Top 10 Most Expensive Sports Team in the World Right Now (Ranked)

As sports teams are not just chasing trophies, but building empires, in this field, money doesn’t talk, it actually screams. If we look from the branding perspective, mainly basketball, American football, and European soccer are supposedly leading the charts of the most expensive sports teams. Some of them have already become a brand, thanks to their effective expenditure, organized financial plans, as well as on-field success. Ownership should be the first thing to consider while ranking the most expensive sports teams in the world, as some individuals are investing their hard-earned money to meet the expectations of the fans. In this article, we will discuss the top ten most expensive teams in the world at present.

List of Most Expensive Sports Teams Currently

NBA teams like Los Angeles Lakers or New York Yankees, NFL outfits like Dallas Cowboys or New York Patriots, Spanish soccer giants like Barcelona or Real Madrid, some sports teams are quite reputed for their financial dominance, evident from their state-of-the-art stadiums, global fanbase, and brand value. While it might be difficult to narrow down the list, below you will find the top 10 most expensive sports team in the world:

How We Ranked the Most Expensive Sports Teams in the World?

There were a few criteria that were looked at while preparing the list of the most expensive sports teams in the world:

Team Valuation: A team’s valuation shows the financial capabilities of a team, and thus is an important factor in the judgment of which is the most expensive sports team in the world. As some teams refrain from disclosing the details of their financial transaction and sponsorship deals, in such cases, team valuation remains the only way to evaluate their estimated net worth. This amount denotes the estimated price if the team is sold immediately, though non-financial factors are always there.

Team Ownership: Which company or companies own a sports team helps in understanding their financial background and the ability to draw sponsorships. An owner, passionate about the team or the badge, puts much focus on building a squad that will help in bringing success and boosting the brand value.

Commercial & Global Reach: While all the teams mentioned in our list have a global reach, the commercial activities indicate how successful they are in running the outfit. The leaders on the charts of most expensive sports teams earn a handsome amount of money from sales of jerseys and other merchandise, as well as from worldwide sponsorship deals.

Revenue Generation: How does a sports team run? Revenue! Hence, it is an inevitable aspect that has to be taken into consideration while picking the most expensive sports team.

Which is the Most Expensive Sports Team in the World?

While we have listed the teams at the beginning, here we will look in detail at the respective sport teams’ revenue and valuation, and their ownership:

#10 Bayern Munich (Football)

Bayern Munich are one of the most expensive sports teams in the world and the richest football team in Germany. The Bundesliga club is currently owned by FC Bayern München eV, who have 75% shares, with the other shareholders being adidas AG, AUDI AG, and Allianz SE with 8.33% shares each. Founded back in 1900, Bayern Munich currently play in the German top-tier football and have been a regular feature in the UEFA Champions League, and are valued at $4.21 billion. They have a revenue of $1.075 billion, which the club generates not only from football but also from basketball.

#9 New York Giants (NFL)

The NFL side New York Giants, are one of the most esteemed sports teams in the world. The eight-time NFL Championship winners are currently owned by John Mara and Steve Tisch, who are the president and chairman, respectively. They have a valuation of $4.3 billion and generate their revenue from gate receipts, broadcasting, and commercial activities. They had a revenue of $691 million back in 2023.

#8 New England Patriots (NFL)

Based in the Greater Boston area, the six-time Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots sit next in this list of the most expensive sports teams in the world. They are owned by the Kraft Group and chaired by Robert Kraft, who is also their Chief Executive Officer. Jonathan Kraft, son of Robert Kraft, is currently their president, with the functioning of the outfit handled entirely by Eliot Wolf and his team. The New England Patriots, who play at the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, are valued at $4.4 billion and generate revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise, and broadcast rights. Their estimated annual revenue is $740 million.

#7 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

The NBA side Los Angeles Lakers, who have won the championship 18 times, are considered one of the most expensive basketball teams. The club is owned by Jerry Buss Family Trusts and Philip Anschutz, with Mark Walter holding its majority shares, and sees Jeanie Buss act as the president. The teams have notable players like Luca Doncic and, of course, the highly rated LeBron James, who is also the all-time leading scorer in the NBA. The team is valued at $4.6 billion, and generated a revenue of $522 million in the 2023-24 season.

#6 Golden State Warriors (NBA)

Founded in 1946, the Golden State Warriors, a reputed NBA outfit, are owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. They have won the NBA Championship seven times and the Division title on 12 occasions. They witnessed a revenue of $781 million in the 2023-24 edition, excluding a sponsorship income of $200 million in the very same season. The outfit is valued at $4.7 billion.

#5 Real Madrid (Football)

Real Madrid are one of the biggest football clubs in the world and the most successful when it comes to Europe, as they have clinched numerous continental trophies. However, when it comes to being an expensive team, they have to be included, thanks to the vision of president Florentino Perez, who, ever since winning the elections back in 2000, has reshaped the club. Los Blancos, as the Champions League giants are nicknamed, have a valuation of $4.75 billion and generated a revenue of $1.08 billion during the 2023-24 season.

#4 Barcelona (Football)

Real Madrid’s El Clásico rivals, Barcelona, are next in this list. They are one of the most successful teams in Europe too, and enjoyed a pretty successful season under manager Hansi Flick in 2024-25, where they won the domestic treble, including the La Liga title. Barcelona usually generate their revenue from sponsorships and commercial activities, and produced a sum of $821 million in the 2023-24 season. They have a valuation worth $4.76 billion.

#3 New York Knicks (NBA)

The New York Knicks, who feature in the NBA and operate from Madison Square Garden, are a rightful contender for a place on the list of top 10 most expensive sports teams in the world. Founded in 1946, they are owned by Madison Square Garden Sports and have a valuation worth $5 billion. They generated a revenue of $543 million in the 2023-24 season, which was, in fact, 8% more than the previous term.

#2 New York Yankees (MLB)

Owned by the Steinbrenner family and founded in 1903, the Major League Baseball giants New York Yankees are one of the most decorated and expensive sports teams on the globe currently. In 2024, they generated a revenue worth $728 million, out of which $411.7 million was part of the ticket and suite revenue. Valued at $5.25 billion, they are the only MLB team in this list.

#1 Dallas Cowboys (NFL)

Founded in 1960, and owned by Jerry Jones, the NFL outfit Dallas Cowboys remain at the top of top 10 most expensive sports teams in the worth. Having won the Super Bowl five times and the Conference Championships on 10 occasions, the American football team is valued at $5.7 billion. They generated a revenue worth $1.2 billion in 2023, becoming the highest-earning team in the NFL. Notably, this revenue was nearly $400 million more than the Los Angeles Rams, who were second in terms of revenue.