# Who are the most famous people to ever own a major league sports franchise? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 15, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535 "2009-05-15T15:41:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/21 "2009-05-15T21:09:55Z")
It is an overgeneralization I’m sure, but rich people typically buy sports teams because they want to be famous too. If they’re just rich tycoon types they don’t get to see their name in the newspaper unless they’ve been indicted, however, if they own a sports team, they become both rich and famous. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/22 "2009-05-15T21:11:02Z")
Football coach Joe Gibbs owns [a group of NASCAR teams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Gibbs_Racing). > [@42fish](#): > > Bill Veeck (Cleveland Indians/St. Louis Browns/Chicago White Sox) and Charlie O. Finley (Oakland A’s) were fairly famous as team owners/eccentrics. And the A’s original manager/co-owner Connie Mack, who became the sole owner in 1936. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/23 "2009-05-16T04:29:31Z")
If you count MLS, Drew Carey owns a portion of Seattle Sounders FC. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/24 "2009-05-16T11:30:54Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > Though I did think of a HUGE addition to the list. Ted Turner. He started CNN, married Jane Fonda, and ran his mouth like nobody’s business. And won the America’s Cup in 1977. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/25 "2009-05-16T11:55:19Z")
Henry Paulsen owns 20% of the Portland Timbers (soccer) and the Portland Beavers (baseball), and his son Merritt owns the other 80% ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/26 "2009-05-16T14:10:25Z")
[QUOTE=anson2995] Ted Turner was on the cover of Sports Illustrated (as a yachtsman) before he bought the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks. [/QUOTE] Turner bought the Braves in 1976, and won the America’s Cup in 1977. In fact, Turner managed the Braves for one game in 1977 several months before winning the America’s Cup. As to the question, I think there’s three distinct categories here: 1. The most famous person who at some point owned a sports team. George W. Bush, easily. There are lots of other super famous people who have owned sports teams but it’s hard to top being President of the United States. 2. The person who was the most famous BEFORE owning a sports team. I am inclined to think the technical answer to this is Bob Hope, who was a world famous entertainer well before owning a part of the Indians. Elton John would be a strong candidate as well. (In the sole ownership division, however, Gene Autry wins out.) 3. The person who is the most famous BECAUSE they own a sports team, in which case I think Steinbrenner is a pretty clear winner. I don’t think Al Davis is even close; you don’t see Davis hosting SNL or serving as a recurring character on a #1 sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/27 "2009-05-16T16:13:28Z")
Going back a long way, I would nominate [Albert Spalding](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Spalding), a famous player who became owner of the Chicago White Stockings (now the Cubs) and also the owner of a major sporting goods company. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/28 "2009-05-16T16:33:22Z")
> [@drm](#): > > Russel Crowe owns the South Sydney Rabbitohs (Rugby) League old chap, league. Rugby (union) is a man’s game. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/29 "2009-05-17T02:11:14Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > George **W.** Bush, not George H.W. Bush. Poppy never owned a sports team, to my knowledge. My comment should have read the “sons of” the 1992 candidates. The Perot who owned the Mavs was also the son of the candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/30 "2009-05-17T02:31:12Z")
Jerry Jones as owner of the Dallas Cowboys ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/31 "2009-05-17T11:39:42Z")
Elton John was also part owner of the LA Aztecs soccer team in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/32 "2009-05-17T13:43:37Z")
Mario Lemieux was pretty damn famous as a hockey player and now owns the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team he played for. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/33 "2009-05-17T15:42:18Z")
This isn’t as huge but it’s worth mentioning… Bud Selig (Commish of MLB) is one of the (many) stockholders in the Green Bay Packers. He’s a Wisconsin guy so it isn’t all that surprising, but a lot of people don’t know that. As of now Jimmy Buffet has stake in the Dolphins. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/34 "2009-05-17T16:20:48Z")
Woody Johnson, NY Jets. Real name Robert Wood Johnson IV. Throw a rock in central Jersey and you’ll hit something named after his great grand daddy. He is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune and was well known before he bought the team. Jon Bon Jovi (Bongiovi) is the founder and owner of the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/35 "2009-05-17T17:45:46Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Woody Johnson, NY Jets. Real name Robert Wood Johnson IV. Throw a rock in central Jersey and you’ll hit something named after his great grand daddy. He is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune and was well known before he bought the team. > > Jon Bon Jovi (Bongiovi) is the founder and owner of the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League. So is Ron Jawarski…I think it’s the same team too ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/36 "2009-05-17T18:03:25Z")
The answer is the Ford family who have owned the Lions for 60 years. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/37 "2009-05-18T06:48:32Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > So is Ron Jawarski…I think it’s the same team too Jaws is a minority owner of the Soul and team president. Bon Jovi is one of the founders, Co-Chairman of the Board and a majority owner. Richie Sambora is also a minority owner. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/38 "2009-05-18T10:30:33Z")
Burt Reynolds was co-owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/39 "2009-05-18T12:15:45Z")
Dave Nilsson, former catcher for the Brewers and 1999 All Star, after his career in Milwaukee bought the entire Australian baseball league. ---
**Author:** ![Intelligently\_Designed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intelligently_designed/32/20957_2.png) [@Intelligently\_Designed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intelligently_Designed)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535/40 "2009-05-19T05:16:25Z")
Back in the old NASL days, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon owned part of the Philadelphia Fury. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-people-to-ever-own-a-major-league-sports-franchise/496535.md?page=1)