The Dallas Cowboys may once again be watching the Super Bowl from home, but financially, no team on earth comes close to them.

In the latest ranking of the world’s most profitable sports franchises, the Cowboys sit comfortably on top with an estimated $629 million in operating income, more than $200 million ahead of any rival. Their dominance highlights how modern sport has become less about trophies and more about global brands, media rights and commercial reach.

Across all leagues, the top 20 franchises generated $4.5 billion in combined operating income, up 16 percent from the previous year. That growth reflects booming broadcast deals, rising sponsorship revenues and a sharp increase in premium ticket and hospitality sales.

Why the Cowboys keep winning off the field

Valued at $13 billion, the Cowboys are the most valuable team in the world and also the most efficient at turning revenue into profit. While many clubs rely on winning seasons to drive income, Dallas has built a business that thrives regardless of results on the pitch.

With a massive national fan base, lucrative sponsorships and a stadium that doubles as an entertainment hub, the Cowboys produced more operating profit last season than all but 28 of the 211 franchises valued across 13 leagues earned in total revenue.

Their closest challenger, the Golden State Warriors, generated $409 million, while no other club broke the $300 million mark.

NFL and NBA remain the financial heavyweights

The NFL continues to be the backbone of global sports profitability. Seven teams made the top 20, supported by a revenue-sharing model that guarantees every franchise a slice of the league’s massive media deals. Each NFL club received an estimated $443 million from central distributions last season, helping average team revenue rise to $662 million, nearly double what it was a decade ago.

With that safety net, every NFL team was profitable, posting an average operating income of $127 million.

The NBA is closing the gap. Six basketball franchises appear in the top 20, and profitability is set to rise even further as the league begins a new 11-year, $76 billion global broadcast deal. Last season, average NBA operating income reached $113 million, with only two teams running at a loss.

Cost control gives hockey and Formula 1 an edge

Unlike football in Europe, North American leagues enforce strict cost controls, and the NHL is a prime example. Thanks to its salary cap, all 32 teams were profitable last season, with an average operating income of $74 million.

A similar shift has taken place in Formula 1, where a cost cap introduced in 2021 has transformed team finances. Mercedes recorded $227 million in operating income, making it the most profitable racing team and fifth overall in world sport.

Why European football still struggles

Despite huge revenues, European football clubs continue to face rising wage bills and transfer costs. Only three Premier League teams made the top 20, and even elite clubs can still post heavy losses. Paris Saint-Germain, for example, reportedly lost more than $100 million in the 2023–24 season.

The absence of strict spending limits means profits are harder to sustain, even for the biggest names.

One owner, two powerhouses

Only one owner appears twice in the top 20. Stan Kroenke controls both the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL and Arsenal in the Premier League. Together, those two clubs produced $417 million in operating income, still more than $200 million behind the Cowboys alone.

The 20 most profitable sports teams in 2026

1. Dallas Cowboys (NFL) – $629m
2. Golden State Warriors (NBA) – $409m
3. Edmonton Oilers (NHL) – $244m
4. Los Angeles Rams (NFL) – $244m
5. Mercedes (Formula 1) – $227m
6. New England Patriots (NFL) – $222m
7. Atlanta Hawks (NBA) – $203m
8. Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) – $203m
9. Houston Rockets (NBA) – $191m
10. Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) – $191m
11. Manchester United (Premier League) – $185m
12. Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) – $184m
13. New York Rangers (NHL) – $182m
14. New York Giants (NFL) – $181m
15. New York Jets (NFL) – $180m
16. Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) – $179m
17. Arsenal (Premier League) – $173m
18. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) – $170m
19. Chicago Bulls (NBA) – $160m
20. Houston Texans (NFL) – $156m

The bigger picture

Sport is no longer just competition. It is one of the world’s most powerful entertainment businesses. With media rights, global fan bases and commercial partnerships driving revenues to new highs, the financial gap between the elite and the rest keeps widening.

At the top of it all, the Dallas Cowboys continue to prove that in modern sport, winning the money game can matter just as much as lifting trophies.