Steve Ballmer Tops Forbes' List Of The Richest Sports Team Owners
James Craig Los Angeles Clippers owner and Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is the world's richest sports team owner, according to Forbes.
Ballmer, 64, claimed the top spot on the list with a net worth of $69 billion. He was way ahead of Carolina Panthers and Charlotte F.C. owner David Tepper ( hedge fund manager), who was second on Forbes' list with a $13 billion net worth.
The rest of the top 10 consisted of Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera ($10.5 billion), Los Angeles Kings and LA Galaxy owner Philip Anschutz ($10.1 billion), Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ($8.6 billion), Stanley Kroenke of Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal F.C., Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche ($8.3 billion), Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham F.C. owner Shahid Khan ($7.8 billion), Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert ($7.5 billion), Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross ($7.2 billion) and New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft ($6.6 billion).
In all, 16 NFL owners made the list of Forbes 400. Six of them are among the top 10 wealthiest sports owners.
Ballmer took over as the Microsoft CEO in 2000. He held the role before stepping down in 2014, the same year he purchased the Clippers for $2 billion. They've been one of the NBA's top teams under his ownership, having made the playoffs in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
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Last summer, Ballmer and head coach Doc Rivers succeeded in recruiting Toronto Raptors superstar 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard as a free agent. They also completed a trade for Oklahoma City All-Star Paul George, which immediately turned the Clippers into a championship contender.
The Clippers finished second in the Western Conference with a 49-23 record. They currently lead the Denver Nuggets 3-1 in their second round series, needing just one win to reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Oakland Athletics and San Jose Earthquakes owner John Fisher has a $2.4 billion net worth, which is the lowest among all sports owners on the Forbes 400. Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola and Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor were narrowly ahead of Fisher with net worths of $2.5 billion.
