After purchasing the Dallas Cowboys for $150 million in 1989, owner Jerry Jones has built the franchise into the most valuable team in the world. Today, the Cowboys account for the majority of Jones’ estimated $19.5 billion net worth. Still, the question remains whether any NFL owner is wealthier than him.
The Cowboys have held the title of the NFL’s most valuable franchise for more than a decade and became the first team to surpass a $10 billion valuation. Forbes currently values the franchise at $13 billion, more than $2.5 billion ahead of the second-ranked Los Angeles Rams. Even so, when it comes to personal net worth, Jones does not sit atop the list of NFL owners.
Jerry Jones is the Sixth Richest NFL Owner in 2025
As of July 2025, Rob Walton and the Denver Broncos family are valued at $121.3 billion, making Walton the richest NFL owner.
The Hunt family, owners of the Kansas City Chiefs, rank as the NFL’s second-wealthiest ownership group with a combined net worth of $24.8 billion. David Tepper of the Carolina Panthers sits in third place at $23.7 billion, followed by Stan Kroenke, whose ownership of the Los Angeles Rams places him in fourth with an estimated net worth of $21.3 billion.
With a valuation of $13 billion, the Cowboys are also the most valuable sports team in the world. However, despite their commercial success, 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.
Driven by his passion for football and sharp business instincts, Jerry Jones continues to stand as one of the most influential, and polarizing, owners in sports. However, his wealth is not derived from football alone.
Where Did Jones Initially Earn His Wealth From?
Jones earned most of his initial wealth from the oil drilling business, starting with 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.”
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 remains active in the oil and gas sector as the controlling shareholder of Comstock Resources, which carries a market capitalization of $6.99 billion. He is also involved in a range of real estate and retail developments across Texas.
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.
