Top 10 Richest NBA Team Owners In The World 2026

The National Basketball Association has evolved into a global financial powerhouse, and the individuals who control its 30 franchises reflect that scale of wealth. Franchise values have climbed past $3 billion for most teams, with the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks now worth more than $8 billion each, according to Forbes. Behind these valuations stand owners whose fortunes often dwarf the teams themselves. These billionaires come from technology, finance, hospitality, and real estate. Their financial firepower shapes everything from arena construction to player payrolls. Here is our ranking of the top 10 richest NBA team owners in the world for 2026, based on verified net worth data and ownership structures.

Our Selection Process

This ranking draws on verified net worth data from Forbes, Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and public financial disclosures as of early 2026. We ranked owners strictly by personal or combined family net worth, not by franchise value. Where ownership groups control a team, we used the net worth of the controlling owner or primary ownership family. All figures are in US dollars. We excluded minority stakeholders whose ownership share does not grant controlling interest. The list reflects the ten wealthiest individuals or families who hold majority ownership of an NBA franchise.

The Top 10 Richest NBA Team Owners In The World 2026:

1. Steve Ballmer

Steve Ballmer holds the top spot by an enormous margin. His net worth of $146.3 billion places him in a financial tier that no other NBA owner approaches. Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 for $2 billion, a record price at the time. That purchase now looks like a bargain. The Clippers are valued at over $4.5 billion as of 2026, and Ballmer has poured hundreds of millions into the team's infrastructure.

The crown jewel of his investment is the Intuit Dome, a $2 billion arena in Inglewood that opened in late 2024. The facility features a massive halo-shaped video board, 17 luxury suites, and what the team calls the "Wall" - a 51-row section of seats designed to create the loudest home-court advantage in the league. Ballmer's wealth comes from his 34-year career at Microsoft, where he served as CEO from 2000 to 2014. He owns roughly 4% of Microsoft's outstanding shares, a stake worth more than $100 billion as of early 2026. His post-Microsoft investments include a 10% stake in the social media platform X and various real estate holdings. Ballmer's willingness to spend has made the Clippers a permanent contender in the loaded Western Conference.

2. Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont

Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law Patrick Dumont rank second with a combined net worth of $38.7 billion. They acquired majority ownership of the Dallas Mavericks in late 2023, buying out Mark Cuban's controlling stake. Cuban remains a minority owner and continues to oversee basketball operations, but the Adelson family now holds the financial reins. Miriam Adelson inherited her wealth from her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, who founded Las Vegas Sands Corporation, the world's largest casino and resort company. The family sold Las Vegas Sands' Las Vegas properties in 2021 for $6.25 billion but retains its Macau and Singapore operations. Patrick Dumont serves as the Mavericks' governor and is also president of Las Vegas Sands. The Adelson family's stated goal is to build a casino-resort complex in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which would require changes to Texas gambling laws. Their deep pockets give the Mavericks financial flexibility that few teams can match.

3. Dan Gilbert

Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, ranks third with a net worth of $32.7 billion. He bought the Cavaliers in 2005 for $375 million. The franchise is now valued at over $2.5 billion, a sevenfold increase driven largely by LeBron James' second stint and the team's 2016 NBA championship. Gilbert built his fortune through Rocket Mortgage, the mortgage lending giant he founded in 1985. The company went public in 2021 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, valuing it at roughly $36 billion at the time. Rocket Mortgage remains the largest mortgage lender in the United States by volume.

Gilbert is also a major force in downtown Detroit's revival. His company, Rock Ventures, has invested more than $5 billion in Detroit real estate, including the renovation of the historic Book Tower and the development of the Hudson's Detroit skyscraper. Gilbert suffered a stroke in 2019 but has since returned to active management of his businesses. His commitment to the Cavaliers remains strong, and the team has rebuilt into a perennial playoff contender in the Eastern Conference without LeBron James.

4. Robert J. Pera

Robert J. Pera ranks fourth with a net worth of $26 billion. He owns the Memphis Grizzlies, a franchise he purchased in 2012 for $377 million. Pera is the founder and CEO of Ubiquiti Inc., a wireless communications technology company that manufactures networking equipment for internet service providers and enterprises. Ubiquiti went public in 2011 and now has a market capitalization of roughly $15 billion. Pera owns more than 60% of the company's shares. His path to wealth is unusual among NBA owners. He started Ubiquiti in 2005 after working as an engineer at Apple. The company's products are known for offering enterprise-grade networking at consumer-friendly prices, a strategy that has made Ubiquiti dominant in emerging markets. Pera keeps a low profile compared to other owners. He is rarely interviewed and does not seek media attention. Under his ownership, the Grizzlies have become one of the NBA's best-run small-market teams, consistently competing despite Memphis being the league's 29th-largest television market.

5. Stan Kroenke

Stan Kroenke places fifth with a net worth of $21.3 billion. He owns the Denver Nuggets, which he acquired in 2000 for $450 million. The Nuggets won their first NBA championship in 2023, validating Kroenke's patient approach to team building. Kroenke's sports empire extends far beyond basketball. He also owns the Los Angeles Rams (NFL), the Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Arsenal FC (English Premier League), and the Colorado Rapids (MLS). He is the only person to own teams in four different major professional sports leagues simultaneously. His wealth comes primarily from real estate and his marriage to Ann Walton Kroenke, an heiress to the Walmart fortune. Kroenke developed the St. Louis-area shopping centers that made him a billionaire, and he later used that capital to build his sports holdings. SoFi Stadium, the $5.5 billion home of the Rams in Inglewood, stands as his most ambitious project. The Kroenke family's net worth is often estimated higher when including Ann's Walmart shares, but the $21.3 billion figure reflects Stan's direct holdings and sports assets.

6. Joseph Tsai

Joseph Tsai owns the Brooklyn Nets and ranks sixth with a net worth of $13.7 billion. He bought the Nets in 2019 for $3.3 billion, a record price for an NBA franchise at the time. Tsai also owns the New York Liberty of the WNBA and holds a stake in the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League. Tsai co-founded Alibaba Group, the Chinese e-commerce and technology conglomerate, alongside Jack Ma. He served as the company's executive vice chairman until 2023 and remains a significant shareholder. Alibaba's market capitalization has fluctuated wildly due to regulatory pressures in China, but Tsai's stake still accounts for the bulk of his fortune. He also co-founded the private equity firm Blue Pool Capital, which manages investments for Alibaba's founders and executives. Under Tsai's ownership, the Nets have pursued a star-driven strategy, acquiring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden in a two-year span. That experiment ultimately failed to deliver a championship, but Tsai's willingness to spend on player salaries and luxury tax payments demonstrated his financial commitment. The Nets are now rebuilding around Mikal Bridges and a deep collection of draft picks.

7. Tony Ressler

Tony Ressler owns the Atlanta Hawks and ranks seventh with a net worth of $13.5 billion. He led the ownership group that purchased the Hawks in 2015 for $730 million. The franchise is now valued at over $2.2 billion. Ressler co-founded Ares Management, a global alternative investment firm with more than $400 billion in assets under management as of early 2026. He served as the firm's president before stepping back to focus on his sports and philanthropic interests. Ares Management went public in 2014 and has grown into one of the world's largest credit-focused asset managers. Ressler's path to wealth began at the investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he worked alongside future private equity titans. He later co-founded Apollo Global Management with Leon Black and Josh Harris before leaving to start Ares in 1997. Under Ressler's ownership, the Hawks have emphasized analytics-driven decision-making and player development. The team reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 and has maintained a competitive roster despite operating in a mid-tier market. Ressler and his wife, actress Jami Gertz, are also active philanthropists in the Atlanta community.

8. Josh Harris

Josh Harris owns the Philadelphia 76ers and ranks eighth with a net worth of $11.3 billion. He led the ownership group that purchased the 76ers in 2011 for $280 million, a price that now looks like one of the best deals in sports history. The franchise is valued at over $4 billion as of 2026. Harris co-founded Apollo Global Management, one of the world's largest private equity firms, in 1990. He served as a senior partner until 2023 and remains a major shareholder. Apollo manages more than $600 billion in assets and has generated enormous returns for its investors over three decades. Harris also owns the New Jersey Devils (NHL) and holds a stake in Crystal Palace FC of the English Premier League through his Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment group. The 76ers have been one of the NBA's most successful teams during Harris's tenure, reaching the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons. The team is building a new arena in Philadelphia called 76 Place at Market East, a $1.3 billion project scheduled to open in 2031. Harris's deep pockets and willingness to spend on player salaries have kept the 76ers in championship contention.

9. Tilman Fertitta

Tilman Fertitta owns the Houston Rockets and ranks ninth with a net worth of $10.6 billion. He purchased the Rockets in 2017 for $2.2 billion, a record price at the time. Fertitta is the chairman and CEO of Landry's Inc., a hospitality and entertainment conglomerate that owns more than 600 restaurants, hotels, and casinos across the United States. Landry's portfolio includes well-known brands such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Morton's The Steakhouse, Rainforest Cafe, and the Golden Nugget casinos. Fertitta built the company from a single seafood restaurant in Galveston, Texas, into a multibillion-dollar empire through aggressive acquisition and development. He also starred in the reality television show "Billion Dollar Buyer," which aired on CNBC from 2016 to 2018. Under Fertitta's ownership, the Rockets have undergone a significant rebuild after the James Harden era. The team drafted Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore in the 2023 NBA Draft and has accumulated a deep pool of young talent. Fertitta's wealth enables the Rockets to spend aggressively when they return to contention, but he has also emphasized running the franchise as a profitable business rather than a vanity project.

10. Micky Arison

Micky Arison rounds out the top 10 with a net worth of $10.1 billion. He has owned the Miami Heat since 1995, making him one of the longest-tenured owners in the league. The Heat have won three NBA championships under his ownership (2006, 2012, 2013) and have appeared in the NBA Finals seven times. Arison inherited Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise line operator, from his father Ted Arison in 1990. He served as the company's CEO until 2013 and remains its chairman. Carnival operates nine cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Costa Cruises. The company's market capitalization has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic lows but remains below its 2018 peak. Arison's ownership style is defined by stability and patience. He has employed only two head coaches in his 31 years of ownership: Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. The Heat are known for their rigorous player development program and their ability to compete without superstars, a culture that Arison has fostered through consistent leadership. His son, Nick Arison, now serves as the team's CEO, ensuring the franchise will remain under family control for the foreseeable future.