Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is not only a football mogul but also a savvy businessman. Before purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones built a successful career in the oil and gas industry.
He leveraged his entrepreneurial background to transform the Cowboys into one of the most valuable franchises in the world. Beyond football, his wide-ranging business ventures have significantly contributed to his wealth. His impressive income reflects both his sports and entrepreneurial success, leading to a staggering net worth.
Where Did Jerry Jones’ Wealth Come From?
Jones purportedly got his start in business as a young boy when he worked as a greeter at his parents’ grocery store, Pat’s Supermarket.
His first major business venture turned out to be a failure. Jones invested in Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, the first franchise pizza chain in the United States. It peaked in the 1970s before shuttering all of its Dallas-Fort Worth locations in 1989.
He then went to work for his father, Pat, as an executive vice president at his insurance company, Modern Life Security. Jones walked away with $500,000 when the company was sold in 1970, according to The Oklahoman.
He initially expressed interest in buying the financially ailing San Diego Chargers just a year out of college in 1966, but his father talked him out of it.
Jones ultimately moved on to oil drilling with the Arkansas-based company, Jones Oil and Land Lease. He struck oil in 12 of his first 13 wells, with the first yielding $4 million in oil, according to the book “The Dallas Cowboys: The Outrageous History of the Biggest, Loudest, Most Hated, Best Loved Football Team in America.”
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This is how Jones had the financial capital to buy the Cowboys, which he has since built up to exponentially greater heights of profitability.
Today, he’s still involved in the oil and gas space as the controlling shareholder of Comstock Resources. He also has several real estate and retail projects in Texas.
AMERICA’S TEAM: THE GAMBLER AND HIS COWBOYS
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Jones’ income is also driven by massive broadcasting deals, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and investments in real estate, including AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys play. He also holds stakes in hospitality ventures, including Legends Hospitality, a sports and entertainment company that further boosts his earnings.
From a failed investment in a pizza chain to oil success to owning the most valuable sports franchise in the world, Jones has become one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet.
A Look at Jones’ Net Worth in 2025
Jones’ net worth is estimated to be $13 billion. The Cowboys’ owner has made a lot of money over the years, much of it stemming from his ownership of America’s team.
In 1989, Jones bought the franchise for $150 million. In the following decades, the Cowboys’ valuation skyrocketed to the billions, the highest valuation of any NFL franchise.
As of 2024, the Cowboys’ valuation was $10.32 billion, over $2 billion more than the second-most valuable NFL team, the Los Angeles Rams, at $7.79 billion.
The NFC East team is also the most valuable sports franchise in the world. The New York Yankees of Major League Baseball are the second-most valuable sports franchise in the world at $8.8 billion, with the Rams being the third-most valuable.
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However, despite their commercial success, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys haven’t delivered results on the field. Dallas hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1996 and hasn’t appeared in an NFC Championship Game since that same year.
In the 2024 NFL season, the Cowboys finished with a disappointing 7–10 record after injuries to Dak Prescott and several other key players. The team has since hired Brian Schottenheimer as its new head coach for the upcoming season, and it remains to be seen whether he’s the right person to lead the Cowboys back to their glory days.
