Orioles owner David Rubenstein says quiet part out loud before lockout: His MLB peers are making a ton of money

Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein surprised his MLB peers by admitting that his fellow team owners are making substantial profits, contrary to the typical statement one would expect from them. During a conversation with other local team owners at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Rubenstein revealed that his motivation for purchasing the Orioles was more financial than initially thought.

He noted that his peers were earning more in the MLB than he was making in his private equity firm, The Carlyle Group, and he saw the opportunity as a financial endeavor. Rubenstein bought a majority stake in the Orioles in 2024 for a valuation of $1.725 billion, initially intending to approach it from a financial standpoint. However, he later clarified that his primary reason for acquiring the team was philanthropic.

With the likelihood of an MLB lockout looming over the 2026 season, it is expected that the owners will advocate for a salary cap, emphasizing the league's financial instability without one. While these owners, such as Rubenstein, have not seen significant success with the Orioles yet, they claim that their primary concern is winning the championship rather than making profits.