Richest NBA’s Owners, Ranked By Net Worth

It takes an incredibly wealthy person or a group of people to have the luxury of owning an NBA team. 

The most expensive teams tend to have a tremendous track record of winning games, which, in turn, helps them boast short championship basketball odds at sports betting sites.

With that said, who are the NBA’s richest owners? Let’s find out.

NBA Owners’ Net Worth, Ranked

Who Are the Wealthiest NBA Owners?

1. Steve Ballmer, Los Angeles Clippers: $146.3 billion

Steve Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion from Donald Sterling in 2014.

Ballmer was Microsoft’s CEO, and his stake in the company helped him generate billions of dollars.

2. Miriam Adelson, Patrick Dumont: Dallas Mavericks: $38.7 billion

The Adelsons and Dumonts purchased 69% of the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion in 2023 from longtime owner Mark Cuban.

Miriam Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon, founded Las Vegas Sands Corp.

3. Dan Gilbert: Cleveland Cavaliers: $32.7 billion

Dan Gilbert bought the Cavaliers from Gordon Gund for $375 million in January 2005, a then-record price for an NBA team.

Gilbert is the co-founder and majority owner of Rocket Mortgage (formerly Quicken Loans) and the founder of Rock Ventures.

4. Robert J. Pera: Memphis Grizzlies: $26 billion

Robert J. Pera bought the Memphis Grizzlies from Michael Heisley for $377 million.

Pera worked at Apple before becoming the founder and chief executive officer of Ubiquiti Inc.

5. Stan Kroenke: Denver Nuggets: $21.3 billion

Stan Kroenke bought the Denver Nuggets for $450 million from Charlie Lyons in July 2000.

He founded Kroenke Group in 1983, a real estate development firm known for building shopping centres and apartment buildings.

6. Joseph Tsai: Brooklyn Nets: $13.7 billion

Joseph Tsai bought the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center for a total of $3.3 billion from Mikhail Prokhorov in September 2019 after buying 49% of the franchise for $1 billion in April 2018.

Tsai is the co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group.

7. Tony Ressler: Atlanta Hawks: $13.5 billion

Tony Ressler acquired the Atlanta Hawks alongside a group of investors for $850 million in 2015.

Ressler co-founded Apollo Global Management in 1990 and Ares Management in 1997.

8. Josh Harris: Philadelphia 76ers: $11.3 billion

Josh Harris, alongside David Blitzer, bought the Philadelphia 76ers from Comcast Spectacor for $280 million in 2011.

Harris cofounded Apollo Global Management in 1990 with Leon Black and Marc Rowan.

9. Tilman Fertitta: Houston Rockets: $10.6 billion

Tilman Fertitta bought the Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion from Leslie Alexander in 2017.

He is the richest restaurant owner in the world, as he owns Landry’s, Inc. 

10. Micky Arison: Miami Heat: $10.1 billion

Micky Arison bought the Miami Heat for $68 million from Billy Cunningham and Lewis Schaffel in February 1995.

Arison is the chairman of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator.

11. Tom Gores: Detroit Pistons: $10.1 billion

Tom Gores bought 51% of the Detroit Pistons in June 2011 and the other 49% from Platinum Equity, which he owns, in September 2015.

12. Mat Ishbia: Phoenix Suns: $9.1 billion

Mat Ishbia bought the Phoenix Suns for a $4 billion from Robert Sarver in 2023.

Ishbia is the chairman and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage.

13. Jimmy Haslam: Milwaukee Bucks: $8.7 billion

Marc Lasry sold his 25% stake in the team to Jimmy and Dee Haslam in April 2023.

Jimmy Haslam is the majority owner of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.

14. Gayle Benson: New Orleans Pelicans: $7.9 billion

Gayle Benson’s late husband, Tom, bought the then-New Orleans Hornets for $338 million from the NBA in 2012.

She also owns the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

15. Mark Walter: Los Angeles Lakers: $7.3 billion

Mark Walter purchased the Los Angeles Lakers for approximately $10 billion in 2025, the highest amount ever paid for a U.S. professional sports franchise.

Walter is also the controlling owner of the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers.

16. Herb Simon: Indiana Pacers: $6.5 billion

Herb Simon purchased the Indiana Pacers from Sam Nassi and Frank Mariani for $11 million in 1983.

Simon founded Simon Property Group, one of the world’s largest real estate investment trusts, alongside his brother, Melvin.

17. James Dolan: New York Knicks: $5.5 billion

The Dolans have owned the New York Knicks since 1997.

The Dolan family founded Cablevision in 1973, selling it to Altice USA for $17.7 billion in June 2016.

18. Dan DeVos: Orlando Magic: $5.4 billion

The late Richard DeVos, co-founder of Amway, bought the Orlando Magic from William duPont III for $85 million in 1991.

Dan DeVos, Richard’s son, has been the chairman of the Magic since 2011.

19. Marc Lore: Minnesota Timberwolves: $4 billion

Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez purchased the Minnesota Timberwolves from Glen Taylor for $1.5 billion in 2025.

Lore is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Wonder Group and was the president and CEO of Walmart U.S. eCommerce.

20. Ted Leonsis: Washington Wizards: $3.9 billion

Ted Leonsis and his company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, purchased 56% of the Washington Wizards and Capital One Arena from Abe Pollin’s estate for about $310 million in 2010 to grant them full ownership of the team.

21. William Chisholm: Boston Celtics: $3.2 billion

Bill Chisholm led a group that purchased the Boston Celtics from Wyc Grousbeck for $6.1 billion in 2025.

Chisholm is the managing partner and chief investment officer for STG Partners, LLC.

22. Larry Tanenbaum: Toronto Raptors: $2.8 billion

Larry Tanenbaum is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors, the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, and MLS’s Toronto FC.

23. Ryan Smith: Utah Jazz: $2.6 billion

Ryan Smith bought the Utah Jazz for $1.66 billion from Gail Miller in December 2020.

Smith cofounded Qualtrics in 2002 with his brother, Jared, and father, Scott.

24. Joe Lacob: Golden State Warriors: $2.3 billion

Joe Lacob bought the Golden State Warriors for $450 million from Chris Cohan in 2010.

Lacob was previously a partner at Kleiner Perkins, where he led investments in over 50 startup companies.

25. Jerry Reinsdorf: Chicago Bulls: $2.3 billion

Jerry Reinsdorf paid $16 million for the Chicago Bulls, as he owned the franchise during the years Michael Jordan helped the team win six championships.

He also owns the MLB’s Chicago White Sox.

26. Tom Dundon: Portland Trail Blazers: $1.5 billion

Tom Dundon purchased the Portland Trail Blazers for a little over $4 billion from the estate of Paul Allen in 2025.

Dundon is the chairman and managing partner of Dundon Capital Partners and owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

27. Vivek Ranadivé: Sacramento Kings: $800 million

The Maloofs sold 65% of the Kings to Vivek Ranadivé for $348 million in May 2013.

Ranadivé, the first person of Indian descent to have an ownership stake in an NBA franchise, founded Teknekron Software Systems and TIBCO Software, Inc.

28. Peter J. Holt: San Antonio Spurs: $800 million

Peter J. Holt is the chairman and CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, as his father, Peter M. Holt, became the team’s majority owner in 1996.

Peter J. Holt inherited HOLT Group from his father.

29. Gabe Plotkin: Charlotte Hornets: $500 million

Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall bought the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion from Michael Jordan in 2023.

Plotkin is the founder and chief investment officer of Tallwoods Capital LLC.

30. Clay Bennett: Oklahoma City Thunder: $400 million

Clay Bennett bought the Oklahoma City Thunder from Howard Schultz for $350 million in 2006, when the franchise was still the Seattle SuperSonics.

Bennett is the chairman of Dorchester Capital. 

Who Is the Richest NBA Owner?

Steve Ballmer is the richest NBA owner.

The Los Angeles Clippers owner is worth $146.3 billion, making him the wealthiest owner in sports, according to Forbes.

Ballmer has acquired most of his wealth from his ownership stake in Microsoft and made roughly $955 million from selling 39.3 million Microsoft shares in 2003.

The Clippers have regularly made the playoffs during Ballmer’s tenure as the owner of the franchise, as they’ve generally been among the NBA championship odds favourites.