-time high for any team. This figure reflects unmatched sponsorship power, as well as a globalised brand and diversified cash flows for AT&T Stadium.
It’s not just about football - the Cowboys have also become famous for their cheerleaders and merchandising opportunities, with lucrative sponsorship deals and money-making possibilities across the board.
Forbes reports that Dallas has industry-leading revenue and operating income, underlining the team’s ability to convert their audience into premium dollars season after season. In an era when multiple NFL teams have pierced $9 to $10 billion, the Cowboys still stand alone at the summit.
2. Los Angeles Rams
Net worth: $10.5 billion
The Rams’ value surged with the maturation of SoFi Stadium and the mixed-use ecosystem around it. Forbes lists the franchise at $10.5 billion, calculated in August 2025, placing the Rams in rare air alongside the Cowboys.
SoFi is more than a home field. It anchors Super Bowls, College Football Playoff dates, mega concerts, and a sponsorship market only Los Angeles can supply.
Those venue economics, plus ongoing development and media upside, push the Rams into the global top tier of sports. The team truly illustrate how modern stadium districts can transform franchise value.
3. New York Giants
Net worth: $10.0 billion
A minority sale agreed in early September 2025 valued the New York Giants at an incredible $10.0 billion, setting a record implied price for an NFL team. The Koch family’s purchase of roughly 10% (pending league approval) also makes the deal a fresh comp for big-market legacy assets.
Read all the latest in American football on our NFL blog
The valuation reflects New York’s strong sponsor base and the scarcity of NFL equity. It also helps explain why the league now has several teams grouped near or above the $10 billion threshold.
4. New England Patriots
Net worth: $9.0 billion
Five days after the Giants’ big news, Robert Kraft agreed to sell an 8% stake that values the Patriots at $9.0 billion, split between Dean Metropoulos and Sixth Street.
Reuters and the Financial Times both reported the pricing and structure, noting that this is the franchise’s first significant outside capital and one of the largest NFL minority deals to date.
The implied value highlights the Patriots’ enduring commercial pull, as well as the NFL’s new investor framework, which is accelerating price discovery across the league. There’s no wonder it’s one of the richest sports leagues in the world!
5. Golden State Warriors
Net worth: $8.8 billion
The Warriors lead the NBA with an $8.8 billion valuation. The franchise’s business model blends a dynasty-era global fanbase with Chase Center’s premium seating, content studios and surrounding real estate. This creates multiple layers of revenue beyond game night.
Even as rosters evolve, the Bay Area corporate market and a best-in-class arena experience keep yields high. The Warriors illustrate how an arena district plus a global brand can convert wins into durable enterprise value in basketball.
6. New York Yankees
Net worth: $8.2 billion
MLB’s most valuable team crossed the $8.0 billion line in March 2025. The franchise reached a whopping $8.2 billion, a number driven by the YES Network, stadium cash flows and a century of brand equity.
Read more baseball coverage on our MLB blog - or check out our dedicated baseball site Peanuts & Crackerjack for old-school interviews, profiles and more!
MLB’s transition through cord-cutting has been uneven by market, yet the Yankees continue to monetise at a scale few global sports brands can match. USA Today’s summary of the Forbes list also confirms the Yankees’ lead over the Dodgers and the rest of baseball’s elite.
Looking for more? Check out the greatest sports dynasties in history - the 1990s New York Yankees are #3!
7. New York Knicks
Net worth: $7.5 billion
The Knicks sit at $7.5 billion on the Forbes NBA list, second in the league behind the Warriors. Madison Square Garden’s location, event density and corporate inventory keep New York near the top regardless of short-term performance.
In global cities, premium seats, suites and sponsorship tiers hold their value through cycles, and the Knicks’ brand continues to command top-end pricing. The franchise also benefits from the NBA’s international reach, which is expected to expand even further with the next US media deals.
8. Los Angeles Lakers
Net worth: $7.1 billion
The Lakers’ Forbes valuation stands at $7.1 billion on the 2024 NBA table. Few sports brands have the Lakers’ generational reach or star-driven content flywheel. The Crypto.com Arena, a vast global merchandise market and evergreen storytelling around iconic eras keep commercial momentum high.
As with the Knicks, market scale and arena economics underpin value. The Lakers also have a global following, which adds a multiplier effect and keeps them solidly in the $7 billion band.
9. Real Madrid
Net worth: $6.75 billion
Forbes’ 2025 soccer list places Real Madrid at $6.75 billion. The team is no. 1 in world football for the fourth consecutive year, and it’s the first soccer club to ever clear $1.13 billion in annual revenue.
The renovated Santiago Bernabéu has unlocked new match-day and non-match-day income, while Champions League relevance and worldwide sponsorship continue to scale.
Read all the latest in football on our soccer blog
ESPN’s coverage of the Forbes list echoes both Real Madrid’s valuation and its revenue milestone, underscoring how the club has converted global audience into cash flows at an unprecedented level.
10. Manchester United
Net worth: $6.6 billion
Manchester United remains a commercial powerhouse, with a $6.6 billion valuation on Forbes’ 2025 soccer ranking. The Premier League’s international distribution, Old Trafford’s scale and United’s global merchandising engine keep the club among the world’s most valuable teams, despite on-field volatility.
The club’s valuation also reflects anticipated upside from stadium plans and sponsorship renewals as the club aligns operations to recapture its peak. It maintains one of the largest fan bases in global sport!
The World’s Richest Sports Franchises - Key Takeaways
The past year has delivered a new tier in franchise pricing. The NFL, NBA and MLB dominate the list, with the Cowboys, Yankees and Warriors bringing in billions of dollars for their club every single year.
However, world football is quickly growing in wealth, with global reach and valuable stadium modernisations in recent years. With sponsorship deals and huge marketing budgets, expect more and more franchises to press into the $2 to $10 billion range soon!
