So, you’ve been watching the NFL, right? You’re munching chips, yelling at the ref, and wondering who really wins. I mean, the players get paid, but what about the guys in the fancy owners’ suites?
Let’s talk about NFL team owners. Specifically, how much do they actually make? Grab your coffee—or something stronger—because the numbers are bonkers.
The Short, Shocking Answer
NFL owners don’t just make money; they print it. In 2023, the average NFL team was worth around $5.1 billion. That’s billion with a “B,” not million.
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But their annual income? That’s a trickier number to pin down. Why? Because owners are masters of hiding cash behind “operating income” and “team expenses.”
Think of it like this: they’re rich wizards playing financial hide-and-seek. And we’re just kids with a flashlight.
The Big Paydays: Revenue Sharing
Revenue sharing is the secret sauce. Every NFL team gets a massive, equal slice of the national TV deals. We’re talking about $400 million per team per year from TV alone.
That’s before they sell a single ticket, hot dog, or foam finger. It’s basically free money raining down from the broadcast tower. Can you imagine?
On top of that, teams keep their local cash—ticket sales, parking, beer, and merch. Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys? They laugh in the face of sharing. They make an extra $1 billion in local revenue every year.
Richest NFL Team Owners: Billionaires Behind the Teams ! NFL
How Much Do the Owners Pocket?
Okay, let’s get specific. According to Forbes, the average NFL team’s operating income—that’s profit before taxes and fancy accounting tricks—is about $150 million to $200 million per season.
But that’s the team’s profit, not the owner’s personal paycheck. Owners usually “pay themselves” through dividends, salary, or just… taking money out of the company vault.
It’s like you owning a lemonade stand, but instead of a lemon, you have a monopoly on America’s favorite sport. Cha-ching.
The Owner Salary “Trick”
Here’s a funny thing: many owners take a nominal salary from the team. Like, $1 a year. Why? To avoid taxes and look humble.
But they’re not starving. Their real income comes from team appreciation. If you bought the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion in 2022, and it’s now worth $6 billion, you just “made” $1.35 billion on paper.
Richest NFL Team Owners in 2025. - YouTube
That’s the ultimate flex: making a billion dollars by owning a thing that gets more expensive.
The Super Bowl Tax (Yes, Really)
You’d think winning the Super Bowl makes owners rich. Nope. It’s a weird flex that costs them money. Players get bonuses, the team buys rings, and they have to pay for a parade.
But the real money is in the long game. A championship team’s brand value soars. Fans buy more merch, season ticket waitlists grow, and the next TV deal gets juicier.
So while the owner might write a check for the Lombardi Trophy party, their future income gets a massive steroid shot. Win-win, really.
The Bottom Tier Owners
Not every owner is a Scrooge McDuck swimming in cash. Some teams, like the Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills, have smaller markets. Their operating income might be “only” $80 million.
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Eighty million dollars. I put “only” in quotes because that’s still enough to buy a private island and a fleet of golden golf carts. But relative to the Cowboys? It’s pocket change.
Even the “poorest” NFL owner is richer than your wildest lottery dreams. So don’t cry for them—save that energy for your 401(k).
Wait, Do They Lose Money Sometimes?
Believe it or not, yes. Some owners report accounting losses. But that’s usually because they paid themselves a massive bonus or wrote off stadium costs.
It’s like a movie studio saying a blockbuster “lost money” while the producer drives a new Ferrari. The IRS calls it “paper losses.” The rest of us call it legal magic.
The only way an NFL owner genuinely loses money is if their team catches fire and the insurance company rips them off. Even then, they’re fine.
Richest NFL Team Owners: Billionaires Behind the Teams - YouTube
How Does It Compare to You and Me?
Let’s do some math I hate. The average NFL fan earns about $60,000 a year. An owner’s team profit of $150 million is 2,500 times that.
If you worked forever, you’d never catch up. It’s like comparing a snail to a rocket ship. And the rocket ship is fueled by TV deals and hot dog sales.
Don’t dwell on it. Just enjoy the game.
The Final Whistle
So, how much do NFL owners make? A lot. More than you, more than me, and more than every player combined in some years.
But here’s the real secret: they don’t “make” most of it in cash. Their wealth is in ownership—that golden ticket that prints money every year. And since teams only go up in value, they’re set for life.
Next time you see an owner on TV, give them a wave. They’re the ones buying islands. And you’re the one buying their $14 beer. Cheers to that.