The World’s Most Valuable Sports Franchises

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 02: An employee displays new Gareth Bale Real Madrid shirts at the Real Madrid Oficcial Store alongside Mesut Ozil's shirt on the day Gareth Bale is presented as a new Real Madrid player at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 2, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

We all know that sports is big business, but which teams have proven to be the best at not only making money, but also at building their brand globally? As is the case with any corporation, these franchises have shown to be the A level companies that win a lot, have a worldwide appeal and typically outbid any competitor for the top talent. It may not be the best business model out there, but it seems to work for these, the most valuable sports franchises in the world.

5. Dallas Cowboys – $2.1 Billion

It’s pretty phenomenal to think that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones purchased the club for just $140 million all the way back in 1989 and has built it into the billion dollar corporation it is today. While his team hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1996, that hasn’t stopped fans from flocking to their insane stadium or talking about them as if they were the reigning Super Bowl champs each year.

4. New York Yankees – $2.3 Billion

When anyone thinks of the New York Yankees, they probably associate three things with them—Babe Ruth, pinstripes and winning. With an MLB-record 27 World Series titles, it’s no wonder the Yanks are either loved or hated amongst fans, as they often outbid themselves on top-flight free agents to maintain the image that they have created for themselves.

3. FC Barcelona – $2.6 Billion

Much like the top two franchises on this list, Spanish club FC Barcelona has created quite the fanbase thanks to success on the field and strategic moves off of it. Often targeting the best players in the world, the club relies on marketing partnerships that pay upwards of $40 million to help pull in and pay those players to keep their winning ways possible.

2. Manchester United – $3.2 Billion

When it comes to comparing a team to the aforementioned New York Yankees, the English Premier League’s Manchester United is most often talked about. That’s because the club is one of the most prestigious in the world, with nearly every former Englishman having a stint in Old Trafford. From players like Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, UK’s greatest (among others) have slipped on a shirt for “The Reds” to help stay tops on the planet.

1. Real Madrid – $3.3 Billion

Much like their La Liga rivals, Barcelona, Spanish soccer club Real Madrid go to great lengths in order to stay atop the standings—while also leading in merch sales and sponsorship opportunities. As the home to Cristiano Ronaldo—arguably the top striker in the world and a marketing gold mine—Madrid inked new deals with Adidas and Emirates Airlines over the last 18 months that will bring in roughly $80 million to continue to build a team around the star and challenge for club titles.

Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Written by Nick Dimengo

Graduate of the University of Kentucky. Cleveland sports fan. Frustrated respecter of LeBron James. Influencer of bad ideas. In addition to Worthly/Housely, I'm a regular contributor to Bleacher Report, Scout, Esquire and Maxim, and run or bike way too much for my own good when not writing. The day a Cleveland sports team wins a title is the day I can officially say my life is complete.