Forbes magazine recently published the 2019 list of “America’s Richest Sports Team Owners.” Three have interests in Thoroughbred racing–Dan Gilbert, Gayle Benson and Vincent Viola.
Dan Gilbert, number 10 on the Forbes list and majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association, operates Thistledown as part of Jack Casino, and he recently sold Turfway Park to Churchill Downs, Inc. The Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016.
Gayle Benson, widow of Tom Benson, owns the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA and the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. She has an estimated net worth of $3.1 billion and ranks number 32 on the Forbes team-owner wealth list. Her horses race under GMB Racing. The Saints won the 2010 Super Bowl.
Vincent Viola, number 42 on the list with a net worth of $2.2 billion, owns the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League and races under the name of St. Elias Stable. He was part owner of 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and is a steward of the Jockey Club.
Following are the top-ten team owners ranked by wealth. No one is remotely close to Steve Ballmer, whose wealth fluctuates greatly with the value of Microsoft stock, the company where he made his fortune.
Rank, Owner, Net worth, Source of Wealth, Team(s)
1. Steve Ballmer: $51.7 billion, Microsoft (Los Angeles Clippers)
2. David Tepper: $12 billion, hedge funds (Carolina Panthers)
3. Philip Anschutz: $11.5 billion, investments (Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy)
4. Stanley Kroenke: $9.7 billion, sports, real estate (Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids)
5. Jerry Jones: $8.6 billion, Dallas Cowboys
6. Micky Arison: $8.1 billion, Carnival Cruises (Miami Heat)
7. Shahid Khan: $7.8 billion, auto parts (Jacksonville Jaguars)
8. Stephen Ross: $7.6 billion, real estate (Miami Dolphins)
9. Robert Kraft: $6.9 billion, New England Patriots, New England Revolution
10. Daniel Gilbert: $6.5 billion, Quicken Loans (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Horse Racing Business 2019
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