8 Sports Teams Bought for Pennies… Now Worth Billions 💸🏟️

 

Owning a sports team can be one of the best investments ever - if you get in early. 

Here are 8 franchises bought cheap and now worth billions (2025 valuations) 👇

Chicago Bears (NFL)

Bought by George Halas for $100 in 1920 as part of the NFL’s founding.

📈 Current value: ~$8.8B

ROI: 8,800,000,000% 🤯

See also: 8 Athletes Who Competed After Serving Prison Time

New York Yankees (MLB)

George Steinbrenner & investors purchased from CBS for $8.8M in 1973.

📈 Current value: $7.55B

ROI: ~85,695%.

27 World Series titles turned them into a global brand.

San Francisco 49ers (NFL)

Eddie DeBartolo bought the team for $13M in 1977.

📈 Current value: $8.6B

ROI: ~66,054%.

Five Super Bowls + Levi’s Stadium = massive growth.

Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

Jerry Buss bought Lakers + Kings + The Forum for $20M in 1979.

📈 Current value: $10B (2025 sale).

ROI: ~49,900%.

Legends like Magic, Kobe & LeBron fueled the rise.

Chicago Bulls (NBA)

Jerry Reinsdorf purchased for $16.2M in 1985.

📈 Current value: ~$4.8B

ROI: ~29,530%.

Michael Jordan’s dynasty built an NBA powerhouse.

Dallas Cowboys (NFL)

Jerry Jones acquired for $140M in 1989.

📈 Current value: $13B

ROI: ~9,186%.

“America’s Team” dominates revenue with AT&T Stadium.

See also: Emotional Messi scores twice in final match in Argentina

New England Patriots (NFL)

Robert Kraft bought for $172M in 1994.

📈 Current value: $7.3B

ROI: ~4,144%.

Six Super Bowls under Kraft, Brady, & Belichick.

From $100 to $13B, these stories show how sports franchises exploded in value thanks to league growth, media deals, and branding.

Which team’s ROI shocks you most? 👇