**Dallas Cowboys: Financial Giants of the Gridiron, Even Without the Super Bowl**
For the 30th year in a row, the Dallas Cowboys found themselves at home instead of strutting their stuff on the Super Bowl stage. But don’t let that absence fool you; when it comes to the business of football, owner Jerry Jones is racking up more wins than a well-practiced quarterback. The Cowboys stand tall as the most valuable sports team in the world, boasting a staggering valuation of $13 billion. And if that number doesn’t impress you, their operating income of $629 million last season certainly will. That’s right—a cool $629 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, often called EBITDA for short.
To put the Cowboys’ financial prowess in perspective, they outclass the number two team, the Golden State Warriors, by more than $200 million. While the Warriors are no slouches with their own operating income of $49 million, they pale in comparison to Jerry Jones’s mighty franchise. In fact, the Cowboys earned nearly $400 million more in EBITDA than any other sports team on the planet. Of the 211 franchises Forbes evaluated in 2025 across various leagues, only 28 managed to pull in more revenue than the Cowboys’ operating income. That just goes to show that while the Cowboys might be struggling on the field, they’re conquering the financial game like pros.
The world of sports has changed quite a bit over the last generation. Once upon a time, it was common for teams to struggle financially, with owners banking their profits upon selling their stakes in the franchises. Nowadays, financial stability and profitability are more the norm—especially in leagues like the NFL. In fact, the average revenue for teams in the NFL has shot up to $622 million, a whopping 91% increase over the past decade. Each franchise got a hefty boost, pocketing about $443 million from league distributions last season. This financial cushion means NFL teams are nearly guaranteed to stay in the black.
But it’s not just the Cowboys who are cashing in. The NBA is also on the upswing, with its franchises raking in an average of $416 million in revenue. Even though there are a few teams struggling—only two teams operated at a loss—the financial outlook is bright. The NBA is poised for even more growth with a recent media deal worth a jaw-dropping $76 billion. Meanwhile, the NHL has its own success story, where the franchises averaged $248 million in revenue and not a single team swung into the red.
As sports continue to thrive, some teams still face challenges. For instance, the New York Mets found themselves deep in the financial hole, losing an estimated $268 million in 2024. The penalties for luxury tax had the Mets crying all the way to the bank—just not in the direction they’d prefer to be going. Across the Atlantic, soccer clubs continue to struggle with financial issues, especially in the European leagues, where a lack of cost controls has led to significant losses.
In the grand scheme of things, the Dallas Cowboys continue to reign supreme, not just as an astronomical sports franchise, but as a financial titan. While they may not take home the Lombardi Trophy this year, their balance sheet is nothing short of championship material. The Cowboys have perfected the blend of sports and business, and for them, it’s all about the profits, baby! Who needs a Super Bowl trophy when you’ve got financial clout like this? As the old saying goes, “money talks,” and right now, the Dallas Cowboys’ bank account is singing a sweet melody.
