Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Most Profitable Sports Teams in 2026: Forbes’ Top 20

Forbes’ January 2026 ranking puts the Dallas Cowboys first at $629 million in estimated operating income, ahead of the Golden State Warriors at $409 million.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The Dallas Cowboys are the world’s most profitable sports team in Forbes Australia’s January 2026 cross-sport ranking, with estimated operating income of $629 million. The Golden State Warriors are second at $409 million. These are Forbes estimates of EBITDA, not audited net profits, and the ranking combines the latest available seasons rather than comparing every team over one shared year. Forbes Australia’s 2026 ranking provides the underlying figures.

What “most profitable” means in this ranking

Forbes defines operating income as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). The figures are estimates rounded to the nearest $1 million. EBITDA is not net income, revenue, cash paid to owners, or a team’s valuation; each measures something different.

The cross-sport list draws on Forbes’ 2025 team valuations across Formula 1, MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL, global soccer and the WNBA. It uses the latest season available for each league: 2024 for MLB, MLS, NFL, NWSL and WNBA; 2024–25 for NBA and NHL; and 2023–24 for European soccer. The soccer group covers 30 men’s teams from six leagues. As a result, the ranking is a comparison of different season periods, not one synchronized annual snapshot.

Forbes says its estimates draw on team executives, sports bankers, league consultants, public documents such as stadium lease agreements and credit-rating reports, and sponsorship and broadcasting executives. Its team values are enterprise values—equity plus net debt—and reflect the owner’s stadium economics, including some non-sports event revenue. The values do not include stadium real estate itself, equity stakes in other sports-related assets, or mixed-use real-estate projects. Forbes’ methodology and ranking explain the basis of the estimates.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Guess Who? NFL Edition Board Game | Officially Licensed NFL Game for Kids and Families | Ages 6+ | 2 Players | 15 Mins. | Football Games
  • NFL-THEMED GUESS WHO? GAME: Who is the mystery NFL player? Ask the right questions to find out in the officially licensed Guess Who? NFL Edition game
  • GUESS PLAYERS FROM THE AFC OR NFC: This Guess Who? kids board game includes 2 double-sided character sheets, so players can guess from 24 AFC players or 24 NFC players
  • 48 PLAYERS FROM ALL 32 NFL TEAMS: Featuring Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, TJ Watt, Isaiah Likely, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Aiden Hutchinson
  • CLASSIC GUESS WHO? GAMEPLAY: “Is your player in a red uniform?” “Is your player a quarterback?” In this mystery board game, kids ask questions to deduce their opponent’s NFL player
  • QUICK AND EASY GAME FOR AGES 6+: This fun mystery game for 2 players is a fast and easy to learn kids game for Family Game Night, playdates, and after school

Top 20 most profitable sports teams

The table lists Forbes’ January 2026 estimates in U.S. dollars. Tied teams share a rank.

Rank Team League Estimated operating income Estimated team value
1 Dallas Cowboys NFL $629 million $13 billion
2 Golden State Warriors NBA $409 million $11 billion
3 (tie) Edmonton Oilers NHL $244 million $3.2 billion
3 (tie) Los Angeles Rams NFL $244 million $10.5 billion
5 Mercedes Formula 1 $227 million $6 billion
6 New England Patriots NFL $222 million $9 billion
7 (tie) Atlanta Hawks NBA $203 million $5 billion
7 (tie) Philadelphia 76ers NBA $203 million $5.45 billion
9 (tie) Houston Rockets NBA $191 million $5.9 billion
9 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs NHL $191 million $4.4 billion
11 Manchester United Premier League $185 million $6.6 billion
12 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League $184 million $3.3 billion
13 New York Rangers NHL $182 million $4 billion
14 New York Giants NFL $181 million $10.1 billion
15 New York Jets NFL $180 million $8.1 billion
16 Las Vegas Raiders NFL $179 million $7.7 billion
17 Arsenal Premier League $173 million $3.4 billion
18 Los Angeles Lakers NBA $170 million $10 billion
19 Chicago Bulls NBA $160 million $6 billion
20 Houston Texans NFL $156 million $7.4 billion

All operating-income and team-value amounts in this table are Forbes estimates from the January 2026 ranking, rounded as reported; they are not audited financial statements. Values are included to show that profitability and franchise valuation do not move in lockstep: for example, the Rams’ estimated value is higher than the Oilers’ despite their tied operating income.

Rank #2
Sale
Mattel Games UNO NFL Card Game with Storage Tin
  • The UNO game players love features graphics inspired by all 32 teams in the National Football League stored in a collectible travel tin.
  • Game play matches the classic card game where players match colors and numbers to get rid of all their cards.
  • The special 'Ice the Kicker' rule forces players to kick a field goal with a folded paper football through a goalpost of another player's hands.
  • When down to one card, don't forget to yell 'UNO.'
  • Designed for 2 to 10 players ages 7 years and older, the collectible card game makes a great gift for fans of the NFL.

What the rankings say about leagues and scale

The 20 teams together generated an estimated $4.5 billion in EBITDA, averaging $226 million per team. Forbes reports that the combined total was up 16% from $3.9 billion and a $195 million average in the prior year’s top 20. The NFL accounts for seven teams on the list, the NBA six, the NHL and Premier League three each, and Formula 1 one.

League averages also show why a team’s place depends on more than its sport. Forbes estimates average operating income of $127 million for NFL teams and $113 million for NBA teams in the periods covered. For the NFL season discussed, Forbes estimates average revenue of $662 million and a distribution of $443 million to each franchise. For the NHL, it estimates average revenue of $248 million and average EBITDA of $74 million per team, with no team operating at a loss in the reported period.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
MasterPieces NFL Gameday Board Game | Football Strategy Game | for Ages 9+
  • ULTIMATE FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE: Dive into the NFL Gameday board game, perfect for football enthusiasts. Enjoy strategic gameplay that brings the excitement of the field to your tabletop.
  • FAMILY FUN FOR ALL: Designed for up to four players, this NFL board game is ideal for family game nights. Suitable for adults and kids, it offers engaging play for everyone.
  • STRATEGIC PLAY: Test your skills with this NFL football board game. Plan your moves carefully to outsmart opponents and score touchdowns, making it a thrilling experience.
  • PORTABLE DESIGN: With compact dimensions of 9.5 inches, this NFL game day board is easy to store and transport. Take it to gatherings or play at home for endless fun.
  • SAFE AND DURABLE: Made from high-quality plastic, this NFL board game is built to last. It includes small parts, so it's recommended for ages twelve and up.

Forbes attributes differences among leagues partly to revenue sharing, sponsorship and premium seating, media-rights income, and cost controls such as the NHL salary cap and Formula 1 cost cap. Those are Forbes’ explanations for the patterns, not proof that any single factor caused a particular team’s result.

Is the most valuable team also the most profitable?

In this Forbes 2026 list, yes: Dallas ranks first both in estimated operating income ($629 million) and estimated team value ($13 billion). That overlap does not make profitability and value interchangeable. Operating income estimates a team’s earnings over a season, while enterprise value estimates the business’s worth at a point in time and includes net debt. Across the broader list, the measures do not consistently track together.

Rank #4
Deartisan Baseball Board Game, Oak Made Leisure Gameboard for Sport Battle Table for Family Party Holiday Coffee Travel Time
  • A One‑of‑a‑Kind Baseball Game --- a baseball contest where dice rolls decide the winner. Enjoy a totally different baseball‑game experience. Here, kids can beat adults. No one is guaranteed the final victory. Still, everyone gets to have great baseball‑themed fun.
  • A Must‑Have Game for Baseball Fans --- Great if you love baseball or want to learn about the sport! Whether you are a beginner looking to get into baseball, or searching for an interactive game to enjoy with fellow baseball enthusiasts, this game is an essential pick for your baseball journey.
  • Perfect Addition to Your Game Night --- Add this baseball game to your home game collection! Perfect for parent‑child bonding, family fun, and friend gatherings — you can start a baseball match anytime. Enjoy hours of entertainment brought by this classic game.
  • Superior Quality --- The main board is crafted from premium high‑density hardwood. Boasting outstanding hardness and premium texture, it stands apart from cheap softwood and plywood used by many competing products. Finely polished for a smooth comfortable touch. Two large wooden dice are also included as bonus accessories.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

A newer Cowboys estimate covers a different season

Forbes’ September 10, 2026 NFL valuation article estimates that the Cowboys generated nearly $1.28 billion in revenue and $677 million in operating income for the 2025 season. That is a newer, league-specific estimate, not a replacement for the $629 million cross-sport figure: the January ranking used 2024 NFL results because those were the latest available for its comparison. Forbes’ 2026 NFL team valuation report says its league estimates are on a cash basis, net of stadium debt service, and exclude playoff revenue. It also includes team and stadium debt with recourse to team owners in its debt accounting.

Why profitable teams can coexist with losses elsewhere

The top of a ranking does not describe the whole sports business. Forbes estimates that 37 of the 185 men’s teams it valued in 2025 failed to break even, including 16 MLS and 11 MLB teams. It cites the New York Mets’ estimated $268 million loss in 2024 as a notable example. A high franchise value therefore does not guarantee positive operating income in every season.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
MasterPieces NFL Opoly Jr Board Game | Football Game for Kids for Ages 8+
  • Choose from all 32 NFL teams to create your custom playing piece
  • Comes with reusable, static-cling stickers
  • Just peel and stick the helmet stickers of your favorite teams, and you're ready to hit the field
  • Collect key positions and equipment as you go around the board
  • Make trades during the NFL Combine and NFL Drafts to complete groups of the same color and earn more money

When comparing any two team-profit figures, check the profit measure, season or fiscal period, leagues and teams included, and treatment of stadium debt, event revenue and playoff income. Also distinguish an estimate from a disclosed or audited result; Forbes’ cross-sport figures are estimates assembled from multiple inputs, not audited cross-league accounts.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.