8. David Pepper
net worth: $16.7 billion
David Pepper has been in the NFL for almost 13 years.
In 2009, he bought 5 percent of the Pittsburgh Steelers. About a decade later, the hedge fund manager bought the Carolina Panthers for $2.2 trillion.
And that's no longer his only professional team.
Shortly after the acquisition, Pepper made an offer to bring a Major League Soccer team to the area. The league awarded him an expansion club in December 2019 and Charlotte FC started playing in the 2022 MLS season.
7. Steve Cohen
Net worth: $17.4 billion
Since becoming the majority owner of the New York Mets in 2020, Steve Cohen has made one thing very clear: He's not afraid to spend.
While the organization was often ranked among the highest-paying teams in Major League Baseball, the Mets jumped to No. 2 at the start of the 2022 season. They spent more than $250 million on free agency, bringing mostly Star Pitcher a Max Scherzo and outfielder Starling Mate. Cohen, who initially became a minority owner of the Mets in 2012, told ANY that he "will never be satisfied."
So expect the hedge fund manager to spend many more millions on the Mets.
6. Masayoshi Son
Net worth: $21.3 billion
Masayoshi Son took a gamble on electronics and the gamble paid off. Throughout his life he has invested in well-known companies such as Alibaba, Sprint and Yahoo. Son is Chairman and CEO of SoftBank, which he founded in 1981 and eventually used the Pacific League in 2005 to purchase a Japanese professional baseball team while Son owned it.
5. Dan Gilbert
Net Worth: $22 billion
To some, Dan Gilbert is perhaps best known for his angry letter in Comic Sans after LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in 2010. However, in the business world, he is known for having co-founded Quicken Loans.
The success of the housing association enabled Gilbert to acquire a controlling interest in the Cavaliers in 2005. Since then, Cleveland has won six division titles and appeared in five NBA Finals, winning once, all on LeBron-managed teams.
Gilbert also bought two minor league teams: the Cleveland Monsters from the AHL and Canton (now Cleveland) Charge from the NBA G League.
4. Dietrich Mateschitz
net worth: $27.4 billion
Red Bull gave Dietrich Mateschitz financial wings.
The co-founder of the popular energy drink company was involved in various motorsport and soccer leagues.
Red Bull Racing presents Formula 1 star Max Verstappen, who won the title in 2021. Mateschitz has also bought several football clubs, including Austria's RB Salzburg, Germany's RB Leipzig and the New York Red Bulls from MLS.
The redesign of RB Salzburg and the lucrative rise of RB Leipzig sparked frustration among fans, which turned into protests over the years. Still, both clubs, particularly RB Salzburg, have won top-flight trophies during Mateschitz's tenure.
3. Francois Pinault
Net worth: $40.4 billion
Although he hasn't run the companies for years, Francois Pinault is the founder of the luxury brand Kering and the holding company Group Artemis. The latter officially owns the French club Stade Rennais.
Pinault bought the team in 1998 and Rennes stayed in the French top flight during his ownership.
Although the club is yet to win a Ligue 1 crown, Rennes edged out Paris Saint-Germain for the 2019 Coupe de France title. Rennes played once in the Champions League and recently sealed a fourth appearance in the Europa League.
2. Mukesh Ambani
Net worth: US$90.7 billion
Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in India, is the Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited. The company is active in many sectors, including gas, media, retail and telecommunications.
Investments have also been made in two sports. Ambani bought the Indian Premier League (cricket) team Mumbai Indians in 2008 and formed the Indian Super League in 2013. He recently backed a joint venture with Paramount, which also acquired the digital rights to ILL.
Along with the next owner, Ambani is considered one of the 10 richest people in the world according to Forbes.
1. Steve Ballmer
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 for $2 billion. However, it wasn't his first attempt at owning an NBA franchise. Ballmer was involved in attempts to buy the Seattle Supersonic in 2008 and the Sacramento Kings in 2013 before landing the Clippers.
Ballmer, who has quickly gained a reputation for his deliciously intense outbursts on the pitch, is a respected manager. This is no doubt the result of his willingness to spend on both payroll and team assets, including buying The Forum, so the Clippers can build a new arena.
Although the Clippers have not reached an NBA Finals, they have remained a stalwart contender for the playoffs.
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