The Original Purchase Price And Current Value Of Every NFL Team

By Travis Pulver on January 18, 2026 in Articles › Sports News

What football fan hasn't dreamed of owning an NFL team? It's the ultimate fantasy — commanding the sidelines, lifting trophies, and cashing massive checks from television deals and luxury suites. But owning an NFL franchise isn't just the stuff of dreams — it has become the single most lucrative investment class in modern history.

Decades ago, some NFL teams were acquired for the price of a used car — or less. The Chicago Bears were bought for just $100 in 1920. The New York Giants cost $500 in 1925. The Pittsburgh Steelers? A modest $2,500 in 1933. These weren't hedge fund-backed purchases; they were bets made by local businessmen, many of whom had no idea they were buying into what would become a global financial empire.

Entering 2026, the league's financial explosion has reached a new peak. Every single NFL franchise is now worth at least $5 billion, with the average valuation climbing to $7.1 billion. Leading the charge are the Dallas Cowboys, which became the first sports franchise in history to be valued at $13 billion. The returns speak for themselves — and as the league opens its doors to private equity for the first time, these numbers show no signs of slowing down.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Historic Bargains and Ten-Billion-Dollar Returns

Many NFL owners — or their descendants — still benefit from purchase prices that look like typos today. Families like the Rooneys (Steelers), Maras (Giants), and McCaskeys (Bears) have seen their original investments grow not just by millions, but by billions of percent.

As of 2026, the elite "10-Billion-Dollar Club" has expanded, with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams joining the Cowboys as the most valuable entities in sports history.

The Chicago Bears, bought for $100, are now worth $8.2 billion — an $8.2 billion percent increase.
The New York Giants, bought for $500, officially crossed the threshold in late 2025 and are now valued at $10.1 billion.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have grown from a $2,500 purchase to a $6.5 billion asset.

Even the gains for "modern" owners are staggering. Robert Kraft's 1994 purchase of the Patriots for $172 million was considered a massive overpayment at the time; today, following a 2025 minority stake sale to private equity firm Sixth Street, the team is valued at over $9 billion.

The New Era: Private Equity and "The $15 Billion Offer"

The landscape shifted permanently in late 2025 when the NFL officially opened its doors to institutional investors. This "Private Equity" era has provided a massive boost to team liquidity:

Miami Dolphins: In early 2026, owner Stephen Ross revealed he had received offers for the Dolphins approaching $15 billion (including the stadium and F1 race). While he declined, he sold a minority stake to Ares Management at an $8.1 billion valuation earlier in the cycle.
New England Patriots: Robert Kraft sold an 8% stake in 2025, valuing the franchise at a record-shattering $9 billion for a team without a stadium-anchor deal.
Las Vegas Raiders: Mark Davis made headlines in late 2025 by officially finalizing a deal to bring on Tom Brady as a minority owner, further boosting the brand's global value to $7.7 billion.

Record-Breaking Sales in the 21st Century

While the Washington Commanders' $6.05 billion sale in 2023 remains the record for a full takeover, the "minority stake" sales of 2025 have proven that if a team like the Cowboys or Giants were to hit the open market today, the price tag would likely exceed $12 to $15 billion.

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2025 NFL Franchise Valuations and Ownership

Here's a complete breakdown of every NFL franchise — showing the original purchase price, year acquired, current valuation, percent increase, and current owner(s).

Team	Original Purchase (Year)	Current Value (2025)	% Change	Current Owner(s)
Arizona Cardinals	$50K (1933)	$5.50 Billion	10,999,900%	Bidwill family
Atlanta Falcons	$545M (2002)	$6.35 Billion	1,065%	Arthur Blank
Baltimore Ravens	$600M (2004)	$6.10 Billion	917%	Steve Bisciotti
Buffalo Bills	$1.40B (2014)	$5.95 Billion	325%	Terry Pegula (Majority) & Arctos Partners
Carolina Panthers	$2.27B (2018)	$5.70 Billion	151%	David Tepper
Chicago Bears	$100 (1920)	$8.20 Billion	8,199,999,900%	McCaskey family
Cincinnati Bengals	$7.5M (1967)	$5.25 Billion	69,900%	Mike Brown
Cleveland Browns	$987M (2012)	$6.40 Billion	548%	Jimmy & Dee Haslam
Dallas Cowboys	$140M (1989)	$13.00 Billion	9,186%	Jerry Jones
Denver Broncos	$4.65B (2022)	$6.80 Billion	46%	Walton-Penner Group
Detroit Lions	$4.5M (1964)	$5.40 Billion	119,900%	Ford family
Green Bay Packers	$50 (1923)	$6.65 Billion	13,299,999,900%	Public (Packers, Inc.)
Houston Texans	$700M (1999)	$7.40 Billion	957%	McNair family
Indianapolis Colts	$15M (1972)	$5.90 Billion	39,233%	Jim Irsay
Jacksonville Jaguars	$770M (2012)	$5.60 Billion	627%	Shahid Khan
Kansas City Chiefs	$25K (1960)	$6.20 Billion	24,799,900%	Hunt family
Las Vegas Raiders	$180K (1966)	$7.70 Billion	4,277,677%	Mark Davis & Tom Brady
Los Angeles Chargers	$70M (1984)	$6.00 Billion	8,471%	Spanos family
Los Angeles Rams	$750M (2010)	$10.50 Billion	1,300%	Stan Kroenke
Miami Dolphins	$1.10B (2009)	$7.50 Billion	582%	Stephen Ross & Ares Management
Minnesota Vikings	$600M (2005)	$6.25 Billion	942%	Zygi Wilf
New England Patriots	$172M (1994)	$9.00 Billion	5,133%	Robert Kraft
New Orleans Saints	$70M (1985)	$5.30 Billion	7,471%	Gayle Benson
New York Giants	$500 (1925)	$10.10 Billion	2,019,999,900%	Mara & Tisch families
New York Jets	$635M (2000)	$8.10 Billion	1,176%	Woody Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles	$185M (1994)	$8.30 Billion	4,386%	Jeffrey Lurie
Pittsburgh Steelers	$2,500 (1933)	$6.50 Billion	259,999,900%	Rooney family
San Francisco 49ers	$13M (1977)	$8.60 Billion	66,054%	DeBartolo/York family
Seattle Seahawks	$194M (1997)	$6.70 Billion	3,354%	Allen Trust (Jody Allen)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	$192M (1995)	$6.60 Billion	3,338%	Glazer family
Tennessee Titans	$25K (1960)	$6.30 Billion	25,199,900%	Amy Adams Strunk
Washington Commanders	$6.05B (2023)	$7.60 Billion	26%	Josh Harris Group

The Green Bay Packers: A Different Kind of Ownership

Unlike every other NFL team, the Green Bay Packers are not owned by a billionaire or private group. Instead, they are the only publicly owned, non-profit franchise in American pro sports. Over 537,000 fans hold shares in the team, none of which can be resold for profit or pay dividends.

Founded in 1919 and formally incorporated as a non-profit in 1923, the Packers represent one of the league's most beloved — and valuable — teams. Despite being in the smallest media market in professional sports, the team is worth $5.39 billion, thanks to league-wide revenue sharing and the enduring popularity of Lambeau Field.

Final Thoughts

From $100 beginnings to $10 billion dynasties, NFL franchises have become the gold standard of sports ownership. The league's airtight business model — with national TV contracts, strict salary caps, and limited team supply — has made franchise ownership nearly foolproof. The only problem? Getting your hands on one.

With no signs of slowing down, NFL teams remain among the safest and most profitable bets on the planet.