All 30 MLB Owners, Ranked
Where have all the hypercompetitive, in-it-to-win-it Major League Baseball team owners gone? Straight to the bank.
The baseball gravy train is on a roll. Through the wonders of television, the average franchise is worth $1.78 billion, an 8 percent hike from 2018. This despite a product that continues to get worse, purists would argue. What's great news for team investors is not so much for fans.
Because there’s little motivation to boost team payroll, especially in smaller markets, only a select few owners bring it every season. The others pick their spots to upgrade the product, if they invest much at all, happy to pocket TV and luxury tax money.
Remember, home attendance is far less of a factor these days. Empty seats don’t talk nearly as much as they did back in the day.
So how are all 30 baseball team owners doing?
Note: Team records are updated through the 2018 season.
30. Peter Angelos, Baltimore Orioles
Tenure: 27 seasons (1993-present)
Purchase price: $173 million
Current team value: $1.28 billion
Net worth of owner: $2.1 billion
Source of wealth: Trial law
Team record: 1,961-2,181 (.473)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: Few owners have let down their fans more than Peter Angelos, who three decades ago inherited a solid nucleus and new ballpark that was the envy of his peers. Sure, there have been a few memorable moments along the way. But the period has been marred by wild mood swings that start with an impulsive owner who has been the bane of general managers.
The 2018 season was the worst yet — a ridiculous 115 losses. Sons John and Louis have assumed the day-to-day duties (daddy dearest is 89 years old), but questions persist about who will be in charge on and off the field both now and in the future.
O’s fans can only hope the MLB powers that be will negotiate an end to this reign of error.
29. Bob Nutting, Pittsburgh Pirates
Tenure: 24 seasons (1996-present)
Purchase price: $92 million
Current team value: $1.275 billion
Net worth of owner: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Ski resort, newspapers
Team record: 1,703-2,17 (.458)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: Bob Nutting is proof positive that it doesn’t take half a brain to make a fortune. Fact is, very few mid-market teams pack this kind of potential. Insanely passionate sports town. Great baseball tradition. Out-of-this-world ballpark.
If the 17th-richest team owner put the 17th highest-paid team on the field, it would be a fairly consistent playoff contender and even bigger money machine. But no, they opened the 2019 season with a puny $76.1 million payroll, 27th overall per Spotrac.
As long as this once-proud franchise is held hostage by the tight-fisted owner, it’s destined to be a chronic underachiever.
28. Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago White Sox
Tenure: 39 seasons (1981-present)
Purchase price: $20 million
Current team value: $1.6 billion
Net worth of owner: $1.6 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate development, NBA team
Team record: 3,032-2,998 (.503)
World Series titles: 1 (2005)
Bottom line: When I become commish, no major market team will be allowed to embark on a full-blown rebuild while it pockets luxury tax money and scrooges the fans. That even goes for the second team in a two-team market such as this one.
At 83, Jerry Reinsdorf remains loyal only to employees, team investors and the bottom line. The $89.9 million payroll ranks 26th in the bigs. Meanwhile, his team of no-names is mired in its worst extended stretch of the post-expansion era.
The 2005 World Series seems like a long, long time ago.
27. Bruce Sherman, Miami Marlins
Tenure: 2 seasons (2017-present)
Purchase price: $1.2 billion
Current team value: $1 billion
Net worth of owner: $500 million
Source of wealth: Financial management
Team record: 63-98 (.391)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: Major League Baseball would be so much better with, say, a half-dozen fewer teams. The contraction should start in South Florida, where Bruce Sherman has replaced crooked Jeffrey Loria, who left with everything except hubcaps in the Marlins Park lot.
Some things haven’t changed, namely, the second-lowest payroll ($72.4 million) in the big leagues. Co-owner Derek Jeter offers some needed class, but a singles hitter isn’t what’s needed here. More like a one-way ticket to oblivion.
26. Edward Rogers (Rogers Communications), Toronto Blue Jays
Tenure: 20 seasons (2000-present)
Purchase price: $137 million
Current team value: $1.5 billion
Net worth of owner: $11.6 billion
Source of wealth: Telecommunications service
Team record: 1,532-1,545 (.498)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: No ownership group has walked the bottom line as faithfully as this conglomerate over the years. The team is rarely first, rarely last, almost always in the middle of a top-heavy division.
Based on a 27 percent plunge in home attendance in the 2018 season, however, its fans no longer want to be an afterthought. The team was a distant 21st in payroll ($114 million) on Opening Day in 2019, the lowest of any major market with one team.
Sooner or later, something has gotta give here, eh?
25. John Fisher, Oakland Athletics
Tenure: 15 seasons (2005-present)
Purchase price: $180 million
Current team value: $1.1 billion
Net worth of owner: $2.8 billion
Source of wealth: Hotels, real estate development
Team record: 1,149-1,118 (.507)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: John Fisher ranks in the middle of the pack among wealthiest owners, yet he runs the team like a Triple-A farm club. From the most recent season to the oldest, the team ranked 21st, 30th, 27th, 27th, 27th, 25th, 27th, 29th, 21st, 28th, 26th, 28th, 17th, 21st and 21st in Opening Day payroll under his watch.
The organization maintains a proposed new ballpark will change all that, but we've heard this Fish before. Fifty-seven-year-old tightwads don’t become big spenders all of a sudden.
How much you wanna bet the A’s still would pinch pennies after they opened the place?
24. Jim Pohlad, Minnesota Twins
Tenure: 11 seasons (2009-present)
Purchase price: $44 million
Current team value: $1.2 billion
Net worth of owner: $3.6 billion
Source of wealth: MLB team, family inheritance
Team record: 751-870(.463)
World Series title: none
Bottom line: Remember when MLB co-conspirators assured us that new stadiums would cure the mid-market blahs? More fake news. When the new smell wears off, those teams face many of the same familiar problems. Losses mount, ballparks empty and it’s back to square one again.
The Twins know this better than anyone. After a one-year honeymoon at Target Field, they’ve averaged 91 losses in the last eight seasons while attendance has plunged 39 percent.
Jim Pohlad has entrusted the future to an unproven baseball ops team and rookie manager, but with the 18th-highest payroll in the worst division in the the majors, there’s no excuse for his team to be bad much longer.
23. Ken Kendrick, Arizona Diamondbacks
Tenure: 17 seasons (2003-present)
Purchase price: $238 million
Current team value: $1.29 billion
Net worth of owner: $600 million
Source of wealth: Software development
Team record: 1,238-1,354 (.478)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: The Diamondbacks have been mired in the muck of mediocrity for more than a decade now. Some say the problem starts with a drip in the front office, where Ken Kendrick serves as an impetuous hard-ass with a serious case of Dodgers envy. He’s on his sixth manager, rough-edged Kirk Gibson among them. He also hired bully Tony La Russa as general manager despite no previous experience at the position.
All the while, Kendrick picked a silly fight with the rival Dodgers, whose fans he threatened to evict from Chase Field if they didn’t change into Diamondbacks wear. He also warned their players not to celebrate on its field.
Of course, if the front office could build a pennant winner for first time since 2001, opponents would have no reason to pop their corks. The trade of All-Star slugger Paul Goldschmidt was no way to begin the process.
22. Christopher Ilitch (Ilitch family), Detroit Tigers
Tenure: 3 seasons (2017-present)
Purchase price: $82 million
Current team value: $1.25 billion
Net worth of owner: $4.2 billion
Source of wealth: Pizza franchise, MLB/NHL teams, family inheritance
Team record: 128-196 (.395)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: The sixth of seven Illitch kids has a tough act to follow. As Tigers/Red Wings boss, his father, Mike, was the rare popular team owner, frequently involved in personnel matters and quick to open his checkbook.
If nothing else, Christopher seems to understand the family sports tradition. He speaks openly about creativity and commitment and the big picture.
Will he be a chip off the old block? He’s off to a rough start, but let's give him some time. It’s early in the game.
21. Ron Fowler, San Diego Padres
Tenure: 8 seasons (2012-present)
Purchase price: $600 million
Current team value: $1.35 billion
Net worth of owner: $500 million
Source of wealth: Beer distribution
Team record: 508-626 (.448)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: Originally, the Padres ranked much closer to the bottom for no other reason than their 12-year playoff drought. When Ron Fowler signed off on free-agent Manny Machado in the 2018 offseason, that moved the Fowler and the Padres up the list, if not the standings.
As much as we're not big on 10-year, $300-million commitments, the decision makes sense on several fronts. The team has long needed a star attraction to build around, preferably a power hitter. For all his warts, the 26-year-old Machado has the potential to fill the role for years to come.
The rebuild isn’t close to completion, but at least the fan base will have something tangible to get excited about in the interim.
20. David Glass, Kansas City Royals
Tenure: 20 seasons (2000-present)
Purchase price: $96 million
Current team value: $1.25 billion
Net worth of owner: $800 million
Source of wealth: Retail development
Team record: 1,371-1,707 (.445)
World Series titles: 1 (2015)
Bottom line: Regardless of how his tenure plays out, David Glass will be known for his back-to-back World Series appearances. Years from now, we’ll wonder how the heck it ever happened. Glass invested in a ballpark renovation, an expanded baseball operations staff and a few mid-sized player contracts over the years.
But afforded a rare opportunity to feed off momentum and build its brand, the franchise pressed the reset button instead. Buh-bye World Series heroes Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, among others.
Despite the cutbacks, a trip to Kauffman Stadium still ain’t cheap. All in all, consider this Glass to be about 57 percent empty. As in the projected loss percentage for his team in the 2019 season.
19. Bob Castellini, Cincinnati Reds
Tenure: 14 seasons (2006-present)
Purchase price: $270 million
Current team value: $1.05 billion
Net worth of owner: $400 million
Source of wealth: Produce distribution
Team record: 1,004-1,102 (.477)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: Bob Castellini is a lifelong Reds fan who says patience is not his greatest virtue. Wouldn’t know it by the won-loss record, though.
Finally, team management shook up the roster in a blockbuster seven-player trade with the Dodgers in the 2018 offseason. The move has stoked competition on a group that looks to be deeper in numbers. In turn, that may leave more trade chips in the near future.
The club opened the 2019 season with a reasonable $126.4 million payroll (15th overall), another sign of a mid-market team that tries, if nothing else.
18. Terry McGuirk (Liberty Media), Atlanta Braves
Tenure: 13 seasons (2007-present)
Purchase price: $400 million
Current team value: $1.7 billion
Net worth of owner: $5.1 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate development, telecommunications service
Team record: 988-955 (.508)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: The Bravos play in another new stadium, this one on nearly $400 million of public dime outside Atlanta. Yet the surge in attendance and revenue hasn’t carried over to the field while ownership tends to other business interests.
On the heels of their first East Division title in five years, the Braves began the 2019 season with the No. 22 payroll ($113.9 million) in the majors. In the meantime, the division rival Phillies executed a cannonball splash in the free-agent market, which left Braves supporters perplexed or worse.
As the point man on budget and financial decisions, Terry McGuirk is the man on the hottest seat. Only another playoff appearance will cool it.
17. John Stanton, Seattle Mariners
Tenure: 4 seasons (2016-present)
Purchase price: $1.26 billion
Current team value: $1.575 billion
Net worth of owner: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Telecommunications service
Team record: 253-233 (.521)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: The Mariners may have avoided the playoffs for 17 consecutive seasons, but it’s not all rain and doom in Emerald City. For one, John Stanton is intent to keep the team in town. The CEO lives in Bellevue and bleeds Northwest Blue. He even admits to tears when the Pilots left town after one season.
His second priority is to bring the first World Series in franchise history to Safeco Field. The team has the 11th-highest payroll ($151.4) in the bigs in the 2019 season, a sign that he’ll spend enough to get it done.
He also believes in stability. That’s in stark contrast to the previous regime, which changed managers and GMs like many change underwear. More patience, people.
16. Fred Wilpon, New York Mets
Tenure: 18 seasons (2002-present)
Purchase price: $391 million
Current team value: $2.3 billion
Net worth of owner: $500 million
Source of wealth: Real estate development
Team record: 1,346-1,406 (.489)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: What’s worse than a mid-market franchise that can’t hack it in a new ballpark? A big-market franchise that can’t hack it in a new ballpark. Meet the Mets, beat the Mets.
In eight of the last 10 seasons, the Amazins lost more games than they won, largely the result of the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme that put Wilpon in a financial straightjacket. That said, the team opened the 2019 season with a top-10 payroll ($159 million) for the first time in eight years.
If the owner continues to ante up for new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, a self-described win-now guy, the franchise is in position to become the big shooter that it should have been all along. This isn’t Poughkeepsie, you know.
15. Charles and Dick Monfort, Colorado Rockies
Tenure: 15 seasons (2005-present)
Purchase price: $95 million
Current team value: $1.225 billion
Net worth of owner: $700 million
Source of wealth: Resort, cattle products, meat distribution
Team record: 1,080-1,190 (.476)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: The brothers Monfort are colorful and controversial and known to get testy — even with their own fans. They also don’t like to lose much.
The team is in a tough spot with the Giants and Dodgers in the same division, but the Rockies are coming off consecutive playoff trips for the first time in club history. The momentum continued in the offseason, when franchise cornerstone Nolan Arenado agreed to an eight-year, $260 million contract.
Thanks in large part to a sweetheart stadium land deal, the team opened the season with the No. 12 payroll ($146.9 million) in the big leagues. Expect well-lit Rockheads to be as rowdy as ever at Coors Field, where 50 bucks can get you parking, two tickets, two hot dogs and a couple of adult beverages.
14. Mark Attanasio, Milwaukee Brewers
Tenure: 15 seasons (2005-present)
Purchase price: $223 million
Current team value: $1.175 billion
Net worth of owner: $700 million
Source of wealth: Financial management, telecommunications service
Team record: 1,144-1,125 (.504)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: The Crew did well to upstage the rival Cubs a year ago, but their fans shouldn’t raise too many Milwaukee’s Bests just yet.
They have never finished above .500 for more than two consecutive seasons with Mark Attanasio in charge. His biggest boo-boo was a refusal to dump Ryan Braun and his killer contract, which still has two seasons and $36 million left.
The 2018 season was as close as the team had been to a World Series in three decades. Now we’ll see how badly their owner wants it.
13. Ray Davis, Texas Rangers
Tenure: 10 seasons (2010-present)
Purchase price: $593 million
Current team value: $1.65 billion
Net worth of owner: $2.7 billion
Source of wealth: Natural gas transport
Team record: 765-694 (.524)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: The Rangers come off two down years, but with five postseason trips in the previous seven, by far the best stretch in franchise history, team ownership has a track record of extended success.
Its formula: Let business people take care of business and baseball people take care of baseball.
Besides, as Rangers fans will tell you, almost anyone is better than hands-on Tom Hicks, who went broke on ill-advised quick fixes and megacontracts.
12. Hal Steinbrenner (Yankee Global Enterprises), New York Yankees
Tenure: 12 seasons (2008-present)
Purchase price: $9 million
Current team value: $4.6 billion
Net worth of owner: $3.2 billion
Source of wealth: Family inheritance
Team record: 1,010-772 (.567)
World Series titles: 1 (2009)
Bottom line: Since the youngest Steinbrenner son assumed control, the Bombers have averaged 92 victories per season. Well, whoop-de-do. The team has gone through nine long, hellish, torturous, excruciating years without a championship parade.
Worse yet, Pal Hal comes across as a pompous rear end, who doesn’t give a flying flatulence about the average fan, some of whom take out second mortgages to attend games at The House That Ruthlessness Built.
Uh, did we mention the Bronx Bombers opened the 2019 season with the No. 3 payroll ($207 million) in the big leagues? No. 3?! The Boss would not like this even a little bit.
11. Arte Moreno, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Tenure: 17 seasons (2003-present)
Purchase price: $184 million
Current team value: $1.9 billion
Net worth of owner: $3 billion
Source of wealth: Advertising
Team record: 1,394-1,198 (.538)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: If Arte Moreno wasn’t so dad gum well off, it would be easy to feel for him. He is the rare likable billionaire owner, one who competes with the Richie Rich Dodgers in team payroll and treats everyone from employees to fans with respect.
In the case of veteran has-been Albert Pujols, a bit too well. Can we agree that his 10-year, $240 million contract has been an XL-sized mistake? And whose idea is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (in the United States of America on Planet Earth), anyway?
Moreno hasn’t lost his drive to succeed. He just seems to have forgotten how it’s done.
10. Stuart Sternberg, Tampa Bay Rays
Tenure: 16 seasons (2004-present)
Purchase price: $200 million
Current team value: $1.01 billion
Net worth of owner: $800 million
Source of wealth: Financial services
Team record: 1,207-1,223 (.497)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: Before Dickie Vitale and the other 12 Rays fans lodge another complaint about the team owner, they need to ask themselves this: Has any MLB franchise consistently done more with less than this one?
The Rays have no fan base to speak of, play in a dump and are stuck in a division with the two biggest spenders around. Yet somehow, they put up 90 wins in 2018, equal to or more than 20 other teams.
Truth is, Stuart Sternberg can’t afford to fall in love with his best players. So the organization invests heavily and often smartly in player development, a sound model that some have-nots would be wise to follow.
9. Larry and Paul Dolan, Cleveland Indians
Tenure: 20 seasons (2000-present)
Purchase price: $323 million
Current team value: $1.15 billion
Net worth of owner: $600 million
Source of wealth: Legal services
Team record: 1,582-1,494 (.514)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: There are those who believe the Dolan brothers should spend more on talent despite their comparatively modest resources.
Nonetheless, in four of the last six seasons, they found ways to put a playoff team on the field in what felt like a desperate attempt to bring a World Series parade to their hometown.
They also get points for a refusal to cave to the PC police and change the team nickname. Be careful what you wish for, Tribe doomsayers.
8. Ted Lerner (Lerner Enterprises), Washington Nationals
Tenure: 14 seasons (2006-present)
Purchase price: $450 million
Current team value: $1.75 billion
Net worth of owner: $3.3 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate development, NBA/NHL franchises
Team record: 1,048-1,056 (.498)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: This World Series thing hasn’t been nearly as easy as Ted Lerner thought it would be at first. The repeated failures haven’t been for a lack of want-to, though.
At $161.9 million, the Nats rank seventh in payroll even without Bryce Harper (overpriced) on the roster. They checked in at fifth, ninth, sixth, sixth and ninth in the previous five years.
Second-guess some of the personnel moves, but don’t question the commitment.
7. William DeWitt Jr., St. Louis Cardinals
Tenure: 24 seasons (1996-present)
Purchase price: $150 million
Current team value: $2.1 billion
Net worth of owner: $4 billion
Source of wealth: Petroleum, restaurants, MLB teams
Team record: 2,040-1,684 (.548)
World Series titles: 2 (2006, 2011)
Bottom line: The Cardinal way may be a tad narcissistic — the team averaged a rather modest 85-plus victories over the last three seasons — but it still works for the most part.
The franchise develops young talent, picks its spots in free agency, wins its share of games and provides a positive ballpark experience.
Now William DeWitt Jr. and company have to make good on what matters most to the rabid fan base: Beat out the bleepin' Cubs.
6. Tom Ricketts (Ricketts family), Chicago Cubs
Tenure: 11 seasons (2009-present)
Purchase price: $700 million
Current team value: $3.1 billion
Net worth of owner: $2.3 billion
Source of wealth: Financial management
Team record: 816-803 (.504)
World Series titles: 1 (2016)
Bottom line: In a matter of years, Tom Ricketts has forged his legacy as The Cubs Owner Who Reversed The World Series Curse, even if a major rebuild came before it.
He also has turned Wrigleyville into a money pit.
The team opened the season with a $209.8 million payroll, second-highest in the bigs. At last, this major-market team acts like one.
5. John Middleton (Buck family), Philadelphia Phillies
Tenure: 30 seasons (1981-present)
Purchase price: $30 million
Current team value: $1.85 billion
Net worth of owner: $3.2 billion
Source of wealth: pipe tobacco manufacturing
Team record: 2,980-3,053 (.494)
World Series titles: 1 (2008)
Bottom line: The Phillies have come a long way since the Buck brothers bought the team for $30 million as part of a group in 1981. As free agents Jake Arrieta, Bryce Harper and Carlos Santana can attest, principal owner John Middleton throws around Benjamins like Monopoly money. Wheeeeeeeeee!
Hey, when a major-market franchise boasts one of the most lucrative local TV deals in the sport, it can afford to play fast and loose.
Will the spree pay off in the Octobers to come? Who knows? But if you’re a Phillies phanatic, it sure beats the heck out of the alternative.
4. Charlie B. Johnson, San Francisco Giants
Tenure: 28 seasons (1993-present)
Purchase price: $100 million
Current team value: $3 billion
Net worth of owner: $6.4 billion
Source of wealth: Mutual funds management
Team record: 2,157-1,988 (.520)
World Series titles: 3 (2010, 2012, 2014)
Bottom line: If the best team owner is the one who stays out of the way and lets his money talk for him, then Charlie B. Johnson fits the description as well as anyone.
After consecutive subpar seasons, largely the result of a neglected farm system, the front office has undergone an overhaul of sorts.
Whether the shift toward metrics pays dividends remains to be seen, but history says one of the deepest pockets in the majors quietly will provide whatever resources are necessary.
3. Jim Crane, Houston Astros
Tenure: 9 seasons (2011-present)
Purchase price: $465 million
Current team value: $1.775 billion
Net worth of owner: $2.5 billion
Source of wealth: Air freight distribution
Team record: 606-690 (.468)
World Series titles: 1 (2017)
Bottom line: Jim Crane bought into bad situation, what with the team in the early stages of a rebuild from the ground up, and the organization took some lumps along the way.
A series of shrewd personnel moves on and off the field produced a World Series champion and what looks to be a perennial contender.
Unlike so many egomaniacs of his wealth and stature, the former Division II baseball star is content to stay in the background while employees do their jobs.
2. Mark Walter (Guggenheim Baseball Management), Los Angeles Dodgers
Tenure: 8 seasons (2012-present)
Purchase price: $2 billion
Current team value: $3.3 billion
Net worth of owner: $2.9 billion
Source of wealth: Global financial services
Team record: 651-484 (.574)
World Series titles: 0
Bottom line: Gone are the days when the front office throws money at every problem, only to sing the Dodger blues.
Although Mark Walter says the salary tax threshold is not a priority, the front office has focused less on pricy free agents and more on player development. The result is a hot brand with a slew of quality prospects. Yep, all that and Dodger dogs, too.
On the heels of back-to-back National League pennants, can a first World Series title in three decades be far behind?
1. John Henry, Boston Red Sox
Tenure: 18 seasons (2002-present)
Purchase price: $380 million
Current team value: $3.2 billion
Net worth of owner: $2.6 billion
Source of wealth: Commodities trading, media, British soccer club
Team record: 1,541-1,213 (.560)
World Series titles: 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018
Bottom line: A World Series parade every five years or so. A payroll that’s as large as that of the Orioles, Blue Jays and White Sox combined. And a museum-like ballpark to boot.
For even the most obnoxious Boston sports fan, what’s not to like here?