Most Valuable Sports Teams 2025

Source: Forbes magazine

In its 2025 ranking of the world’s 50 most valuable sports teams, this report discusses record-breaking valuations totaling more than $353 billion, averaging $7.1 billion per team—up 22% from 2024 and more than double the total from four years ago. Six years ago, the top team was worth $5 billion; today that wouldn’t crack the top 50.

The Dallas Cowboys remain No. 1 for the ninth straight year at $13 billion, with last season’s revenue surpassing $1.2 billion. The newly expanded $10 billion club now includes the Golden State Warriors ($11 billion), Los Angeles Rams ($10.5 billion), New York Giants ($10.1 billion), and Los Angeles Lakers ($10 billion), while the New York Knicks rank sixth at $9.75 billion.

Growth is largely driven by surging media rights deals. The NBA signed 11-year broadcast agreements worth $76 billion ($6.9 billion per year), roughly $4 billion more annually than prior deals. The NFL secured at least $125.5 billion through 2033. Over the past decade, average revenues have climbed 141% for NBA teams (to $417 million) and 91% for NFL teams (to $662 million). Because valuations are based on revenue multiples, this revenue growth has directly boosted franchise values.

Recent transactions have also reset the market. In 2014, Steve Ballmer bought the Clippers for $2 billion when Forbes valued them at $575 million; the NBA average that year was $634 million (4.2x revenue). The following year, the average jumped to $1.2 billion (7.2x revenue). Today, the NBA average stands at $5.4 billion with a 12.9x revenue multiple. Majority stake sales involving the Lakers and Celtics and minority deals with the Giants and Mercedes F1 have further driven valuations.

League comparisons show uneven growth. The NFL’s 32 teams rose 25% this year and account for 30 of the top 50 (excluding the $5.3 billion Saints and $5.25 billion Bengals). The NBA leads three-year growth since Covid-19 with an 87% average increase, compared with MLB at 25% and European soccer at 24%. The 20 most valuable European soccer clubs rose just 5% this year, leaving only four soccer teams in the top 50—two from La Liga and two from the Premier League—down from seven in each of the previous two years. MLB has two teams remaining, while no NHL, MLS, NWSL, or WNBA teams qualified; the most valuable women’s team, the New York Liberty, is worth $400 million.

Formula 1 returns to the ranking, with Ferrari and Mercedes each valued at at least $6 billion.

The Cowboys’ closest rival is La Liga’s Real Madrid at $6.75 billion—barely half of Dallas’ $13 billion. A decade ago, Real Madrid led at $3.26 billion while Dallas was at $3.2 billion, underscoring how dramatically valuations have accelerated.