The price of sports franchises around the world has reached unprecedented heights, with some teams now valued in the tens of billions of dollars. The latest example comes from the Los Angeles Lakers, whose ownership was recently acquired by former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner. The deal, which values the team at $12.5 billion, marks another milestone in a global trend where sports clubs have become among the most lucrative investments available today. This surge in value is not limited to North America. In recent years, major franchises across multiple sports have undergone dramatic revaluations. For instance, in 2023, basketball legend Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion, $2.7 billion more than the valuation just a decade earlier. Similarly, in 2025, the Boston Celtics were purchased for $6.1 billion, while in the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks were sold for an astonishing $9.6 billion. These figures underscore a broader shift in how sports teams are viewed, not merely as entertainment entities, but as high-yield financial assets. In Europe, the trend is equally pronounced. The New York Yankees, one of the most storied baseball franchises, recently crossed the $10 billion mark after receiving a $2.6 billion investment. This pattern reflects a growing appetite among ultra-wealthy individuals and institutional investors for acquiring stakes in top-tier sports teams, often through large-scale consortiums. A notable example is Jeff Bezos, who recently led a group of investors in purchasing a third of Liverpool FC, further illustrating the increasing role of international capital in shaping the landscape of European football. The rise in franchise valuations can be attributed to several key factors. First, the immense profitability of broadcasting rights has made sports leagues highly attractive to investors. The NBA, for instance, recently signed a new 11-year media rights deal worth approximately $77 billion, significantly boosting the league’s appeal. Second, regulatory changes allowing for greater betting opportunities have increased revenue streams for many sports organizations. Third, the relative safety of live sporting events amid concerns over artificial intelligence's impact on other industries makes them stand out as reliable long-term investments. Investment groups are playing an increasingly central role in these acquisitions. The purchase of Liverpool FC by a consortium including Jeff Bezos highlights this trend. In Europe, similar patterns have emerged, with American firms such as Clearlake Capital and RedBird Capital acquiring major clubs like Chelsea and AC Milan. Meanwhile, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe paid nearly $6.4 billion for a 27.7% stake in Manchester United, demonstrating the extent to which foreign capital is reshaping the continent’s football scene. Even Slovenia, though smaller in scale, is not immune to this phenomenon. While local sports clubs have not yet reached the multi-billion-dollar mark seen elsewhere, there are signs of growing interest from both domestic and international investors. As the global market continues to evolve, the boundaries between sport and finance are becoming ever more blurred, with ownership of elite teams increasingly seen as a strategic move rather than a mere passion for the game.
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