The Five Richest Owners in MLB in 2023

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 28 July 2023

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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Five Richest Owners in MLB in 2023

• List of Richest MLB Owners
• MLB Owners: Richest People
• Rogers Communications: Blue Jays Empire
• Steve Cohen: A Mets Billionaire
• John Malone: Transforming the Braves
• Lerner Family: Nationals’ Treasure
• Dolan Family: Cleveland Guardians Wealth
• Frequently Asked Questions

Today, we’re going to be taking a deep dive into the richest owners in MLB. We will look at the ranking of richest MLB owners, and we’ll show you which five owners top the list of the wealthiest MLB owners. We’ll look at where their wealth came from, how they used it to enter the world of baseball and shed some much-needed light on their stories.

List of Richest MLB Owners

In the ever-changing world of MLB, the wealth behind the teams’ owners can be almost as interesting as the games themselves! Some owners have a somewhat shady past, while others are shining examples of the American Dream coming true. If you’re looking for a list of richest MLB owners, keep reading, as we’re going to walk you through the five wealthiest!

Usually, we focus on the betting side of things, but we’re switching things up a bit today. However, if you’re looking for betting apps with MLB make sure you check out our recommended US betting sites, all of which are hand-picked by our betting experts.

MLB Owners: Richest People

The richest owners in MLB are a diverse group of individuals and corporations with business interests in pretty much every industry you could imagine. Whether it’s technology, telecommunications, retail empires or fast-food chains, the MLB owners richest people all have a diverse and wide-reaching range of investments and businesses. But why do so many rich people buy MLB teams?

Well, buying an MLB team is more than just an investment for many big-time businessmen and women; it’s a chance to own a piece of American history and become a part of a huge sports community. Owning a team is a status symbol, and some see it as a sign of success. Others sometimes buy the team they supported as a child. In both cases, owning a team allows them to influence the direction of a team and shape its legacy.

It can also be quite profitable to buy a sports team, if they end up doing well. While this is never guaranteed, it certainly is possible, especially if the team manages to build a successful franchise around it.

The reasons behind MLB team purchases aren’t always known, and, as you’ll see today, no team owners are the same. Before we get started, here’s a list of the richest MLB owners we’ll be looking at today, along with their estimated net worth:

Rogers Communications: Blue Jays Empire

Rogers Communications is a giant in the Canadian telecommunications industry. They’re also the sole owners of the Toronto Blue Jays, a purchase that’s seen a successful merge of corporate ownership and Major League Baseball – something many were skeptical about before their success.

Known for offering a wide variety of telecommunication services like cable television, internet, and wireless broadband, Rogers Communications has invested a significant amount of money into the Blue Jays franchise.

Since they purchased the team in 2000, Rogers Communications has invested heavily in several areas including infrastructure, player acquisitions, and the brand, showcasing their commitment to try and make the Blue Jays a top-level MLB team. They’ve also used connections in the media industry to give their games enhanced coverage.

While corporate ownership in sports is not uncommon, Rogers Communications’ control over the Blue Jays stands out due to the company’s insane financial power. As one of Canada’s largest companies, Rogers has a pretty much endless pot of money to dip into, and the company is reportedly worth in the region of $26.1 billion.

Naturally, some have voiced concerns about the impersonal nature of corporate ownership, arguing it lacks a personal touch and risks commercializing the game, but Blue Jays fans certainly haven’t been complaining, thanks to the money spent on their team.

Steve Cohen: A Mets Billionaire

Steve Cohen, the majority owner of the New York Mets, is probably the most iconic name we’re talking about today. While he’s not the richest on this list, he’s arguably the most interesting, as the story of his life, and how he grew his wealth, is fascinating.

As the founder of Point72 Asset Management and the former owner of S.A.C. Capital Advisors, Cohen has made billions of dollars through investments and savvy business deals. He’s worth an estimated $14.6 billion, earning him a comfortable spot on the list of the richest MLB owners.

Cohen purchased a majority stake in the Mets back in 2020, and it marked a significant turning point in the team’s history. Cohen is a lifelong Mets fan, so it’s easy to see why he’d want to buy the team (or own a majority share, at least). From day one, Cohen promised to pump money into the team, initially focusing on paying the players more in an attempt to sign top new players and take the team to the next level.

While Cohen is generally regarded by fans as a positive part of the club, his life hasn’t been without controversy. Back in 2013, his hedge fund, S.A.C. Capital, was charged with insider trading, and he pled guilty. To settle with authorities, Cohen agreed to pay a staggering $1.8 billion fine – one of the largest ever – to avoid a potential jail sentence. Despite this, Cohen managed to regain his image with the public and started a new company, which has done incredibly well for him.

John Malone: Transforming the Braves

John Malone, chairman of Liberty Media Corporation, is known as the “Cable Cowboy” due to his major role in developing the telecommunications and broadcasting industry. Malone acquired the Braves in 2007 from Time Warner.

This acquisition was part of a larger asset swap that allowed Time Warner to divest its sports team holdings. At the same time, it also allowed Liberty Media to diversify its own portfolio, so it was widely considered to be a win-win for all parties involved.

We think it’s fair to say that Malone wasn’t motivated to purchase the Braves because of his love for the game. No, this was one of the purchases that revolved all around money, and in terms of ROI, it proved to be a moderate success. Under the new ownership, the Braves did improve, but not to the level many were hoping for.

While Malone tends to stay out of the limelight, the one thing he is well-known for is his ability to pump cash into the team. It’s this cash injection that many believe allowed him to turn the once-stagnant team into a profitable MLB franchise.

Lerner Family: Nationals’ Treasure

The Lerner family, owners of the Washington Nationals, made their wealth in real estate. They amassed a fortune worth upwards of $5.6 billion by developing luxury shopping malls and other properties around the US. Ted Lerner, the most well-known member of the family, is known for his ability to pick out lucrative business opportunities many others miss, and the family decided in 2006 to purchase the Washington Nationals.

From the get-go, the family displayed genuine determination to transform the franchise, investing in player talent, new infrastructure, and improving community relations through various grants and initiatives. As a result, the Nationals became a well-respected team within the MLB.

However, as with most sports team acquisitions, the Lerner Family weren’t immune from criticism. Some accused them of taking an overly cautious approach to spending. However, this criticism was silenced in 2019 when the Nationals won the World Series – and they’ve been fielding a strong team ever since.

Dolan Family: Cleveland Guardians Wealth

The Dolan family’s acquisition of the Cleveland Guardians marked a significant turning point in the city’s sports history. The Dolan Family were generally well-liked in the local community, and when it was announced they’d be acquiring the Guardians, fans displayed signs of optimism and hope for the future.

The company is operated by Lawrence and Paul Dolan, father and son, whose wealth comes from success in law and business. Lawrence, a well-known attorney, purchased the team in 2000, marking the beginning of the Dolan family’s significant influence on the franchise. At the time of writing, the family business is estimated to be worth in the region of $4.6 billion.

Under the Dolan family’s ownership, the Guardians saw a marked improvement in their results on the field. The family invested heavily in not just the team’s infrastructure but also in player development and scouting. They also spent a lot of money building a strong farm system while also developing young talent, offering scholarships and summer training programs free of charge to eligible youngsters.