Sports is one of the sectors around the globe where substantial amounts of money are generated. In Colombia, according to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), sports creates approximately 1,600 jobs and has contributed nearly $4 trillion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in recent years.
Like any business, sports teams hold assets, liabilities, and equity; however, one of the most crucial indicators is the overall value of the entity. Therefore, we bring you a rundown of the most valuable sports teams in the world.
At number one are the Dallas Cowboys. This American football team, part of the NFL, is valued at $9 billion. Since 1989, it has been owned by Jerry Jones, who paid $150 million for the team back then.
The New York Yankees sit in second place with a value of $7.1 billion. This baseball team, which recently lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, is owned by the Steinbrenner family.
Tied for third place are the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and the NFL’s New England Patriots, both with a value of $7 billion.
Following them are four more NFL teams. The first is the Los Angeles Rams (4), owned by E. Stanley Kroenke and valued at $6.9 billion. They are followed by the New York Giants (5) at $6.8 billion; the Chicago Bears (6) at $6.3 billion; and the Las Vegas Raiders (7) at $6.1 billion.
Tied for eighth place, also valued at $6.1 billion, are two teams from New York: the NBA’s New York Knicks and the NFL’s New York Jets.
In ninth place is the first and only soccer team on the list, and notably the only non-American team, Real Madrid. The Spanish club is valued at $6.07 billion, and unlike the American teams, it does not have a single owner; its proprietors comprise all 93,920 members.
Rounding out the top 10 is another NFL team, the Washington Commanders, valued at $6.05 billion and owned by Joshua Harris.
Among the top 20, only four teams are not from American football: Manchester United (11), valued at $6 billion; Los Angeles Lakers (13), valued at $5.9 billion; FC Barcelona (16), valued at $5.508 billion; and Liverpool, featuring Luis Díaz (18), valued at $5.288 billion.
Out of the 50 most valuable teams, 30 belong to professional American football. Collectively, these 50 teams are valued at $256 billion, averaging $5.12 billion each.