America’s Richest Sports Team Owners 2026

America's richest sports team owners, as ranked by Forbes, are showcased in the latest list released this month. At the top of the chart is Steve Ballmer, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, with an estimated net worth of $156 billion. This places him ninth among the world's wealthiest individuals. Ballmer, a passionate fan of the NBA franchise he purchased in 2014 after former owner Donald Sterling was banned, is currently suspended for a year by the NBA.

The suspension follows the league's finding that the Clippers had circumvented the salary cap through secret sponsorship deals to sign star player Kawhi Leonard. Additionally, the team will forfeit five future first-round draft picks and face a fine of $30 million. Despite the penalties, Ballmer has stated that the organization is complying with the league's decisions and has paid the fine.

Ballmer, a former Microsoft CEO, owes the majority of his wealth to his stock in the tech giant. He has maintained his position at the top of the list for the 12th consecutive year, with his wealth increasing by 2% over the past year.