Jean-Frédéric via flickr
So, below is a list of 20 richest people having invested in the world of sports.
20. Robert Kraft
Net Worth: $ 4.8 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 298
Position: Owner of the club New England Patriots
Age: 74
A curious fact: in 1994, Kraft bought the stadium "Foxboro" and then thwarted New England Patriots team’s attempt to change the home base. Later, he bought the franchise for a record at the time $ 175 million.
19. Michael and Marian Ilitch and family
Net Worth: $ 4.8 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 298
Position: Owners of Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings
Age: 86
A curious fact: the Ilitch couple became rich by founding the restaurant chain Little Caesars Pizza.
18. Dan Gilbert
Net Worth: $ 4.9 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 286
Position: Owns Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 54
A curious fact: July 8, 2010, the club leader LeBron James announced that he was leaving "Cavaliers" for "Miami Heat". Gilbert then published an open letter on the team’s website, which strongly criticized the way James’s advert was done. July 12, 2010, NBA commissioner David Stern fined Gilbert $ 100 thousand for his statements in the letter. While many media also criticized the businessman for this, a lot of "Cavaliers" fans supported him and offered to pay the fine for him. Gilbert rejected these proposals, advising them to put the money to charity.
17. Jerry Jones
Net Worth: $ 5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 270
Position: Owner of Dallas Cowboys
Age: 73
A curious fact: in 1989, Jerry Jones bought the club Dallas Cowboys for $ 140 million. It was the first in history sports team worth more than $ 100 million. Now the Cowboys cost is estimated at $ 4 billion.
16. James Dolan and family
Net Worth: $ 5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 270
Position: Head of Cablevision
Age: 60
A curious fact: being the head of the sports complex of Madison Square Garden, Dolan manages sports activities, including the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty.
15. Joe Lewis
Net Worth: $ 5.3 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 248
Position: owner of Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League
Age: 79
A curious fact: in addition to the fact that Lewis is the owner of the Spurs, he has also invested in the construction of a training base for Orlando City S.C.
14. Ted Lerner
Net Worth: $ 5.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 233
Position: Owner of Washington Nationals
Age: 90
A curious fact: Lerner bought the team for $ 450 million. At present, the team is valued at $ 1.3 billion.
13. Shahid Khan
Net Worth: $ 5.9 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 205
Position: Owner of Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club.
Age: 65
A curious fact: Shahid Khan bought one of the worst teams in the NHL (National Hockey League) and promised to make it a true dream team known to everyone.
12. Silvio Berlusconi
Net Worth: $ 6.2 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes 188
Position: Owner of the football club "Milan"
Age: 79
A curious fact: the former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi made his fortune in the media. Thanks to him, Italy can watch American TV series "The Smurfs" and "Baywatch."
11. Micky Arison
Net Worth: $ 7.1 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 167
Position: Owner Miami Heat
Age: 66
A curious fact: Arison's father was the founder of Carnival Cruise Lines. Arison gained control of the Heat in 1995. With him as the owner, the team won three championships.
10. Roman Abramovich
Net Worth: $ 7.6 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 151
Position: Chesea F.C.’s owner
Age: 49
A curious fact: Chelsea Football Club has won four of five championships since Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
9. Mikhail Prokhorov
Net Worth: $ 7.6 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 151
Position: Owner of Brooklyn Nets
Age: 50
A curious fact: Prokhorov bought the Nets for $ 200 million in 2010. Now, the team estimated at $ 1.7 billion.
8. Stan Kroenke
Net Worth: $ 7.7 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 148
Position: Owner Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Nuggets
Age: 68
A curious fact: among other things, Kroenke owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and the Colorado Rapids.
7. Hasso Plattner
Net Worth: $ 9.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 113
Position: Owner of San Jose Sharks
Age: 72
A curious fact: Plattner is a co-founder of SAP, and also owns several golf courses.
6. Philip Anschutz
Net Worth: $ 9.7 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 108
Position: Owner of Los Angeles Kings
Age: 76
A curious fact: in addition to the Kings, Anschutz is a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
5. Stephen Ross
Net Worth: $ 12 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 80
Position: Owner of Miami Dolphins
Age: 75
A curious fact: In 2009, Ross has completed the purchase of 95% of Dolphins team for a record at the time amount of $ 1.1 billion.
4. Dietrich Mateschitz
Net Worth: $ 13.2 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 64
Position: co-founder of Red Bull
Age: 71
A curious fact: Red Bull has close ties with the extreme sports and the "Formula 1".
3. Paul Allen
Net Worth: $ 17.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 40
Position: Owner of Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Sounders.
Age: 63
A curious fact: Allen, the Microsoft co-founder, acquired the Trail Blazers for $ 70 million in 1988. Now, the cost is estimated at $ 975 million.
2. Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth: $ 19.3 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 36
Position: owner of Mumbai Indians, a cricket team in the Indian Premier League.
Age: 58
A curious fact: Ambani acquired the Mumbai Indians in 2008. The team was the champion of the Indian Premier League for the past two seasons.
1. Steve Ballmer
Net Worth: $ 23.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 26
Position: Owner of Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 59
A curious fact: former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer bought L.A. Clippers in 2014 for a record $ 2 billion.
Source: businessinsider.com
20. Robert Kraft
Net Worth: $ 4.8 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 298
Position: Owner of the club New England Patriots
Age: 74
A curious fact: in 1994, Kraft bought the stadium "Foxboro" and then thwarted New England Patriots team’s attempt to change the home base. Later, he bought the franchise for a record at the time $ 175 million.
19. Michael and Marian Ilitch and family
Net Worth: $ 4.8 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 298
Position: Owners of Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings
Age: 86
A curious fact: the Ilitch couple became rich by founding the restaurant chain Little Caesars Pizza.
18. Dan Gilbert
Net Worth: $ 4.9 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 286
Position: Owns Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 54
A curious fact: July 8, 2010, the club leader LeBron James announced that he was leaving "Cavaliers" for "Miami Heat". Gilbert then published an open letter on the team’s website, which strongly criticized the way James’s advert was done. July 12, 2010, NBA commissioner David Stern fined Gilbert $ 100 thousand for his statements in the letter. While many media also criticized the businessman for this, a lot of "Cavaliers" fans supported him and offered to pay the fine for him. Gilbert rejected these proposals, advising them to put the money to charity.
17. Jerry Jones
Net Worth: $ 5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 270
Position: Owner of Dallas Cowboys
Age: 73
A curious fact: in 1989, Jerry Jones bought the club Dallas Cowboys for $ 140 million. It was the first in history sports team worth more than $ 100 million. Now the Cowboys cost is estimated at $ 4 billion.
16. James Dolan and family
Net Worth: $ 5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 270
Position: Head of Cablevision
Age: 60
A curious fact: being the head of the sports complex of Madison Square Garden, Dolan manages sports activities, including the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty.
15. Joe Lewis
Net Worth: $ 5.3 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 248
Position: owner of Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League
Age: 79
A curious fact: in addition to the fact that Lewis is the owner of the Spurs, he has also invested in the construction of a training base for Orlando City S.C.
14. Ted Lerner
Net Worth: $ 5.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 233
Position: Owner of Washington Nationals
Age: 90
A curious fact: Lerner bought the team for $ 450 million. At present, the team is valued at $ 1.3 billion.
13. Shahid Khan
Net Worth: $ 5.9 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 205
Position: Owner of Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club.
Age: 65
A curious fact: Shahid Khan bought one of the worst teams in the NHL (National Hockey League) and promised to make it a true dream team known to everyone.
12. Silvio Berlusconi
Net Worth: $ 6.2 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes 188
Position: Owner of the football club "Milan"
Age: 79
A curious fact: the former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi made his fortune in the media. Thanks to him, Italy can watch American TV series "The Smurfs" and "Baywatch."
11. Micky Arison
Net Worth: $ 7.1 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 167
Position: Owner Miami Heat
Age: 66
A curious fact: Arison's father was the founder of Carnival Cruise Lines. Arison gained control of the Heat in 1995. With him as the owner, the team won three championships.
10. Roman Abramovich
Net Worth: $ 7.6 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 151
Position: Chesea F.C.’s owner
Age: 49
A curious fact: Chelsea Football Club has won four of five championships since Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
9. Mikhail Prokhorov
Net Worth: $ 7.6 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 151
Position: Owner of Brooklyn Nets
Age: 50
A curious fact: Prokhorov bought the Nets for $ 200 million in 2010. Now, the team estimated at $ 1.7 billion.
8. Stan Kroenke
Net Worth: $ 7.7 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 148
Position: Owner Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Nuggets
Age: 68
A curious fact: among other things, Kroenke owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and the Colorado Rapids.
7. Hasso Plattner
Net Worth: $ 9.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 113
Position: Owner of San Jose Sharks
Age: 72
A curious fact: Plattner is a co-founder of SAP, and also owns several golf courses.
6. Philip Anschutz
Net Worth: $ 9.7 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 108
Position: Owner of Los Angeles Kings
Age: 76
A curious fact: in addition to the Kings, Anschutz is a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
5. Stephen Ross
Net Worth: $ 12 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 80
Position: Owner of Miami Dolphins
Age: 75
A curious fact: In 2009, Ross has completed the purchase of 95% of Dolphins team for a record at the time amount of $ 1.1 billion.
4. Dietrich Mateschitz
Net Worth: $ 13.2 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 64
Position: co-founder of Red Bull
Age: 71
A curious fact: Red Bull has close ties with the extreme sports and the "Formula 1".
3. Paul Allen
Net Worth: $ 17.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 40
Position: Owner of Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Sounders.
Age: 63
A curious fact: Allen, the Microsoft co-founder, acquired the Trail Blazers for $ 70 million in 1988. Now, the cost is estimated at $ 975 million.
2. Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth: $ 19.3 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 36
Position: owner of Mumbai Indians, a cricket team in the Indian Premier League.
Age: 58
A curious fact: Ambani acquired the Mumbai Indians in 2008. The team was the champion of the Indian Premier League for the past two seasons.
1. Steve Ballmer
Net Worth: $ 23.5 billion
Place in the overall ranking of Forbes: 26
Position: Owner of Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 59
A curious fact: former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer bought L.A. Clippers in 2014 for a record $ 2 billion.
Source: businessinsider.com