Top 5 richest NFL owners in 2026: Net worth, businesses, and how they made their fortune

The NFL is not just about touchdowns and trophies. Behind every franchise is a billionaire owner whose business empire often stretches far beyond football. In 2026, the gap between the richest and the rest is bigger than ever.Here’s a look at the top 5 richest NFL owners, their estimated net worth, and how they built their wealth.Rob Walton, is by far the richest NFL owner. He was in charge of the Walton-Penner Group, which bought the Denver Broncos in 2022 for a record $4.65 billion.His father Sam Walton started Walmart, which is now one of the biggest retail businesses in the world. Most of Walton's money comes from his share in the big store. He is the richest owner in all of professional sports because his net worth is more than five times that of the second richest NFL owner.The Hunt family owns the Kansas City Chiefs. Their wealth comes from oil and gas, thanks to family patriarch H.L. Hunt.Clark Hunt is in charge of the franchise right now. The family also owns real estate and other sports franchises, including FC Dallas in MLS. The Hunts have been involved in professional football since the AFL, and they helped shape the NFL as we know it today.David Tepper is a billionaire who runs a hedge fund. He started Appaloosa Management, a company that is known for buying failing businesses and making them better.In 2018, he paid $2.8 billion for the Carolina Panthers. He got most of his money from stocks and finance, not athletics. A lot of people think he is one of the brightest investors in the game.Stan Kroenke built his wealth through real estate. He owns Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which controls multiple teams, including Arsenal FC in England and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.He is married into the Walton family, which adds to his financial power. His business empire includes millions of square feet of real estate and vast land holdings.The Cowboys became one of the most valued sports franchises in the world when he was in charge. Jones also helped the NFL get better TV deals, which helped the league make more money than ever before.Under his leadership, the Cowboys became one of the most valuable sports teams in the world. He also played a key role in boosting NFL television deals, helping grow league revenues to record levels.The NFL's owners are getting richer as the league grows around the world. This shows how powerful the league is financially. These five owners made their money long before they got into football.