Sports Tycoons Among America’s Wealthiest, with Michael Jordan Standing Out

Among the 100 richest people in the United States, three sports billionaires have made their mark, with NBA legend Michael Jordan standing out as the only athlete to appear on the list of the wealthiest individuals in the country.

Stanley Kroenke, a powerhouse in both sports and real estate, ranks the highest among sports moguls at 45th place with a fortune of $16.9 billion. On the global stage, he holds the 116th spot. Kroenke’s vast holdings include the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, a team he relocated from St. Louis to California in 2016. His sports empire also features the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, who clinched their first championship in 2023, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, the MLS’s Colorado Rapids, and a controlling stake in Arsenal of the Premier League.

Jerry Jones, another Texas billionaire and owner of the Dallas Cowboys, follows closely behind. His fortune, valued at $15.4 billion, places him 52nd. Jones’s most valuable asset is the Cowboys, a team he purchased for $150 million in 1989, now valued at around $10 billion.

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, ranks 81st. Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994 for $172 million, and today, the team is worth approximately $6 billion. His portfolio also includes the MLS’s New England Revolution, and in 2017, he expanded his investments by founding a professional e-sports team.

Meanwhile, Michael Jordan, the former Chicago Bulls icon, ranks 385th. Although his $3.5 billion fortune might seem modest compared to other magnates, he remains the only athlete featured among the nation’s richest. Jordan, who sold his stake in the Charlotte Hornets, continues to invest in a NASCAR team and earns substantial royalties from his Nike-backed sports merchandise, bringing in about $330 million in 2023 alone.

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