Mukesh Ambani to Mark Cuban: 5 billionaires who bought their own sports teams – from NBA and NFL to Indian Premier League cricket

Sep 15 , 2020

All of these business billionaires have ploughed huge chunks of their wealth into buying beloved sports teams, from left: Mukesh Ambani, Joseph Tsai and Mark Cuban. Photo: @nitaambani9/ Instagram; File; AP Photo

From Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s famous splurge on the LA Clippers to Alibaba co-founder Joseph Tsai’s recent acquisition of the Brooklyn Nets and, of course, Mukesh Ambani and wife Nita’s long-standing tenure over IPL’s Mumbai Indians, these billionaires have all taken their love of sports to the next level

When it comes to hobbies, billionaires are known to spend big money to get the very best. Whether it’s collecting real estate, building garages full of luxury cars or tropical islands, many of the world’s richest have cashed out millions to indulge in their interests.

So it might not come as a huge surprise that these billionaires took their love for sports a step further by buying their own sports teams.

Mukesh and Nita Ambani

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani bought the Mumbai Indians in 2008 for a whopping US$111.9 million. This made the couple’s hometown team the most expensive in the Indian Premier League, the biggest franchise-based cricket tournament in the world.

The Ambani family has always been avid fans of cricket. Mukesh’s wife Nita is a frequent fixture on the stands at every Indians game, and even strategises with the team.

Dubbed the “Iron Lady of Indian Sports”, Nita shared that the “Mumbai Indians came silently and unexpectedly in our life and … has become an integral part of all our feelings and our being.”

Joseph Tsai

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