World’s Most Profitable Sports Teams 2026: Cowboys still in a league of their own

The global sports industry has entered a golden age of profitability, and no franchise embodies that boom more than the Dallas Cowboys. Despite another year without Super Bowl football, Jerry Jones’ NFL powerhouse once again topped the list of the world’s most profitable sports teams, generating an estimated $629 million in operating income during the most recent season.

That figure puts the Cowboys more than $200 million ahead of their closest challenger, the Golden State Warriors, and almost $400 million clear of every other franchise on the planet. It also highlights the extraordinary gap that now exists between elite American sports teams and the rest of the global market.

Across all leagues, the 20 most profitable teams in the world produced $4.5 billion in EBITDA, up 16 percent year-on-year, driven by surging media rights, premium ticketing, sponsorship growth, and tighter cost controls in some leagues.

Why the Cowboys dominate global sport

Dallas’ dominance is not built on trophies but on scale. The Cowboys operate as a global entertainment brand rather than just a football team. AT&T Stadium, one of the world’s most advanced sports venues, generates massive revenue from luxury suites, naming rights, concerts, and corporate partnerships, while the team’s marketing machine reaches far beyond the NFL.

With the franchise valued at $13 billion, the Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in history, and their ability to turn revenue into profit is unmatched. Incredibly, Dallas’ operating income alone was higher than the total revenue of 28 professional teams across global sport.

NFL and NBA drive the profit explosion

The NFL continues to be the most financially powerful league in world sport. Last season, each NFL team received an estimated $443 million from league revenue sharing, driven mainly by massive national television deals. With average team revenues now exceeding $660 million, profitability is almost guaranteed, even for poorly performing clubs.

Seven NFL franchises made the top-20 list, including the Rams, Patriots, Giants, Jets, Raiders and Texans, reinforcing how America’s closed-league model creates financial stability.

The NBA is close behind. The Golden State Warriors, powered by Chase Center and a global fan base, posted $409 million in operating income, while teams such as the 76ers, Hawks, Rockets, Lakers and Bulls also made the rankings. With the NBA’s new $76 billion media deal now underway, profits are expected to climb even further.

Formula 1 and NHL join the elite

One of the most notable trends in 2026 is the growing financial strength of Formula 1 and the NHL.

Mercedes F1 generated $227 million in EBITDA, ranking fifth globally, thanks largely to F1’s cost cap, which has limited spending and dramatically improved team profitability.

The NHL, long seen as a smaller commercial player, placed three teams in the top 20, including the Edmonton Oilers, who tied for third with $244 million in operating income. Salary controls and rising media revenues have helped hockey franchises reach consistent profitability.

European football’s profit problem

Despite its massive fanbase, European football remains far less profitable than North American sport. Only three Premier League clubs made the list: Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal.

Manchester United’s $185 million in operating income still makes them one of the strongest clubs financially, but even they lag far behind mid-table NFL teams in profit terms. The lack of strict salary caps and heavy spending on transfers continues to limit how much cash football clubs can keep.

Paris Saint-Germain, for example, reportedly lost over $100 million last season despite being one of Europe’s biggest brands.

The full list of the world’s most profitable sports teams (2026)

1. Dallas Cowboys (NFL) – $629m

City: Arlington, Texas, USA
League: NFL
Owner: Jerry Jones
The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world and the financial benchmark of global sport. Based in Arlington, Texas, the NFL giants continue to dominate off the field through media rights, sponsorships and one of the most lucrative stadium operations in sports.

2. Golden State Warriors (NBA) – $409m

City: San Francisco, California, USA
League: NBA
Owners: Joe Lacob, Peter Guber
The Golden State Warriors are the NBA’s most powerful commercial franchise, driven by global fan reach and Silicon Valley corporate backing. Based in San Francisco, the Warriors generate enormous revenue from their Chase Center arena, premium seating and international brand appeal.

3. Edmonton Oilers (NHL) – $244m (tie)

City: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
League: NHL
Owner: Daryl Katz
One of hockey’s most iconic clubs, the Edmonton Oilers combine elite on-ice pedigree with a fiercely loyal fan base. The Canadian NHL franchise has turned that following into one of the most profitable operations in global hockey.

3. Los Angeles Rams (NFL) – $244m (tie)

City: Los Angeles, California, USA
League: NFL
Owner: Stan Kroenke
The Los Angeles Rams are one of the NFL’s biggest commercial winners, powered by their move back to LA and the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium. Kroenke’s ownership has turned the franchise into a premium entertainment and real-estate driven sports asset.

5. Mercedes F1 – $227m

City: Brackley, United Kingdom
League: Formula 1
Owners: INEOS, Mercedes-Benz, Toto Wolff
Mercedes is one of Formula 1’s most successful and commercially efficient teams. The Brackley-based operation benefits from F1’s cost-cap system and global sponsorships, making it one of the most profitable racing teams in the world.

6. New England Patriots (NFL) – $222m

City: Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA
League: NFL
Owner: Robert Kraft
The Patriots remain one of the NFL’s strongest financial performers thanks to decades of success and a powerful regional fan base. Their Gillette Stadium ecosystem and media rights revenue keep them among America’s most profitable teams.

7. Atlanta Hawks (NBA) – $203m (tie)

City: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
League: NBA
Owner: Tony Ressler
The Atlanta Hawks have become a fast-growing NBA business, driven by strong ticket sales, sponsorship growth and one of the league’s most dynamic markets in the southeastern United States.

7. Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) – $203m (tie)

City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
League: NBA
Owners: Josh Harris, David Blitzer
The 76ers are one of the NBA’s premier commercial brands, anchored by Philadelphia’s passionate sports culture. Strong arena revenue and sponsorships have helped push the franchise into elite profitability.

9. Houston Rockets (NBA) – $191m (tie)

City: Houston, Texas, USA
League: NBA
Owner: Tilman Fertitta
The Houston Rockets are a major NBA financial force, benefitting from one of America’s largest metro areas and deep corporate sponsorship ties across Texas and the energy sector.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) – $191m (tie)

City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
League: NHL
Owners: Rogers Communications, Larry Tanenbaum
The Maple Leafs are the most valuable and profitable hockey team in the world. Their dominance of Canada’s largest media market makes them a commercial powerhouse in global sports.

11. Manchester United (Premier League) – $185m

City: Manchester, England
League: Premier League
Owners: Glazer Family, Jim Ratcliffe
Manchester United remains one of football’s biggest global brands, generating huge income from broadcasting, sponsorships and worldwide fan engagement despite mixed results on the pitch.

12. Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) – $184m

City: London, England
League: Premier League
Owners: Joseph Lewis Family Trust, Daniel Levy
Tottenham have transformed into one of Europe’s most profitable football clubs, powered by their world-class London stadium, NFL hosting rights and premium matchday revenue.

13. New York Rangers (NHL) – $182m

City: New York City, USA
League: NHL
Owner: Madison Square Garden Sports
The Rangers benefit from one of the world’s most valuable sporting venues in Madison Square Garden, making them the NHL’s premier commercial franchise in the United States.

14. New York Giants (NFL) – $181m

City: East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
League: NFL
Owners: John Mara, Steven Tisch
The Giants are one of the NFL’s historic power brands, with strong revenue streams from media deals, merchandising and their presence in the New York metropolitan market.

15. New York Jets (NFL) – $180m

City: East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
League: NFL
Owner: Johnson Family
Despite inconsistent on-field results, the Jets remain one of the NFL’s most profitable franchises thanks to the size and spending power of the New York market.

16. Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) – $179m

City: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
League: NFL
Owner: Mark Davis
The Raiders’ move to Las Vegas turned the franchise into a global entertainment destination, with Allegiant Stadium driving massive revenue from tourism and major events.

17. Arsenal (Premier League) – $173m

City: London, England
League: Premier League
Owner: Stan Kroenke
Arsenal are one of Europe’s most financially stable football clubs, with strong commercial partnerships, a massive fan base and steady income from Emirates Stadium.

18. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) – $170m

City: Los Angeles, California, USA
League: NBA
Owners: Mark Walter, Todd Boehly, Jerry Buss Family Trusts
The Lakers are one of the most iconic sports brands on the planet, driven by global fan appeal, celebrity ownership and premium sponsorships.

19. Chicago Bulls (NBA) – $160m

City: Chicago, Illinois, USA
League: NBA
Owner: Jerry Reinsdorf
The Bulls continue to benefit from the legacy of Michael Jordan and one of America’s biggest sports markets, making them one of the NBA’s most commercially resilient teams.

20. Houston Texans (NFL) – $156m

City: Houston, Texas, USA
League: NFL
Owner: Cal McNair

The Texans may be younger than most NFL teams, but Houston’s size and corporate backing have made them one of the league’s strongest revenue generators.

What this means for the future of sport

The gap between the richest franchises and everyone else is widening. With broadcast money locked in for a decade and stadium revenues growing, elite teams are becoming billion-dollar businesses that behave more like media companies than sports clubs.

As leagues like the NFL, NBA, and Formula 1 continue tightening cost controls and expanding global reach, profitability will keep climbing. But for now, one thing remains unchanged.

No matter what happens on the field, the Dallas Cowboys still rule the business of sport.

SportsLigue