Without a doubt, Stan Kroenke’s net worth is an insanely high number. In fairness, the number of professional sports teams he owns is also ridiculously high, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Stan Kroenke’s net worth is out of this world. Not many people rank as one of the richest NFL owners and one of the richest NBA owners, but Kroenke fits both descriptions and then some.
Who is Stan Kroenke?
But who is Stan Kroenke, both inside and outside of his business ventures and sports teams?
Most people only know him as a wealthy businessman and owner and what they see in the headlines. But that doesn’t always fully capture a person. With that said, let’s get to know Kroenke a little better.
How much is Stan Kroenke’s net worth?
First we will clear the biggest question. In 2023, Stan Kroenke’s net worth is estimated to be around $12.9 billion.
He doesn’t quite rank among the top 100 richest people in the world, although he comes very close to that mark.
Where did Stan Kroenke grow up?
Kroenke grew up in the small town of Mora, Missouri, which is actually considered an unincorporated community. He comes from a rather humble background, although he showed a flair for business early in life.
Growing up, Kroenke’s father owned a lumber company, and Kroenke’s first job was sweeping the floors at the lumber company. However, it turned out that he was far more valuable.
Apparently, by the age of ten, Kroenke was managing the accounts for his father’s lumber business. He also played basketball and baseball and ran track and field in high school before eventually earning his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Missouri.
How did Stan Kroenke get rich?
Stan Kroenke certainly didn’t get rich managing the books in his father’s lumber business. Rather, he built most of his wealth through his ventures as a real estate developer.
He also had the advantage of marrying Ann Walton, daughter of Walmart co-founder Bud Walton. To be fair, when Kroenke met his wife-to-be, he was already a successful real estate developer, and Walmart was nowhere near the giant it is today.
However, Kroenke used Walmart as the anchor business for many of the malls he built, leading to his prosperity. Kroenke’s business ventures also include working ranches and a winery, giving him a diversified portfolio outside of any sports businesses he owns.
What teams does Stan Kroenke own?
Stan Kroenke owns no fewer than five American professional sports franchises. He owns the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, the Colorado Rapids of the MLS, and the Colorado Mammoth, a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. Kroenke also owns two esports franchises, the Overwatch League’s Los Angeles Gladiators and the Call of Duty League’s Los Angeles Guerrillas.
Of course, Kroenke’s ownership of the Nuggets and Avalanche is somewhat unofficial. In order to buy the Rams, Kroenke had to pass ownership of the Nuggets and Avalanche to his wife. This complied with an NFL rule that prohibits owners from owning teams in other professional sports leagues in other markets.
In 2011, ‘Kroenke buys Arsenal’ headlines continued to shake the sporting world as Kroenke secured majority stakes in Arsenal FC of the English Premier League and Arsenal Women’s FC of the Women’s Super League. Kroenke was already a member of the Arsenal board but increased his stake in the club to almost 63% in 2011. By 2018, Kroenke had bought about 90% of Arsenal and planned to eventually control all of the club’s shares.
It should come as no surprise that Kroenke has built a virtual sports empire. In addition to his business acumen, Kroenke’s father also inherited his love of sports. Specifically, Kroenke’s father was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and named his son Stan after Stan Musial.
Were Stan Kroenke’s sports teams successful under his leadership?
The teams Kroenke owns have had mixed results during his tenure. He bought the Avalanche and Nuggets in 2000, with the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup in 2001 and 2022.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, endured many ups and downs, but finally broke through in 2023 and reached the NBA Finals. The Rapids also won the MLS Cup in 2010 with Kroenke as owner but otherwise struggled to maintain a consistent level of success.
Meanwhile, Kroenke bought 30% of the Rams in 1995, enabling a move from Los Angeles to St. Louis. In 2010, he became a full-time owner of the Rams and no doubt hoped to build one of the great NFL dynasties.
However, the Rams only made the playoffs after Kroenke moved the franchise back to Los Angeles, which caused a backlash in his home state of Missouri. Of course, in their first six seasons in Los Angeles, the Rams reached the Super Bowl twice and won Super Bowl LVI.
Does Stan Kroenke own a lot of land?
Yes, in addition to owning several sports franchises, Stan Kroenke is one of the largest landowners in the United States. As previously mentioned, he built much of his fortune through real estate and raising livestock.
As a result, Kroenke reportedly owns 60 million square feet of real estate and nearly 1.4 million acres of land, making him one of the top five private landowners in the United States. In 2016, Kroenke bought a ranch covering over 500,000 acres. The sale is believed to be the largest ranch sale of all time, while believed to be the largest ranch in the US located behind a single fence.
Is Stan Kroenke a private person?
Yes, Stan Kroenke is an incredibly private person, which is why he is nicknamed “Silent Stan”.
Despite owning an impressive amount of land and several professional sports franchises, he actively shuns the limelight and rarely gives interviews or makes public appearances. In other words, Kroenke is one of the more reclusive billionaires in the world.