Stephen Ross, the owner of the Miami Dolphins, revealed that he’s received offers approaching $15 billion for his NFL franchise. This comes as the prices of sports teams soar, largely due to lucrative media rights deals.
In an interview in Palm Beach, Florida, Ross, who is 85, stated, “I don’t think there’s a better asset.” He added, “I know what I was offered. It’s an unbelievable number.” His current offer is a substantial increase from the $1 billion he spent acquiring the Dolphins back in 2008 and 2009, which included the stadium and the land around it.
The $15 billion figure is notably a historic offer, surpassing last summer’s valuation and eclipsing the Los Angeles Lakers’ $10 billion deal from last year. However, it’s not clear whether this substantial amount includes the stadium along with the team.
Despite the staggering offers, Ross expressed no interest in selling. He mused, “Where would I spend that money?” According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ross is worth approximately $15.1 billion. He indicated that he plans to keep the team within the family and eventually pass ownership to his son-in-law, Daniel Silliman.
Ross believes that valuations for NFL teams will continue to climb. He noted that even the Dolphins, who haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1974, are likely to benefit from the competition among networks and streaming platforms for media rights.
In 2024, Ross had sold a 13% stake in the Dolphins and other assets, including Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Grand Prix, which was valued at around $8 billion. This transaction made him one of the first owners to sell a piece of an NFL team to a private equity firm. He explained his motivation was to gather funds for opportunities in Florida, which he described as a forthcoming financial and tech hub. He mentioned that the state’s favorable tax policies may attract people from California.
Living in Palm Beach, Ross emphasized the increasing interest in South Florida real estate, labeling it as “one of the best places in America today, if not actually the best place to do business.”
Interestingly, Ross chose not to comment on the search for the Dolphins’ 12th full-time head coach after parting ways with Mike McDaniel earlier this month. The Dolphins closed out the season with a disappointing 7 wins and 10 losses.
