USA Today Sports
Steve Ballmer helped reset the true value of sports franchises when he paid $2 billion for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The actual value of something is ultimately whatever somebody is willing to pay for it, just ask Steve Ballmer.
In 2014, Ballmer shocked many in the sports world when he paid $2 billion for the Los Angles Clippers - nearly four times the team's perceived value at the time - admitting that he was not in it to make a lot of money.
Ballmer's enthusiastic wallet-first dive into the world of pro sports helped reset the market for what franchises are worth and what owners might expect when they start thinking about selling. Since that deal, it has become more common to see sale prices above $1 billion, but there are also still relative deals to be had.
Below is a look at every pro team that has sold in the major North American sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS), and the English Premier League, since Ballmer's move, and how much the new owners paid. We have also included notable teams from other top leagues from around the world.
Most recent sales are first and values are the sale price or the valuation in cases where the new owner purchased less than 100% of the team. Forbes and Transfer Markt valuations are based on the most recent valuation prior to the team sale.