Dallas, TX
Dallas Cowboys top Forbes list of most profitable sports teams after making $1.2 billion
The Dallas Cowboys have emerged as the most profitable sports team in the world over the past three years, raking in a staggering sum of nearly $1.2 billion during that period.
Forbes defines the Cowboys‘ operating income as their earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), which far exceeded that of any other professional sports team.
The New England Patriots secured the second spot on the list with $623 million in operating income. The Forbes rankings encompassed data from NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL teams, as well as professional soccer teams from across the globe.
The top 10 most profitable sports teams, as per Forbes
- Dallas Cowboys – $1.171 billion
- New England Patriots – $623 million
- Tottenham Hotspur – $414 million
- New York Knicks – $404 million
- Manchester United – $403 million
- Houston Texans – $356 million
- Golden State Warriors – $348 million
- New York Giants – $333 million
- Los Angeles Lakers – $333 million
- Manchester City – $329 million
- Los Angeles Rams – $318 million
Among the top 25 teams listed by Forbes, a notable presence of 13 NFL teams was observed, followed by seven NBA teams, four English Premier League teams, and one Bundesliga team (Bayern Munich).
Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Hockey League (NHL) teams did not make the cut due to the significant financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on live gate profits and less lucrative broadcast deals in those leagues.
The Dallas Cowboys have consistently maintained their status as the wealthiest team in the NFL since Jerry Jones acquired them in 1989 for a record-breaking $140 million.
Despite not securing a Super Bowl victory or advancing to a conference championship since their Super Bowl XXX win, the Cowboys have remained highly relevant due to their devoted fan base, strong presence in media and marketing, and continuous competitiveness in the playoffs under Jones‘ ownership.