How Big Money Moves in the World of Sports

Sports is big business. To make the list of top sports empires, you need to own at least one team worth over a billion dollars and have other sports investments worth at least half a billion. This means only the biggest players in the game get a spot. When figuring out how much these empires are worth, only the sports-related parts count. For example, AEG's value is based on its sports assets, not its music or hotels. This keeps things fair and focused.To find the total value of a sports empire, it's not just about adding up the value of each team. Instead, a special number, called a multiple, is used. This number can range from 1. 1 to 1. 4 and depends on what teams and properties are owned. Sometimes, this number is adjusted based on recent deals, like when part of the San Francisco 49ers was sold. For major leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and soccer, the valuations come from official rankings. For other sports, the information comes from owners, executives, sports bankers, and public records. If the information can't be verified, estimates are made based on similar deals. This ensures that the valuations are as accurate as possible, even when all the details aren't available.