- List of professional sports team owners
This is a list of individuals, groups of individuals, and companies who have owned and operated a professional sports organization. The list is organized first by sport, then by franchise or team, then by Owner. If an organization has gone through a significant change (e.g. the team has moved and/or changed names), that information is noted after the years of ownership.
Auto racing owners & team principals
Formula One team principals
(Listed by Constructor);
BMW Sauber
*Bayerische Motoren Werke AG;Ferrari
*Ferrari S.p.A.;Force India-Ferrari
*Vijay Mallya andMichiel Mol (main owners);Honda
*Honda Motor Company, Limited;McLaren-Mercedes
*McLaren Group -Daimler AG 40%, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company 30%,Ron Dennis 15% andMansour Ojjeh 15%;Red Bull-Renault
*Red Bull GmbH ;Renault
* Renault S.A.;Toro Rosso-Ferrari
*Red Bull GmbH 50%,Gerhard Berger 50%;Super Aguri-Honda
*Aguri Suzuki ;Toyota
* Toyota Corporation;Williams-Toyota
* Sir Frank WilliamsNASCAR team owners
;
BAM Racing
*Beth Ann Morgenthau - (2002-Present);
Bill Davis Racing
*Bill Davis - (1993-Present);
Chip Ganassi Racing
*Felix Sabates - (1989-2000)
*Chip Ganassi - (2001-Present);
Dale Earnhardt Inc.
*Dale Earnhardt - (1996-2001)
*Teresa Earnhardt - (2001-Present);
Gillett Evernham Motorsports
*Ray Evernham - (2000-Present)
*George Gillett - (2007-Present);
Front Row Motorsports
* Brad Jenkins - (2005-Present);
Furniture Row Racing
*Barney Visser - (2005-Present);
Haas CNC Racing
*Gene Haas - (2002-Present);
Hall of Fame Racing
*Troy Aikman ,Roger Staubach ,Bill Saunders - (2006-Present)
*Jeff Moorad ,Tom Garfinkel - (2007-Present);
Hendrick Motorsports
*Rick Hendrick - (1984-Present);
Joe Gibbs Racing
*Joe Gibbs - (1992-Present);
Michael Waltrip Racing
*Michael Waltrip - (2002-Present);
Morgan-McClure Motorsports "currently on hiatus"
*Larry McClure ,Tim Morgan - (1983-Present);
Penske Racing
*Roger Penske - (1972-Present);
Petty Enterprises
*Lee Petty - (1949-1964)
*Richard Petty - (1965-Present);
Richard Childress Racing
*Richard Childress - (1969-Present);
Robby Gordon Motorsports
*Robby Gordon - (2005-Present);
Roush-Fenway Racing
*Jack Roush - (1988-Present);
Team Red Bull
*Dietrich Mateschitz - (2007-Present);
Wood Brothers Racing
*Glen Wood - (1953-Present);
Yates Racing
*Robert Yates - (1989-2007)
*Doug Yates - (2008-Present)Baseball Franchise owners
Major League Baseball owners
;
Arizona Diamondbacks
*Jerry Colangelo - (1998-2005)
*Jeff Moorad - (2005-Present);
Atlanta Braves
* Dovey Brothers - (Years Not Determined): Boston Beaneaters/Doves/Braves
*Emil Fuchs - 1914-1935
*Lou Perini - 1944-1962): Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves
*William Bartholomay - 1962-1976): Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves
*Ted Turner - (1976-1996)
*Time Warner - (1996-2007)
*Liberty Media - (2007-Present);
Baltimore Orioles
*Robert Hedges - (Years Not Determined): St. Louis Browns
*Phillip Ball -
*Peter Angelos - (1993-Present);
Boston Red Sox
*Tom Yawkey - (1934-1976)
* John Henry andTom Werner - (2002-Present)
* Joe Lannin - (Years Not Determined);
Chicago Cubs
* William A. Hulbert - 1876-1882
* Albert G. Spalding - 1882-1902
* James Hart - 1902-1905
* Charles W. Murphy - 1905-1914
*Charles Phelps Taft - 1914-1916
*Charles Weeghman - 1916-1921
* The Wrigley family - 1921-1981
**William Wrigley, Jr. - 1921-1932
**Philip K. Wrigley - 1932-1977
**William Wrigley III - 1977-1981
*Tribune Company - (1981-2007)
*Sam Zell - (Acting);
Chicago White Sox
*Charles Comiskey - 1900 - 1931
* J. Louis Comiskey - 1931 - 1940
* Grace Comiskey - 1940 - 1956
* Dorothy Comiskey - 1956 - 1958
*Bill Veeck - 1958 - 1961
* John Allyn - 1961 - 1975
*Bill Veeck - 1975 - 1981
*Jerry Reinsdorf - 1981 - Present;
Cincinnati Reds
*Powel Crosley - (1933-1961)
*Marge Schott - (1984-1998)
*Carl Lindner - (1998-2006)
*Robert Castellini - (2006-Present)Cleveland Indians
*Bill Veeck - 1946-1949
*Richard Jacobs - 1986-1999
*Larry Dolan - (1999-Present);
Colorado Rockies
*Charlie Monfort - (1993-Present);
Detroit Tigers
*Tom Monaghan - 1983-1992
*Mike Ilitch - (1992-Present);
Florida Marlins
*Wayne Huizenga (1993-1998)
*John W. Henry (1998-2002)
*Jeffrey Loria (2002-Present);
Houston Astros
*Drayton McLane, Jr. - (1992-present);
Kansas City Royals
*Ewing Kauffman - (1969-1993)
* David Glass - (2000-Present);
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
*Gene Autry - (1961 - 1996)
*The Walt Disney Company - (1996 - 2003)
*Arturo Moreno - (2003-Present);
Los Angeles Dodgers
*Walter O'Malley (1950–1979) — Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
*Peter O'Malley (1979–1997)
*News Corporation (1997 - 2004)
* Frank McCourt - (2004 - Present);
Milwaukee Brewers
*William Daley - (1969-1970) — Seattle Pilots
*Bud Selig - (1970-2005)
**Wendy Selig-Prieb (1992-2005; acting owner of the team in place of her father)
*Mark Attanasio - (2005-Present);
Minnesota Twins
*Ban Johnson &Fred Postal - (1901 - 1903) - Washington
*Thomas C. Noyes - (1904 - 1912) - Washington
*Benjamin Minor - (1912 - 1920) - Washington
*Clark Griffith - (1920 - 1955) - Washington
*Calvin Griffith - (1955 - 1984)
*Carl Pohlad - (1984-Present);
New York Mets
*Fred Wilpon - (2002-Present);
New York Yankees
*William Devery andFrank Farrell , co-owners 1903-1915
*Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston andJacob Ruppert , co-owners 1915-1922 [cite web |url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/history/timeline1.jsp |title=Yankees Timeline |accessdate=2007-06-18 |quote=May 21 ,1922 : Col. Ruppert buys out Col. Huston for $1.5 million.|publisher=Major League Baseball ]
*Jacob Ruppert , sole owner 1922-1939
*Heirs ofJacob Ruppert , 1939-1945
**Ed Barrow β, team president 1939-1944, chairman 1945
*Larry MacPhail β, co-owner, 1945-1947
*Dan Topping , co-owner, 1945-64
*Del Webb , co-owner, 1945-64
*Columbia Broadcasting System, 1964-1973
**Team presidents:Dan Topping , 1964-1966;Michael Burke , 1966-1973
*George Steinbrenner , 1973-present (Principal Owner, Chairperson)
*YankeeNets , 1999-2004 (Formed after a merger of the business operations of the Yankees andNew Jersey Nets .)
*Yankee Global Enterprises LLC , 2004-present (New name for YankeeNets after the Nets were sold toBruce Ratner . Company owns the Yankees and theYES Network . Hank andHal Steinbrenner , acting principal owners since 2007);
Oakland Athletics
*Ben Shibe (1901–1909) — Philadelphia Athletics
* Connie Mack (1909–1954)
*Arnold Johnson (1954–1960) — Kansas City Athletics
* Charlie Finley (1960–1981) — Kansas City/Oakland Athletics
* Walter Haas (1981–1995)
* Steve Schott and Ken Hofmann (1995–2005)
*Lewis Wolff (2005-present);
Philadelphia Phillies
*William Cox
*Robert Carpenter - 1943-1981
*Bill Giles - (1981-Present);
Pittsburgh Pirates
*Robert Nutting - (1996-Present);
San Diego Padres
*C. Arnholt Smith (by|1969–by|1974)
*Ray Kroc (by|1974–by|1984)
*Joan Kroc (by|1984–by|1990)
*Tom Werner (by|1990–by|1994)
* John Moores (by|1994–present);
San Francisco Giants
*John Day - (by|1882-by|1893)
*C.C. Van Cott - (by|1893-by|1895)
*Andrew Freedman - (by|1895-by|1902)
*John Brush - (by|1902-by|1912)
*Harry Hempstead - (by|1912-by|1919)
*Charles Stoneham - (by|1919-by|1936)
*Horace Stoneham - (by|1936-by|1976)
*Bob Lurie - (by|1976-by|1993)
*Peter Magowan - (by|1993-Present);
Seattle Mariners
*Hiroshi Yamauchi ;
St. Louis Cardinals
*Sam Breadon (1920-1947)
*Robert Hannegan (1947-1949)
*Fred Saigh (1947-1953)
*Anheuser-Busch (1953-1995)
*William DeWitt, Jr. (1995-present);
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
*Stuart Sternberg ;Texas Rangers
*Robert Short - 1969-1973
*Brad Corbett
*Eddie Chiles
*Richard Rainwater andGeorge W. Bush (managing general partner)
*Tom Hicks ;
Toronto Blue Jays
*Blue Jays Holdco Inc. owned byRogers Communications (2000-Present);
Washington Nationals
*Charles Bronfman (1969 - 1991) (Montreal Expos)
* Consortium led byClaude Brochu (1991-1999) (Expos)
*Jeffrey Loria (1999-2002) (Expos)
*Major League Baseball (2002-2006)
*Theodore N. Lerner (2006-Present)Basketball team owners
Continental Basketball Association owners
National Basketball Association owners
;
Atlanta Hawks
*Atlanta Spirit, LLC;
Boston Celtics
*Wycliffe Grousbeck ,H. Irving Grousbeck ,Stephen Pagliuca ;
Charlotte Bobcats
*Robert L. Johnson (principal owner),Michael Jordan , Cornell Haynes, Jr. (aka Nelly);
Chicago Bulls
*Jerry Reinsdorf ;
Cleveland Cavaliers
*Nick Mileti (1970-1979)
*Joe Zingale (minority owner, ?-1979; majority owner, 1979-1980)
*Ted Stepien (1980-1983)
*Gordon andGeorge Gund (1983-2004)
*Dan Gilbert,David Katzman ,Usher Raymond ,Gordon Gund (2004-present);
Dallas Mavericks
*Mark Cuban ;
Denver Nuggets
*Stan Kroenke;
Detroit Pistons
*Fred Zollner (1948-1974)
*William Davidson (1974-present);
Golden State Warriors
*Chris Cohan ;
Houston Rockets
*Les Alexander;
Indiana Pacers
*Herbert and Melvin Simon;
Los Angeles Clippers
*Paul Snyder (1970-1976, Buffalo Braves)
*John Y. Brown, Jr. (1976-1978, Buffalo Braves majority owner)
**Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. (1976-1978, Buffalo Braves minority owner)
*Irv Levin (1978-1981, Buffalo Braves/San Diego Clippers)
*Donald Sterling (1981-present, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers);
Los Angeles Lakers
*Bob Short (1959-1965, Minneapolis-Los Angeles Lakers)
*Jack Kent Cooke (1965-1979)
*Jerry Buss (principal owner, 1979-present)
*Bill Daniels (minority owner, estimated timeframe early 1980s to early 1990s)
*Anschutz Entertainment Group (minority owner, 1999-present)
*Earvin "Magic" Johnson (minority owner, 1992-present);
Memphis Grizzlies
*Michael Heisley ;
Miami Heat
*Micky Arison ;
Milwaukee Bucks
*U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (1985-present);
Minnesota Timberwolves
*Glen Taylor (1994-present);
New Jersey Nets
*Forest City Enterprises (principal owner), Shawn Carter (aka Jay-Z);
New Orleans Hornets
*George Shinn ;
New York Knicks
*James Dolan ;
Oklahoma City Thunder
*Professional Basketball Club, LLC — principal Clay Bennett;
Orlando Magic
*Rich DeVos ;
Philadelphia 76ers
*Comcast-Spectacor ;
Phoenix Suns
*Robert Sarver ;
Portland Trail Blazers
*Paul Allen ;
Sacramento Kings
*Maloof family (operated by Joe and Gavin Maloof);
San Antonio Spurs
*Peter Holt ;
Toronto Raptors
*Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. ;
Utah Jazz
*Larry Miller;
Washington Wizards
*Abe Pollin American football franchise owners
National Football League owners
Teams with a complete ownership history listed in this article are indicated by "bold italics".;"
Arizona Cardinals "
* Chris O'Brien (1898–1929) — Morgan Athletic Club (Chicago, 1898–1899?), Racine Normals (still in Chicago, 1899?–1901), Racine Cardinals (1901–1921), Chicago Cardinals (1922–1959)
* Dr. David Jones (1929–1933)
*Charles Bidwill (1933–1947)
* Violet Bidwill, later Violet Bidwill Wolfner (1947–1962) — Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals
*Bill Bidwill and Charles Bidwill, Jr. (1962–1972)
* Bill Bidwill (1972–present) — St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals;"
Atlanta Falcons "
*Rankin M. Smith, Sr. (1966-1997)
* Taylor Smith (1997-2002)
*Arthur Blank (2002-present);"
Baltimore Ravens "
*Art Modell - 1996-2004
*Steve Bisciotti - 2004-present;"
Buffalo Bills "
* Ralph Wilson (1960–present);"
Carolina Panthers "
*Jerry Richardson (1995–present);"
Chicago Bears "
*A. E. Staley (1919–1921) — Decatur/Chicago Staleys
*George Halas (1921–1983)
*Virginia Halas McCaskey (1983–present);"
Cincinnati Bengals "
*Paul Brown (1968–1991)
* Mike Brown (1991–present);"
Cleveland Browns "
* Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride (1946–1953)
* David Jones (1953–1961)
*Art Modell (1961–1995)
* Operations suspended franchise held in "Cleveland Browns Trust" 1996–1998
*Al Lerner (1998–2002)
*Randy Lerner (2002–present);"
Dallas Cowboys "
*Clint Murchison (1960–1984)
*Bum Bright (1984–1989)
*Jerry Jones (1989–present);"
Denver Broncos "
*Bob Howsam (1960-1961)
*Gerald Phipps (1961-1981)
*Edgar Kaiser (1981-1984)
*Pat Bowlen (1984-present);"
Detroit Lions "
* George A. Richards (1934-1940)
* Fred Mandel (1940-1948)
* Edwin J. Anderson (1948-1964)
*William Clay Ford, Sr. (1964-present);"
Green Bay Packers "
* J.E. Clair,Earl Lambeau ,George Whitney Calhoun (1919-1922)
* The "Hungry Five " (Lambeau, Andrew B. Turnbull,Gerald Francis Clifford , Dr. W. Webber Kelly and Leland H. Joannes; 1922- 1935)
*Green Bay Packers Board of Directors (the group responsible for the operations of the publicly-owned Green Bay Packers, Inc., originally Green Bay Football Corporation; 1935-present);"
Houston Texans "
*Robert C. McNair (2002–present);"
Indianapolis Colts "
*Carroll Rosenbloom (1953–1972)
*Robert Irsay (1972–1997) — Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts
*Jim Irsay (1997–present);"
Jacksonville Jaguars "
*Wayne Weaver (1995–present);"
Kansas City Chiefs "
*Lamar Hunt (1960–2006) — Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs
* Hunt family, led byClark Hunt (2006–present);"
Miami Dolphins "
* Joe Robbie andDanny Thomas (1965–1966?)
* Joe Robbie (1966?–1990)
* Robbie family andWayne Huizenga (1990–1993)
* Wayne Huizenga (1993–present)
* Wayne Huizenga and Stephen M. Ross (2008-present);"
Minnesota Vikings "
* Bill Boyer, H. P. Skoglund,Max Winter , Bernie Ridder, andOle Haugsrud (1961-1972)
* Skolung, Winter, Ridder, and Haugsrud (1972-1976)
* Skolung, Winter, and Ridder (1976-1988)
* Skolung, Winter, Ridder,Carl Pohlad , andIrwin Jacobs (1988-1991)
*Roger Headrick (1991-1998)
*Red McCombs (1998-2005)
*Zygi Wilf and family, andReggie Fowler (2005-present);"
New England Patriots "
* Billy Sullivan (1960–1987)
*Victor Kiam (1987–1992)
*James Orthwein (1992–1994)
*Robert Kraft (1994–present);"
New Orleans Saints "
*John W. Mecom, Jr. (1967–1985)
*Tom Benson (1985–present);"
New York Giants "
* The Mara Family (1925-present; 100 percent ownership, 1925-1991, 50 percent ownership since 1991)
**Tim (1925-1959)
**Jack (1930-1963)
**Wellington (1930-2005)
**John (2005-present)
* The Tisch Family (1991-present; 50 percent ownership)
**Bob (1991-2005)
**Jonathan (2006-present);"
New York Jets "
*Harry Wismer (1960–1964)
*Leon Hess ,Sonny Werblin ,Phil Iselin (1964–1977)
* Leon Hess (1977–1999)
* Estate of Leon Hess (1999–2000)
* Woody Johnson (2000–present);"
Oakland Raiders "
* Limited partnership lead by Y. Charles (Chet) Soda (1960)
*F. Wayne Valley and Ed McGah (1961-1966)
* Valley, McGah andAl Davis (1966–1976)
* Davis and McGah (1976-1983) - Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
* Davis (1983-present) — Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders;"
Philadelphia Eagles "
*Bert Bell andLud Wray (1933-1940)
* Bell andAlexis Thompson (1940-1946)
* Thompson and 63 stockholders (1946-1963)
*Jerry Wolman (1963-1969)
*Leonard Tose (1969-1985)
*Norman Braman andEd Leibowitz (1985)
* Braman (1986-1994)
*Jeffrey Lurie (1994-present);"
Pittsburgh Steelers "
*Art Rooney (1933–1988)
*Dan Rooney (1988–present);"
St. Louis Rams "
* Homer Marshman (1936–1941?) — Cleveland Rams
* Dan Reeves (1941–1971) — Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams
*Robert Irsay (1971–1972)
*Carroll Rosenbloom (1972–1979)
*Georgia Frontiere (1979–2008) — Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams;"
San Diego Chargers "
*Barron Hilton (1960–1966)
* Gene Klein (majority owner) andSam Schulman (1966–1984)
*Alex Spanos (1984–present);"
San Francisco 49ers "
*Tony Morabito , Victor Morabito, Allen E. Sorrell and E.J. Turre (1946)
* Tony and Victor Morabito (1947-1953)
* Morabito, Morabito, andAl Ruffo (1953-1957)
* Josephine Morabito, Victor Morabito, and Ruffo (1957-1964)
* Josephine Morabito, Elizabeth Morabito, and Ruffo (1964-1977)
*Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. andDenise DeBartolo York (1977-2000)
* Denise DeBartolo York andJohn York (2000-present);"
Seattle Seahawks "
* Nordstrom family (1976–1988)
*Ken Behring (1988–1997)
*Paul Allen (1997–present);"
Tampa Bay Buccaneers "
*Hugh Culverhouse (1976-1994)
* Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. (1994-1995)
*Malcolm Glazer ,Bryan Glazer ,Joel Glazer , andEd Glazer (1995-present);"
Tennessee Titans "
*Bud Adams (1960–present) — Houston/Tennessee Oilers, Tennessee Titans;"
Washington Redskins "
*George Preston Marshall (1932–1969) — Boston Braves, Boston/Washington Redskins
*Edward Bennett Williams (1969–1974)
*Jack Kent Cooke and Edward Bennett Williams (1974–1985)
* Jack Kent Cooke (1985–1997)
* Jack Kent Cooke foundation (1997–1999)
*Daniel Snyder (1999-present)Canadian Football League owners
Hockey franchise owners
National Hockey League owners
;
Anaheim Ducks
*Henry & Susan Samueli;
Boston Bruins
*Jeremy Jacobs ;
Buffalo Sabres
*Thomas Golisano ;
Calgary Flames
*Harley Hotchkiss ,Allan P. Markin ,Clayton H. Riddell ,Daryl Seaman ;
Carolina Hurricanes
*Peter Karmanos ;
Chicago Blackhawks
*William R. "Rocky" Wirtz;
Colorado Avalanche
*E. Stanley Kroenke ;
Dallas Stars
*Tom Hicks ;
Detroit Red Wings
*Mike Ilitch ;
Edmonton Oilers
*Daryl Katz ;
Florida Panthers
*Alan Cohen ,Bernie Kosar ;
Los Angeles Kings
*Philip Anschutz ,Edward Roski, Jr. (Anschutz Entertainment Group );
Minnesota Wild
*Craig Leipold ;
Montreal Canadiens
*George N. Gillett, Jr. ;
Nashville Predators
*William “Boots” Del Biaggio III ;
New Jersey Devils
*Jeffrey Vanderbeek ;
New York Islanders
*Charles Wang ;
New York Rangers
*James Dolan ;
Ottawa Senators
*Eugene Melnyk ;
Philadelphia Flyers
*Comcast-Spectacor ;
Phoenix Coyotes
*Wayne Gretzky ,Jerry Moyes ;
Pittsburgh Penguins
*Mario Lemieux - 1999-present
*Ron Burkle ;St. Louis Blues
*Dave Checketts - 2006-present;
Tampa Bay Lightning
*William Davidson ;
Toronto Maple Leafs
*Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. ;
Vancouver Canucks
*Canucks Sports and Entertainment ;
Washington Capitals
*Ted Leonsis Football (soccer) club/franchise owners
Premier League owners;Arsenal
*;Aston Villa
*Randy Lerner ;Birmingham City
*Birmingham City Football Club plc (largest owner: Carson Yeung);Chelsea
*Roman Abramovich ;Everton
*;Fulham
*Mohamed Al-Fayed ;Liverpool
*George Gillett ,Tom Hicks ;Manchester City
*Abu Dhabi United Group ;Manchester United
*Malcolm Glazer ;Newcastle United
*Mike Ashley ;Portsmouth
*Alexandre Gaydamak ;Reading
*John Madejski ;Sunderland
*Drumaville Consortium ;Tottenham Hotspur
*ENIC Sports plc (Joe Lewis);West Ham United
*Björgólfur Guðmundsson ;Wigan Athletic
*David Whelan Major League Soccer owners;Chicago Fire
*Anschutz Entertainment Group ;
Chivas USA
*Antonio Cue,Jorge Vergara ;
Colorado Rapids
*Stan Kroenke;
Columbus Crew
*Hunt family, led byClark Hunt ;
D.C. United
*D.C. United Holdings ;
FC Dallas
*Hunt family, led by Clark Hunt;
Houston Dynamo
*Anschutz Entertainment Group ;
Kansas City Wizards
*OnGoal, LLC;
Los Angeles Galaxy
*Anschutz Entertainment Group ;
New England Revolution
*Robert Kraft ;
Real Salt Lake
*SCP Worldwide;
Red Bull New York
*Red Bull ;
San Jose Earthquakes
*Earthquakes Soccer, LLC (Lewis Wolff , John Fisher);
Toronto FC
*Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
= Greek Super League owners =;
Olympiakos Piraeus
*Socratis Kokkalis ;
Panathinaikos FC
*Giannis Vardinogiannis ;
Panionios
*Constantinos Tsakiris
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