How much are L.A. sports teams worth? More than $20 billion

Bill Shaikin
·2 min read
Fans take their seats before the Lakers take on the Boston Celtics at Staples Center on April 15, 2021.
Fans take their seats before a game between the Lakers and Boston Celtics at Staples Center on April 15. (Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The Dodgers and Lakers won championships last year. For the owners of those teams, the winning extends beyond trophies and diamond-encrusted rings.

The Dodgers and Lakers are two of the most highly valued sports franchises in the world, according to a Forbes estimate released Friday.

The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable team, valued by Forbes at $5.7 billion. The others in the top five: the New York Yankees ($5.25 billion), New York Knicks ($5 billion), FC Barcelona ($4.6 billion) and Real Madrid ($4.75 billion).

The Lakers rank seventh, at $4.6 billion. The Rams rank 13th, at $4 billion. The Dodgers rank 16th, at $3.57 billion.

The total valuation of those three teams — $12.17 billion — accounts for more than half the total for the 10 major professional teams in the Southland, which, based on the most recent Forbes estimates, adds up to $21.785 billion.

The most recent Forbes valuations:

Lakers: $4.6 billion

Rams: $4 billion

Dodgers: $3.57 billion

Clippers: $2.75 billion

Chargers: $2.6 billion

Angels: $2.025 billion

Kings: $825 million

Galaxy: $480 million

LAFC: $475 million

Ducks: $460 million

Valuation estimates can vary widely, in part depending on whether the estimate includes team-owned ventures off the field, such as real estate developments and media companies. Sportico, a sports business website, recently valued the Lakers at $5.14 billion and the Dodgers at $4.62 billion, including related businesses and real estate. Teams and leagues are not required to disclose revenues and expenses.

And, of course, the ultimate valuation is a sale price. When Frank McCourt put the Dodgers up for sale in 2011, Forbes estimated their value at $800 million; the team sold for $2 billion. In 2019, Forbes estimated the value of LAFC at $475 million; the team subsequently sold a minority share based on a team value of $700 million.

Forbes does not provide valuations for WNBA teams, but an independent analysis this year estimated a range of $17 million to $35 million.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.