These are the richest people in the sports world according to Forbes' 2018 Billionaires List.
Sports is becoming more and more of a business these days and that attracted a many people with purses. While many put their money in Sports as their passion, for some it is also sound investment. It is not surprising that the richest people in Sports are not the players but the owners.
These sports owners are absurdly rich, with seven having at least $12 billion and have chosen to spend that money in the sports world.
According to Forbes' 2018 Billionaires List, these are the richest people in the sports world:
9. Mikhail Prokhorov (Brooklyn Nets) - $9.6 billion
Mikhail Prokhorov ia a Russian billionaire who made his fortune in banking, metals, and other enterprises. He now runs a private investment group called ONEXIM Group. He owns the The Brooklyn Nets, an American professional basketball team based in New York City in the borough of Brooklyn.
8. Micky Arison (Miami Heat) - $9.7 billion
Micky Arison is the chairman of Carnival Corp. He took control of the Miami Heat in 1995 and has since made them one of the best franchises in the league.
7. Hasso Plattner (San Jose Sharks) - $12.7 billion
Hasso Plattner is a German businessman. A co-founder of SAP SE software company, he has been chairman of the supervisory board of SAP SE since May 2003. Along with sailing, Plattner is a keen golfer. He owns the Fancourt Golf Estate, which has three Gary Player-designed championship courses, in addition to the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California. Plattner is an investor in San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises, which owns the San Jose Sharks. In 2013, he bought out two of the partners in SJS&E, and began serving as the Sharks' representative on the National Hockey League's board of governors.
6. Philip Anschutz (Los Angeles Kings/Los Angeles Galaxy) - $13 billion
Anschultz is the richest owner in the National Hockey League. He bought out his father's drilling company, Circle A Drilling, in 1961, which produced large returns. He then invested that money in stocks, real estate, and railroads. He was a co-founder of Major League Soccer and team Los Angeles Galaxy. Anschutz owns stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, and venues including the Staples Center, The O2, London, and the StubHub Center.
5. Paul Allen (Seattle Seahawks/Portland Trail Blazers) - $21.7 billion
Yes, Paul Allen. Allen co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates. He currently serves as the CEO of Vulcan, Inc., which oversees his business dealings. Allen, the richest owner in the NFL, also has a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio.
Allen purchased the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team in 1988 from California real estate developer Larry Weinberg for $70 million. He purchased the Seattle Seahawks NFL team in 1996 when former owner Ken Behring threatened to move the Seahawks to Southern California. Allen's Vulcan Sports & Entertainment is part of the ownership team of the Seattle Sounders FC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise.
4. Dietrich Mateschitz (Red Bull Racing/New York Red Bulls/RB Leipzig) - $23 billion
Dietrich Mateschitz is the founder of Red Bull. He is the wealthiest owner in all of soccer and in the racing world.
In November 2004, Mateschitz bought the Jaguar Racing Formula One team from its previous owners, Ford, and renamed it Red Bull Racing.
In April 2005, he bought the Austrian football club SV Austria Salzburg and in March 2006, he bought the American club MetroStars; both clubs were subsequently renamed as Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls, respectively.
In 2007, Red Bull founded Red Bull Brasil, a football team based in Campinas, Brazil. The team was promoted to the 1st division of the São Paulo championship in 2014, the most competitive state championship of the country[citation needed]. In May 2009, he founded a German football club called RB Leipzig and was named as owner.
Since 2012, he is also the owner of the German ice hockey club EHC München, which also changed its name into Red Bull München.
3. Phil Knight (Nike) - $29.6 billion
The only non-owner on this list, Knight's contributions to the sports world are huge. He founded Nike with tremendous success as the company has become the undisputed leader in sportswear and equipment. He retired in June 2016.
2. Steve Ballmer (Los Angeles Clippers) $38.4 billion
Ballmer amassed his wealth at Microsoft, where he notably served as the company's CEO from 2000-2014. However, most of his money came from getting 8% equity in the company as employee 20 years prior to becoming the head man. He left the company bought the Clippers for a record-setting $2 billion in 2014.
1. Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians) - $40.1 billion
Mukesh Ambani is the wealthiest person in India. He is the chairman, managing director and largest shareholder (44.7 percent) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). Ambani is also one of three billionaire owners in the top cricket league in India, the Indian Premier League.
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