NFL Team Owners: The People Behind the Franchises
Updated September 2026
Owning an NFL team puts you in one of the most exclusive groups in professional sports.
Some NFL team owners built billion-dollar businesses before buying their franchises. Others inherited teams that have been controlled by the same family for generations. The Green Bay Packers have an entirely different structure, with hundreds of thousands of shareholders.
Ownership can change, too. The Seattle Seahawks were sold for more than $9 billion in 2026, while several teams have added minority investors in recent years.
Here’s a look at who owns all 32 NFL teams and how they made their money.
NFL Team Owners List
Arizona Cardinals
The Bidwill family controls the Arizona Cardinals, one of the NFL’s longest-tenured ownership families.
Charles Bidwill purchased the franchise in 1932 when the Cardinals were still in Chicago. Ownership eventually passed through the family to Michael Bidwill, who serves as the team’s owner and chairman.
Unlike many modern NFL owners who became billionaires elsewhere before buying a franchise, much of the Bidwill family’s wealth and business history is directly connected to the Cardinals.
Atlanta Falcons
Arthur Blank purchased the Atlanta Falcons in 2002 for $545 million.
Blank made his fortune by co-founding The Home Depot with Bernie Marcus in 1978. The company grew into one of the world’s largest home-improvement retailers.
Blank’s sports holdings also include Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. Both teams play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
Source of wealth: The Home Depot.
Baltimore Ravens
Steve Bisciotti made his fortune in the staffing industry.
He co-founded Aerotek in 1983. The business eventually became part of Allegis Group, one of the world’s largest privately held staffing companies.
Bisciotti bought 49% of the Ravens in 2000, then acquired the remaining stake in 2004 and became the controlling owner.
Source of wealth: Staffing and recruiting.
Buffalo Bills
Terry and Kim Pegula became owners of the Buffalo Bills in 2014 after receiving unanimous approval from NFL owners. Terry serves as owner, CEO, and president, while Kim remains an owner of the Bills and Buffalo Sabers.
Terry Pegula built his fortune primarily in the energy industry before expanding into professional sports.
The Bills opened their new Highmark Stadium in 2026, beginning another major chapter under the Pegulas’ ownership.
Source of wealth: Energy and natural gas.
Carolina Panthers
David Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers in 2018 for approximately $2.275 billion.
Tepper made his fortune in finance. He founded Appaloosa Management, a hedge fund known for investing in distressed companies and debt.
He was already involved in the NFL before purchasing Carolina because he previously owned a minority stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source of wealth: Hedge funds and investments.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears remain controlled by the Halas-McCaskey family.
George Halas founded the franchise more than a century ago. His daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey, became principal owner following his death in 1983 and held that position until she died in February 2025 at age 102.
The franchise remains under McCaskey family ownership, with George H. McCaskey serving as chairman.
Few professional sports franchises have remained connected to one family for as long as the Bears.
Source of wealth: Chicago Bears and family assets.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Brown family has controlled the Cincinnati Bengals since the franchise was founded.
Legendary coach Paul Brown helped establish the Bengals in 1967. His son, Mike Brown, eventually took over the franchise and remains one of the NFL’s longest-tenured owners.
The Bengals are unusual because the family’s wealth is much more closely tied to professional football than the outside business empires behind many other NFL teams.
Source of wealth: Cincinnati Bengals and professional football.
Cleveland Browns
Jimmy and Dee Haslam purchased the Cleveland Browns in 2012.
The Haslam family’s fortune comes primarily from Pilot Flying J, the truck-stop and travel-center business founded by Jimmy’s father, Jim Haslam.
Their sports portfolio extends beyond football. The Haslams are also involved with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew and the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
Source of wealth: Pilot Flying J and investments.
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for $140 million.
Before buying the Cowboys, Jones made his money in oil and gas. He later expanded his business interests into areas including real estate and energy.
The Cowboys eventually became one of the world’s most valuable sports franchises, making Jones’ $140 million purchase one of the greatest investments in sports history.
Source of wealth: Oil, gas, investments, and the Dallas Cowboys.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are owned by the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group.
The group purchased the Broncos in 2022 for $4.65 billion. Its leaders include Walmart heir Rob Walton, Carrie Walton Penner, and Greg Penner.
The ownership group also includes Mellody Hobson, Condoleezza Rice, and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.
The Walton family’s fortune comes from Walmart, which was founded by Sam Walton.
Source of wealth: Walmart and investments.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions remain controlled by the Ford family.
William Clay Ford Sr. purchased the franchise in 1963. His daughter Sheila Ford Hamp became the Lions’ principal owner and chair in 2020, succeeding her mother, Martha Firestone Ford.
The family’s wealth is connected to one of America’s most famous business dynasties: Ford Motor Company.
Source of wealth: Ford family wealth and the Detroit Lions.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have the most unusual ownership structure in the NFL.
Instead of a billionaire or wealthy family controlling the franchise, the Packers are publicly owned by over 539,000 shareholders as of 2026.
Packers stock isn’t a normal investment. Shares don’t pay dividends, can’t be traded like regular stocks, and don’t provide owners with a traditional financial return.
The structure has helped keep the Packers in Green Bay despite the city being dramatically smaller than most NFL markets.
Source of ownership: Public shareholders.
Houston Texans
Cal McNair is the principal owner, chair, and CEO of the Houston Texans. NFL owners approved him as principal owner in March 2024.
His father, Bob McNair, founded the Texans after paying $700 million for the NFL’s expansion franchise in 1999.
After Bob’s death in 2018, his wife, Janice McNair, became the team’s senior chair. She died in July 2026 at age 89.
The family’s fortune was built largely through Bob McNair’s success in the energy industry.
Source of wealth: Energy and investments.
Indianapolis Colts
The Irsay family owns the Indianapolis Colts.
Following Jim Irsay’s death in May 2025, ownership transitioned to his daughters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon became Owner and CEO and serves as the Colts’ principal owner. Casey Foyt is Owner and Executive Vice President, while Kalen Jackson is Owner and Chief Brand Officer.
The Irsay family’s ownership dates to 1972, when Robert Irsay acquired the franchise.
Source of wealth: Indianapolis Colts and family assets.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Shahid “Shad” Khan purchased the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011.
Khan built his fortune in the automotive industry through Flex-N-Gate, an auto-parts company he acquired in 1980 and expanded into a major supplier.
His sports empire also includes English soccer club Fulham FC. His family is also behind All Elite Wrestling, which is led by his son Tony Khan.
Source of wealth: Automotive parts and investments.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Hunt family has controlled the Kansas City Chiefs since the franchise was founded.
Lamar Hunt founded the team in 1960 as the Dallas Texans before moving it to Kansas City. Hunt was also instrumental in establishing the American Football League.
After Lamar Hunt died in 2006, his son Clark Hunt became chairman and CEO.
The family’s fortune traces back to oil tycoon H.L. Hunt and has expanded through sports and other investments.
Source of wealth: Oil, sports, and family investments.
Las Vegas Raiders
Mark Davis is the controlling owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
He inherited control of the franchise following the death of his father, legendary Raiders executive Al Davis, in 2011.
The Raiders relocated from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020.
Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady is also a minority owner and has become involved in the organization’s football operations, but Mark Davis remains the team’s owner.
Davis also owns the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
Source of wealth: Raiders ownership and professional sports.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Spanos family has controlled the Chargers since Alex Spanos purchased the franchise in 1984.
Spanos made his fortune in real estate and apartment development through A.G. Spanos Companies.
Dean Spanos serves as owner and chairman of the board. Billionaire Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores joined the ownership group as a limited partner in 2024, but the transaction was structured to keep the franchise under the control of Dean Spanos and his family.
Source of wealth: Real estate and construction.
Los Angeles Rams
Stan Kroenke owns the Los Angeles Rams.
Kroenke first purchased a minority stake in the franchise in 1995 and later became its controlling owner. He eventually moved the Rams from St. Louis back to Los Angeles in 2016.
His company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, controls an enormous sports portfolio that includes the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and Arsenal FC.
Kroenke made much of his fortune through real estate and sports investments.
Source of wealth: Real estate and professional sports.
Miami Dolphins
Stephen Ross is the controlling owner of the Miami Dolphins.
Ross made his fortune in real estate after founding Related Companies, the developer behind major projects including Hudson Yards in New York.
The Dolphins’ ownership has become more diverse in recent years. In 2024, Ares Management funds acquired a 10% interest, while Joe Tsai and Oliver Weisberg acquired a combined 3%. Ross later sold another 1% stake in the enterprise to Xiaomi co-founder Bin Lin.
Ross remains the controlling owner. The Dolphins are also part of Miami’s massive sports and events scene.
Source of wealth: Real estate and investments.
Minnesota Vikings
The Wilf family purchased the Minnesota Vikings in 2005.
Zygi Wilf, his brother Mark, and other members of the family built their wealth primarily through real estate.
The family’s Garden Homes business has developed residential and commercial properties across the United States.
Their sports investments also include Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC and the NWSL’s Orlando Pride.
Source of wealth: Real estate.
New England Patriots
Robert Kraft purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for $172 million.
Kraft built his fortune in paper and packaging before expanding into sports, entertainment, and other investments through the Kraft Group.
His ownership became closely tied to one of the most successful periods in NFL history, as the Patriots won six Super Bowls with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
Source of wealth: Paper, packaging, sports, and investments.
New Orleans Saints
Gayle Benson owns the New Orleans Saints.
She took control of the franchise following the death of her husband, Tom Benson, in 2018. Tom purchased the Saints in 1985.
Gayle Benson also owns the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, making her one of the few people to control major franchises in two professional sports leagues.
Before marrying Tom Benson, she ran an interior-design business.
Source of wealth: Professional sports, business, and family assets.
New York Giants
The Mara and Tisch families have historically controlled the New York Giants.
The Mara family’s involvement goes back to Tim Mara, who founded the franchise in 1925. The Tisch family became co-owners decades later.
John Mara and Steve Tisch have served as the most prominent representatives of the two families. The Giants have also explored selling a minority, non-controlling stake while maintaining family control.
The Mara fortune is closely tied to football, while the Tisch family’s business interests have included entertainment, hotels, and investments.
Source of wealth: Professional football, entertainment, and investments.
New York Jets
Woody Johnson purchased the New York Jets in 2000 for $635 million.
Johnson is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson family fortune. His great-grandfather, Robert Wood Johnson I, co-founded the healthcare company in the 1800s.
Woody Johnson has also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Source of wealth: Johnson family wealth and investments.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffrey Lurie purchased the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994 for $195 million.
Lurie came from a wealthy business family and worked in the entertainment industry before entering the NFL. He founded Chestnut Hill Productions in the 1980s.
Under his ownership, the Eagles have become one of the league’s most prominent franchises and won Super Bowls following the 2017 and 2024 seasons.
Source of wealth: Family wealth, entertainment, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have remained under Rooney family control since Art Rooney Sr. founded the franchise in 1933.
Art Rooney II currently serves as team president and is one of the ownership group’s most prominent members.
Unlike owners who made billions in technology, finance, or retail before entering the NFL, the Rooney family’s financial history is closely connected to professional football and the Steelers.
Source of wealth: Pittsburgh Steelers and family investments.
San Francisco 49ers
The York family controls the San Francisco 49ers.
Denise DeBartolo York inherited her family’s interest in the franchise after her father, Edward DeBartolo Sr., purchased the team in 1977.
The DeBartolo family’s wealth came largely from real estate development and shopping malls.
Denise and her husband, John York, took control of the franchise in 2000. Their son, Jed York, serves as CEO.
Source of wealth: Real estate and professional sports.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have one of the NFL’s newest ownership groups.
The Khosla family officially completed its purchase of the Seahawks in September 2026 for $9.612 billion, following unanimous approval from NFL owners. The transaction set a record price for an NFL franchise.
Vinod Khosla co-founded Sun Microsystems and later founded venture-capital firm Khosla Ventures. His wife, Neeru Khosla, serves as the Seahawks’ controlling owner, while Vinod is chair and their son Neal Khosla is vice chair.
The family purchased the franchise from the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who had owned the Seahawks since 1997.
Source of wealth: Technology and venture capital.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Glazer family owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Malcolm Glazer purchased the franchise in 1995. Following his death in 2014, ownership remained with his family, with his children playing major roles in the organization.
The Glazer family’s wealth came from real estate and various business investments.
The family is also known internationally for its ownership of Manchester United.
Source of wealth: Real estate, investments, and professional sports.
Tennessee Titans
Amy Adams Strunk is the controlling owner of the Tennessee Titans.
Her father, Bud Adams, founded the franchise in 1960 as the Houston Oilers. The team moved to Tennessee in the 1990s and eventually became the Titans.
After Bud Adams died in 2013, ownership remained within the family. Strunk became controlling owner in 2015.
The Adams family built much of its fortune in the oil and energy industries.
Source of wealth: Oil, energy, and professional sports.
Washington Commanders
Josh Harris leads the ownership group that purchased the Washington Commanders from Daniel Snyder in 2023 for $6.05 billion.
Harris co-founded Apollo Global Management and made his fortune in private equity.
The Commanders’ ownership group includes numerous investors, including billionaire Mitchell Rales and NBA legend Magic Johnson.
Harris is also heavily involved in other professional sports through ownership interests in the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
Source of wealth: Private equity and investments.
Who Is the Richest NFL Owner?
Several NFL owners rank among the wealthiest people in America.
The exact ranking can change because net worth estimates rise and fall with stock prices, company valuations, real estate, and other investments.
Owners such as Rob Walton of the Denver Broncos’ ownership group, David Tepper of the Carolina Panthers, Stan Kroenke of the Los Angeles Rams, Shahid Khan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys regularly appear near the top of NFL ownership wealth rankings.
The important distinction is that an owner’s personal net worth and the value of an NFL franchise aren’t the same thing. Someone can own a multibillion-dollar team without personally owning the entire franchise.
Which NFL Team Is Publicly Owned?
The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly owned NFL team.
Instead of having one controlling billionaire or family, the Packers have hundreds of thousands of shareholders.
Buying Packers stock isn’t the same as buying shares of a publicly traded company. The shares don’t appreciate in value, don’t pay dividends, and can’t generally be resold for a profit.
The unusual structure has helped keep the franchise rooted in Green Bay for generations.
How Much Does It Cost to Buy an NFL Team?
Buying an NFL franchise now requires billions of dollars.
The Seahawks sale shows just how high prices have climbed. The Khosla family’s $9.612 billion purchase closed in September 2026, setting a league record.
Compare that with some earlier purchases:
- Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys for $140 million in 1989.
- Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots for $172 million in 1994.
- Malcolm Glazer bought the Buccaneers for $192 million in 1995.
- Arthur Blank paid $545 million for the Falcons in 2002.
- The Walton-Penner group paid $4.65 billion for the Broncos in 2022.
- Josh Harris’ group paid $6.05 billion for the Commanders in 2023.
- The Khosla family paid $9.612 billion for the Seahawks in 2026.
The growth in franchise prices is one reason NFL ownership has become increasingly difficult even for extremely wealthy individuals to enter.
Can NFL Teams Have Minority Owners?
Yes.
Several franchises now have prominent minority investors. Tom Brady owns a minority interest in the Raiders, Tom Gores invested in the Chargers, and the Dolphins have added institutional and individual minority investors.
The NFL made a major change in 2024 when owners approved rules allowing select private-equity funds to purchase minority interests in franchises.
Under the original framework, approved private-equity funds could collectively own up to 10% of a team.
That opened another source of capital for NFL ownership while leaving control of franchises with their principal owners.
How Do NFL Owners Make Money?
NFL owners benefit from several major revenue streams.
Teams generate money through national television and media agreements, sponsorships, ticket sales, premium seating, merchandise, licensing, concessions, and stadium-related revenue.
The NFL’s national revenue-sharing system matters because much of the league’s television and sponsorship money is distributed among its teams.
Owners can also benefit enormously from appreciation.
A franchise purchased decades ago for a few hundred million dollars can now be worth several billion. The Cowboys, Patriots, Falcons, Buccaneers, and other franchises demonstrate how dramatically NFL team values have increased.
That’s one reason buying a professional sports franchise can become an extraordinary long-term investment.
If you’re interested in traveling to games and experiencing more major sporting events in person, check out my Sports Events Travel Hub.
NFL Team Owners Continue to Get Wealthier
NFL ownership has changed considerably over the years.
Some teams, including the Bears, Steelers, Cardinals, and Chiefs, remain connected to families that have controlled them for generations. Others have been purchased by billionaires who made their fortunes in industries such as technology, finance, real estate, retail, and energy.
The Seahawks’ record-setting 2026 sale shows how valuable NFL franchises have become.
With franchise values continuing to climb and private-equity investment creating another path into team ownership, the business behind the NFL is almost as interesting as what happens on the field.
For most of us, owning an NFL team isn’t happening anytime soon.
But it’s still fascinating to see who owns the teams, where their money came from, and how a franchise purchased for millions can eventually become worth billions.
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Jason Butler is the founder of My Money Chronicles and an SEO consultant with over a decade of blogging experience. Since 2015, he has earned income through side hustles including blogging, eBay flipping, affiliate marketing, and freelance work while paying off over $64,000 in debt. His work has been featured in Forbes, Discover, Investopedia, and Yahoo Finance.
