Top 10 Richest NFL Team Owners by Net Worth in 2026
The NFL is a massive industry, so you’ve got to have some serious wealth to be a team owner. Many NFL team owners have driven their teams to success with the backing of their massive fortunes. We’re talking about billions of dollars.
Let’s count down the 10 richest NFL owners by net worth. Find out who is the richest NFL owner and how these billionaires earned or, in many cases, inherited enough money to buy into an NFL franchise.
#10 Vinod Khosla (Net Worth: $13.2 Billion)
Owner of the Seattle Seahawks
Source of Fortune: Self-Made
Following the Seattle Seahawks’ historic Super Bowl LX victory, the Paul Allen estate officially passed the torch. In a record-shattering $9.612 billion deal in July, the largest franchise sale in NFL history, the keys to the Seahawks were handed to the Khosla family.
While tech titan Vinod Khosla headlines the wealth behind the bid, NFL league memos designate his wife, Neeru Khosla, as the official controlling owner, with their son Neal stepping into a significant leadership role.
Vinod Khosla’s massive fortune is an entirely self-made Silicon Valley success story. Born in India, he moved to the United States to pursue his education, eventually co-founding Sun Microsystems in 1882.
He later transitioned into a powerhouse venture capitalist, launching Khosla Ventures in 2004. His firm became legendary for making massive, early-stage bets on companies that reshaped the modern tech and consumer landscape, including DoorDash, Square, and a pivotal early $50 million investment in OpenAI.
Taking over a defending champion franchise isn’t a cheap endeavor, but the Khoslas have the financial muscle to sustain the momentum. The historic purchase required them to divest a 3.1% minority stake in the division-rival San Francisco 49ers to comply with league rules.
Now firmly at the helm in the Pacific Northwest, the self-made tech family is tasked with keeping the 12s celebrating in the post-Paul Allen era.
#9 Robert Kraft (Net Worth: $13.8 Billion)
Owner of the New England Patriots
Source of Fortune: Self-Made . . . ish
Robert Kraft made his fortune by expanding his father-in-law’s packaging company, after taking over in 1968. He transformed the company, Rand-Whitney Group, into a titan of the industry. In 1972, Kraft founded International Forest Products, a trading company that expanded his influence in packaging. Kraft eventually consolidated his holdings into the Kraft Group.
Robert Kraft has owned the New England Patriots since 1994 when, he purchased them for $172 million. Before this, in 1988, he purchased the stadium out of bankruptcy to keep the Patriots in Massachusetts.
This proved to be a shrewd piece of business. The Pats were tied to a strict lease with the stadium until 2001. Two different owners in the early ‘90s tried to move the team to another city, but Kraft wouldn’t budge on breaking the lease. James Orthwein, the previous Pats’ owner, eventually sold the franchise to Kraft.
Under Kraft’s ownership, the New England Patriots have won a whopping six Super Bowls. They’re the most successful NFL franchise, and one of the highest valued: $9 billion as of 2026, which is an increase from $7.4 billion last year.
Holding at No. 9 on this list, his net worth has jumped from $11.8 billion to $13.8 billion. It’s only appropriate that they have one of the richest owners in the NFL.
#8 Shahid Khan (Net Worth: $14.9 Billion)
Owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Source of Fortune: Self-Made
Shahid Khan came to the US in 1967 to attend university and worked part-time for $1.20 an hour while earning his degree. In 1980, he was able to buy Flex-N-Gate, an auto parts company where he had worked. With a one-piece bumper design, Khan made the company a leading supplier in the industry.
Shahid Khan bought the Jacksonville Jaguars for $770 million in 2011. Since taking over, the Jaguars have won three AFC South titles and a few playoff appearances, including this past season after a 13-4 campaign. With Khan’s improved facilities and investments in better players, the team is now worth $5.6 billion, up a billion from 2025.
Like Kraft, and most owners in the NFL, Khan’s net worth increased from $12.2 billion in 2024 to $14.9 billion in 2026.
#7 Stephen M. Ross (Net Worth: $17 Billion)
Owner of the Miami Dolphins
Source of Fortune: Self-Made
Stephen Ross grew up in a middle-class family. He went to law school and worked in tax law and corporate law. In 1972, he founded the Related Companies, a real estate development firm. The company started with a focus on affordable housing and expanded from there. Ross led the development of Hudson Yards in New York City.
Stephen Ross bought a 50% stake in the Miami Dolphins and their stadium in 2008 for $550 million. He increased his stake to 95% in 2009. While the Dolphins have struggled with deep playoff runs under Ross’s ownership, they have improved their facilities and community presence. Ross has also focused on improving the stadium and the surrounding area to enhance the fan experience.
The Dolphins placed second in the AFC East in 2024, and lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Still, the Dolphins are highly valued at $6.2 billion. In 2025-26, they missed the playoffs completely with a record of 7-10.
Ross’ net worth skyrocketed from 2024 to 2025. In 2024, he was worth $10.1 billion and ninth on the NFL’s richest owners list, for an improvement of nearly $8 billion. Although his net worth has fallen by $1.4 billion from 2025, his net worth has surged significantly in only two years.
#6 Jerry Jones (Net Worth: $19 Billion)
Owner of the Dallas Cowboys
Source of Fortune: Self-Made . . . ish
Jerry Jones’ father owned multiple insurance companies, but Jerry took his wealth to the stratosphere by founding the Jones Oil and Land Lease company.
In 1989, Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys for $150 million. Since the purchase, he’s seen the team win three Super Bowls, a significant return on his investment since they’d only won twice before he bought the team. While they haven’t won another since 1996, the team is valued at $13 billion in 2026 – which makes the Cowboys the first sports team to surpass the $10 billion mark and up from $10.1 in 2025.
Although Jones moved down one spot from 2024 to 2025, his net worth grew from $13.9 billion to $19 billion. Now, Jones has shifted from No. 7 to No. 6, while increasing his net worth by around $6 billion.
Forbes estimates Jones’ net worth to be a little more than $180 million when he purchased the Cowboys in 1989.
#5 Woody and Christopher Johnson (Net Worth: $20.5 Billion)
Owner of the New York Jets
Source of Fortune: Inheritance
While some owners built empires from steel, hedge funds, or auto parts, the Johnson brothers sit on a fortune rooted in an American household staple.
Great-grandsons of Robert Wood Johnson I, one of the three co-founders of healthcare titan Johnson & Johnson, Woody and Christopher inherited a multi-billion-dollar legacy that eventually paved their way into NFL ownership.
Woody Johnson led the family purchase of the New York Jets in 2000 for a cool $635 million, outbidding New York media mogul Charles Dolan. When Woody was appointed as the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021, his brother Christopher stepped in as the franchise’s chairman and CEO, steering day-to-day operations during those four seasons.
Since taking over at the turn of the millennium, the Johnsons have overseen a rocky on-field stretch, with the franchise enduring the NFL’s longest active playoff drought. However, from a business standpoint, the investment has been an absolute goldmine.
They moved the team from Giants Stadium into MetLife Stadium in 2010 (sharing the $1.6 billion construction costs with the Giants) and have watched the franchise’s valuation skyrocket. Today, despite the on-field rebuilds, the New York Jets are valued at an estimated $6.9 billion.
#4 David Tepper (Net Worth: $23.7 Billion)
Owner of the Carolina Panthers
Source of Fortune: Self-Made
David Tepper’s parents were middle-class Americans. Tepper himself, is a hedge fund manager and founded Appaloosa Management in 1993. The hedge fund made billions by purchasing collapsed stocks during the 2008 financial crisis and waiting for them to bounce back.
David Tepper bought the Carolina Panthers in 2018 for $2.2 billion, the highest price paid for an NFL team at that time. Since acquiring the Panthers, Tepper has invested in the team’s infrastructure, including plans for a new practice facility and improvements to the stadium to modernize the franchise. He also pushed for a new coaching staff to maximize the team’s potential.
Still, the team has struggled. Their best performance was a 5-11 season in 2020, followed by a 5-12 record in 2021 and 2022. The Panthers are currently worth $5.76 billion, an increase of more than $2 billion since 2024, despite their on-field struggles. Tepper’s net worth has seen an uptick from $21.3 billion in 2025 to $23.7 billion in 2026.
#3 Stan Kroenke (Net Worth: $24.3 Billion)
Owner of the Los Angeles Rams
Source of Fortune: Self-Made . . . ish
Stan Kroenke founded the real estate development company the Kroenke Group in 1983, but his marriage into the Walton family (owners of Walmart) in 1974 certainly gave him a boost.
Stan Kroenke has helmed the Los Angeles Rams since 2010, originally purchasing a 30% stake in the team in 1995. Under his ownership, the team moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles. The Rams have won two Super Bowls under the Kroenke leadership with the most recent championship win in 2022.
The team was worth $7.6 billion in 2025 for a strong jump to $10.5 billion this year. Additionally, Kroenke’s net worth has surged from $18 billion to $24.3 billion over the last year.
Kroenke also owns the Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rapids (MLS), and Arsenal Football Club (EPL).
#2 Hunt Family (Net Worth: $24.8 Billion)
Co-owner of the Kansas City Chiefs
Source of Fortune: Inheritance
The Kansas City Chiefs are owned by Lamar Hunt’s four children. When Lamar died in 2006, he left an equal share to his kids: Clark K. Hunt, Lamar Hunt Jr., Sharron L. Hunt, and Daniel L. Hunt. As CEO of the organization, Clark is the most visible member of the family at Chiefs games and events.
While the Hunt family has had success with investments in sports and other businesses, much of the family wealth comes from Clark’s grandfather, H. L. Hunt, who made a huge amount of money from the oil industry.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been in the Hunt family since 1963. Lamar Hunt bought the Dallas Texans that year, moved the team to Kansas City, and renamed them the Chiefs. All at a purchase price of $25,000.
Clark Hunt, has overseen the Chiefs since 2006, when his father passed away. Under Clark, the Chiefs have made significant achievements, most recently highlighted by their three Super Bowl wins since 2019. The Kansas City Chiefs are valued at $7.1 billion, representing a significant increase from $4.85 in 2025.
#1 Rob Walton (Net Worth: $130.1 Billion)
Owner of the Denver Broncos
Source of Fortune: Inheritance
Rob Walton is the oldest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, which is one of the most successful US enterprises ever.
Rob Walton bought the Denver Broncos in 2022 for $4.65 billion, not that the purchase put much of a dent in his $65.4 billion fortune, which has ballooned to $121.3 billion since then! This is a sharp increase from Walton’s 2025 net worth of $114.6 billion.
Since taking ownership of the Broncos, Walton has assumed a major role in managing day-to-day operations of the much-loved franchise, and the value of the Broncos has increased to $5.5 billion. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been matched by success on the gridiron. Denver hasn’t made the playoffs since 2015.
Nevertheless, Walton’s net worth has exploded from $77.4 billion in 2024 to $130.1 billion in 2026, making him easily the richest NFL owner.
Blood, Sweat and Money: Wealthiest NFL Owners
The top 10 richest NFL owners blend self-made billionaires and inheritors of vast fortunes. David Tepper and Stephen Ross exemplify self-made success through hedge funds and real estate, while Shahid Khan revolutionized auto parts. Inherited wealth drives owners like Rob Walton, Clark Hunt, and Woody and Christopher Johnson, sustaining their NFL franchises. Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft expanded their family legacies so they could create their own football empires. Each owner’s strategic vision is key to team success, but there’s no denying the role of substantial wealth in the NFL’s competitive landscape.
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