Sports teams make millions a year from media rights, ticket sales and sponsorship deals.
But what team takes the number one spot, and which are the most valuable sports teams in the world right now?
Dive in below to find the answer.
Most Valuable Football Teams
Manchester United
Founded in 1878, Manchester United was first called Newton Heath L&YR Football Club before changing its name in 1902.
Through its 140 years in English football, this club has been home to some of the biggest names in soccer, such as Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
The club’s trophy list is also quite impressive. The Red Devils‘ titles include 13 Premier Leagues, 7 First Division titles, 5 Football League Cup trophies, 12 FA Cup trophies and many more.
Manchester United owner’s net worth is at $4.7 billion, while the team is valued at $4.2 billion.
Related: Most successful English football clubs
Real Madrid
In 1902, an English sport called football became popular in Spain. At that time, the predecessor to Real Madrid was founded – the Madrid Football Club.
This club’s most popular players are Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Francisco Gento, Hugo Sanchez, Iker Casillas, Zinedine Zidane, Raul Gonzalez, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo.
By April 2021, Real Madrid had won 34 trophies in Spain’s National League, 13 European Cups, and 7 Fifa Club World Cups.
Florentino Perez owns Real Madrid and has a net worth of $2 billion, while Real Madrid’s net worth is $4.75 billion.
Barcelona
FC Barcelona was founded by a Swiss man named Hans Gamper on 29th November 1899.
The most popular players for this club include the most popular number 10 player Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Hristo Stoichkov, Andrea Iniesta, Xavi, Carles Puyol, Ronaldo, Romario, Rivaldo, Maradona and many more.
Currently, FC Barcelona holds 26 La Liga titles, 5 UEFA Champions League trophies, 3 Fifa Club World Cup trophies, and 31 Copa Del Rey trophies.
Barcelona’s net worth is $4.76 billion. The club doesn’t have an owner as it follows the “socios” ownership structure.
Manchester City
Manchester City was founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s but underwent several name changes before finally settling on the current one in 1894. In 1904, the team won their first-ever FA Cup trophy. A series of misfortunes forced the club to wait 30 years to regain its reputation. City also holds the world record for the most attendance in one game, with 84,569 fans present at their match against Stoke City.
Some of the most popular players in Manchester City’s history are Colin Bell, David Silva, Bert Trautmann, Alan Oakes, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, Eric Brook, Neil Young, Tommy Johnson and Yaya Toure.
Currently, City holds 6 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 6 League Cups and 1 UEFA Cup trophy. However, recent results are all thanks to one of the best managers in the world Josep Guardiola.
Manchester City’s net worth is $4 billion, while the team’s owner Sheik Mansour is worth $30 billion.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich was first founded in February 1900 by Franz John. It was among the fastest-growing football clubs in Germany. By 1920, the club had 700 members, making it the largest club in Munich to this day. The team’s first national title was won in 1932.
Among the club’s most popular players are Franz Beckenbauer, Gerhard Muller, Lothar Matthaus, Sepp Maier, Philip Lahm, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Oliver Kahn, Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski, and others.
Some of the Bayern Munich titles include 31 German Champion titles, 2 Fifa Club World Cup trophies, 9 German Super Cup trophies, 20 German Cup trophies and 1 UEFA Cup trophy.
Bayern Munich’s net worth is valued at $4.22 billion. The club is owned by multiple companies, including Adidas, Audi, and health insurance company Allianz, which each hold a percentage stake.
Most Valuable NBA Teams
Golden State Warriors
Founded in 1946, the Golden State Warriors played a major role in establishing the NBA. The owners, Steve Kim and Peter Tyrrel, convinced other owners to fund a league that would compete directly with the NBL, referred to as the “BAA.”
The Golden State Warriors went on to win the BAA title in 1947, losing it to Baltimore in 1948. A year later, the NBL and BAA merged to form the NBA.
Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Durant, Rick Barry, Stephen Curry, World B. Free, Paul Arizin, Mitch Richmond, Bernard King, Rudy Larusso, Joe Barry Carroll and more are some of the NBA’s most popular players.
The Warriors hold 12 Division Championships and 6 NBA titles and have been present in the playoffs 35 times.
The Golden State Warriors’ net worth is valued at $5.6 billion, with Joe Lacob being the majority shareholder with a net worth of $3 billion.
Los Angeles Lakers
Founded in 1946 as the Detroit Gems, this team changed names and states twice before settling on Los Angeles Lakers in 1961. They were once one of the worst teams with a long track record of losses until they acquired George Mikan, after which they won their first-ever title and three more titles over the next three seasons.
A few of the Lakers’ most popular players are Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, James Worthy, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Cooper and George Mikan.
The Lakers have won 28 Division Championships, 17 NBA titles and have been present at the playoffs a total of 57 times.
The Los Angeles Lakers net worth is valued at $5.5 billion, and the owner Jeanie Buss, part of the Buss Family Trust, is worth $500 million.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks team was founded in 1946. The term “Knicks” is derived from the Dutch word “Knickerbockers” for pants. The Dutch were early settlers in the Hudson River area, which is now part of New York.
The most popular New York Knicks players are Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Carmelo Anthony, Bernard King, Dave Debusschere, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Allan Houston, Bob McAdoo and Michael Ray Richardson, among others.
The Knicks have won 8 division titles, 2 NBA titles, and played in 8 NBA finals, as well as 42 playoff games.
This New York Knicks net worth is valued at $5.8 billion, and its owner – James L. Dolan – has a net worth of $2 billion.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are a much newer team compared to the others on this list. They were founded in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets. This name was inspired by the newly sprouted space industry in San Diego. In 1971, the team moved to Houston.
The most popular Houston Rockets players are Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Yao Ming, James Harden, Ralph Sampson, Elvin Hayes, Tracy McGrady, Rudy Tomjanovich, Steve Francis and Clyde Drexler, to name a few.
The Rockets have won 8 Division Championships, 4 Conference titles, 2 NBA titles and have taken part in 34 playoffs.
Houston Rockets’ net worth is valued at $2.75 billion, and owner Tilman Fertitta has a net worth of $6.2 billion.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls were founded in 1996 by Dick Klein, who was also the team’s only owner who played professional basketball.
The name was derived from Dick Klein wanting to express Chicago’s meatpacking industry and the proximity of the Chicago Stadium to the Union Stock Yards.
The most popular Chicago Bulls players of all time are Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Derrick Rose, Dennis Rodman, Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker, Norm Van Lier, Horace Grant, Reggie Theus and Artis Gilmore.
The Chicago Bulls have won 7 Division Championships and 6 NBA titles over the years.
The Chicago Bulls’ net worth is valued at $3.65 billion, while owner Jerry Reinsdorf is worth $1.7 billion.
Most Valuable Teams in the NFL Teams
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys, founded in 1960, by Clint Murchinson Jr., were one of the first teams to join the newly-established NFL. And while the NFL thrived, the Cowboys faced several years of losses until they were able to turn their luck around in 1996 with an amazing 20-season win streak.
Among the most popular Dallas Cowboys players of all time are Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly, Emmit Smith, Troy Alkman, Larry Allen, Randy White, Mel Renfro, Michael Irvin, Tony Dorsett, Rayfield Wright, Bob Hayes and many more.
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl wins are at a total of 5 with 8 appearances. Their playoff record is 35-28.
The Dallas Cowboys net worth is valued at $6.5 billion, while owner Jerry Jones weighs $8.5 billion. In terms of net worth, this team certainly ranks high as one of the most valuable sports teams in the world.
New England Patriots
This team was founded in 1959 by Billy Sullivan Jr., a businessman from Boston. They were originally called “The Patriots” until 1971 when they changed their name to the one we know today and moved to Foxboro.
Tom Brady, John Hannah, Andre Tippett, Mike Haynes, Troy Brown, Vince Wilfork, Bruce Armstrong, Wes Walker, Adam Vinatieri, Logan Mankins and others are the most popular New England Patriots.
With a playoff record of 37-21, the New England Patriots wins at one of the most viewed sporting events (Super Bowl) are at a total of 6 across 62 seasons.
The net worth of the team is valued at $5 billion, while Robert Kraft – the New England Patriots owner’s net worth is estimated at $8.3 billion.
New York Giants
New York Giants have one of the richest histories in the NFL. It was founded by Tim Mara in 1925, when the NFL was just 5 years old.
Lawrence Taylor, Rosey Brown, Emlen Tummel S, Harry Carson, Mel Hein, Michael Strahan, Sam Huff, Frank Gifford, Y.A. Tittle, Andy Robustelli are among the most popular Giants.
The Giants are sporting a 24-25 playoff record with 4 Super Bowls won out of 5 appearances and 8 Championships across 97 seasons.
New York Giants’ net worth weighs $4.85 billion, while owner John Mara is worth $500 million.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were founded in 1937 and are one of the oldest franchises in the NFL. Through the years, the team has faced many challenges. It has also changed hometowns twice.
Deacon Jones, Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, Isaac Bruce, Kurt Warner, Merlin Olsen, Orlando Pace, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood, Torry Holt, and many others are Los Angeles Rams legends.
The Rams sport a playoff record of 22-27 with 1 Super Bowl win out of 4 appearances, and 3 Championship wins across 85 seasons.
The Los Angeles Rams’ net worth is valued at $4.8 billion, while owner Stanley Kroenke’s net worth is valued at $10.7 billion.
San Francisco 49ers
At first, the 49ers belonged to the AAFC, a league competing with the NFL, and throughout the league’s history, they ranked second most dominantly. It was not until 1950 that the 49ers joined the NFL after the demise of the AAFC.
Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, Jimmy Johnson, Leo Nomellini, Bryant Young, Charles Haley, Roger Craig, John Brodie, and many more are some of the most famous 49ers.
The 49ers’ playoff record is 33-22, with 5 wins at the Super Bowl across 76 seasons.
San Francisco 49ers net worth is valued at $4.175 billion, with owner Denise York & her family at $4 billion.
Most Valuable MLB Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers
An interesting baseball fact is that the Los Angeles Dodgers have a rich history dating back to 1890, when they were known as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. The Dodgers were renamed and relocated to Los Angeles in 1958.
Some of the most popular Dodgers players of all time are Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson, Clayton Kershaw, Don Drysdale, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Don Stutton, Fernando Valenzuela, Pee Wee Reese and Dazzy Vance.
The Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Championship wins are at a total of 7, with 25 Pennants and a season record of 11123-9891 across 138 seasons.
The Los Angeles Dodgers net worth is at $3.57 billion and is owned by Guggenheim Baseball Management. Mark Walter is a co-founder of the establishment and has a net worth of $1.75 billion.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are one of the oldest baseball teams in the world, founded in Boston in 1901 as the Boston Americans. The team was renamed the Boston Red Sox two years later. The franchise dates back to 1893 and was founded in Toledo, Ohio.
The most famous Red Sox players of all time include Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Cy Young, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Tris Speaker, Manny Ramirez, Wade Boggs, Jimmie Foxx, Babe Ruth, and many more.
The Red Sox have won 9 World Championships with 14 Pennants, a record season of 9718-9014 and 25 playoff appearances across 121 seasons.
The Boston Red Sox net worth is at $3.465 billion, and their owners, John Henry and Thomas Werner, weigh $3.6 billion and $43.9 million respectively.
Bottom Line
There you have it, 18 of the most valuable sports teams in the world, with some history and wins to back up this claim. We hope that this list satisfied your curiosity and answered whatever questions you might have had.