The Cleveland Browns franchise is owned by Jimmy Haslam (James Arthur Haslam III), one of the most influential people in the sports industry. In addition to the Browns, he has shares in the Columbus Crew of MLS and the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.
Haslam shares his stakes in the MLS and NFL with his wife, Susan “Dee” Haslam (née Bagwell), who is also involved in the family’s other businesses; Jimmy and Dee have three children and five grandchildren, and Jimmy’s brother Bill is heavily involved (a former Tennessee governor).
Let’s look at Haslam’s net worth and how he made his fortune.
What Is Jimmy Haslam’s Wealth in 2024?
Haslam inherited a significant part of his $8 billion net worth from his dad’s (James Haslam II) business in the Pilot Oil Corporation in 1958, who bought it for a mere $6,000.
He joined the firm in 1976 and was named sales, development, and operations president in 1980. The company is among the top 10 private companies in the United States, with more than 24,000 employees and 4,300 diesel lanes.
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Haslam first bought some shares in the Pittsburgh Steelers, then he later bought the Browns for a whopping $1 billion and sold his stakes in the Steelers. In 2012, the Haslams stepped into ownership in Cleveland, and the Browns’ valuation of $4.62 billion sits 19th in overall value.
The entrepreneur then dipped his toes into another money-making machine in the sports industry: Major League Soccer. He and his wife tasted victory within the first year of purchasing the franchise when the Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup in 2020 and 2023.
Haslam Sports Group also bought a 25% share in the Milwaukee Bucks for $800 million, which Forbes estimated to be worth $3.2 billion in 2023. They also own five major facilities in Ohio:
- Cleveland Browns Stadium
- Lower.com Field
- OhioHealth Performance Center
- Historic Crew Stadium
- CrossCountry Mortgage campus
Besides these successful ventures, Haslam also gives back to the community, being majorly involved with the city’s enhancement. He is a member of the Anderson Media Corporation and United Way of Greater Knoxville board of directors.
Currently, the Haslams are working with Cleveland officials on stadium improvement. A proposal for a new stadium in Brook Park, Ohio, has hit a snag; Cuyahoga County officials are committed to keeping the Browns in downtown Cleveland “for generations to come.”