The Chicago Cubs are owned by the Ricketts family, led by chairman Thomas S. Ricketts.
The family fortune comes from Joe Ricketts, who founded the brokerage firm TD Ameritrade.
The Ricketts bought the Cubs, Wrigley Field, and a stake in the team’s television rights from the Chicago Tribune Company for 845 million dollars in 2009, after Tribune filed for bankruptcy.
As of 2026, Forbes, CNBC, and Sportico each value the franchise at more than 5 billion dollars, one of the ten most valuable teams in Major League Baseball.
Tom Ricketts serves as chairman and controlling governor, representing the family at MLB owners meetings.
His siblings Laura, Pete, and Todd Ricketts are also listed as co owners, alongside their father Joe Ricketts, who has largely stepped back from day to day involvement.
Pete Ricketts left the family business to pursue politics, later serving as governor of Nebraska before becoming a United States senator.
Todd Ricketts has held finance leadership roles with the Republican National Committee.
Laura Ricketts is a prominent LGBTQ rights advocate and was the first openly gay owner of a major North American sports franchise.
From a bankrupt newspaper company to a multi billion dollar family empire, the Cubs ownership story has more twists than most fans realize, so here is the full breakdown.
Table of Contents
Chicago Cubs Ownership At A Glance
| Team | Chicago Cubs |
| Current Owner | Ricketts Family (Thomas S. Ricketts, Chairman) |
| Ownership Group | Tom, Laura, Pete, Todd, and Joe Ricketts |
| Purchase Price | 845 million dollars in 2009 for 95 percent of the team, Wrigley Field, and a stake in the regional sports network |
| 2026 Valuation | 5.25 billion to 6.48 billion dollars, per Forbes, CNBC, and Sportico estimates |
| Founded | 1876, as the Chicago White Stockings |
| League | MLB, National League Central |
| Home Stadium | Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois |
| World Series Titles | 3 total, in 1907, 1908, and 2016 |
| Previous Owner | Chicago Tribune Company, 1981 to 2009 |
The Ricketts Family Ownership Tree
Ownership of the Cubs is spread across five members of one family, though Tom Ricketts holds the controlling vote recognized by Major League Baseball.
Chicago Cubs Ownership History
The Cubs are one of baseball’s two charter National League franchises still playing in their original city.
Ownership has passed through only a handful of families and companies in more than 150 years, according to Wikipedia.
How Much Did The Ricketts Family Pay For The Cubs In 2009
The Cubs came up for sale after the Chicago Tribune Company was taken private in a heavily leveraged 2007 buyout led by investor Sam Zell.
That deal left Tribune carrying enormous debt, and the company filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2008 while the Cubs sale was still underway.
Several bidders reportedly circled the team, including entrepreneur Mark Cuban, though he was never seriously considered by Tribune or Major League Baseball.
The Ricketts family emerged as the winning bidder, agreeing to pay 845 million dollars for 95 percent of the Cubs, Wrigley Field, and a 25 percent stake in the team’s regional network.
MLB owners formally approved the sale in October 2009, and Tom Ricketts was installed as chairman, ending nearly three decades of corporate ownership.
According to the official MLB.com ownership history, the deal remains one of the largest sports transactions of that era.
Is Tom Ricketts A Good Owner: Is Ricketts Ownership Really Worth It For The Cubs
By almost any financial measure, the Ricketts era has been a remarkable success.
A purchase price of 845 million dollars in 2009 has grown into a franchise valued at more than 5 billion dollars in 2026.
The team also delivered its most meaningful sporting achievement in generations, breaking a 108 year championship drought with the 2016 World Series title.
Ownership funded a one billion dollar renovation of Wrigley Field and launched the Marquee Sports Network in 2020 to control more broadcast revenue directly.
Fan sentiment tells a more mixed story on the baseball side. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma has said plainly that Tom Ricketts is not going to keep the Cubs among the top five payrolls in baseball on a consistent basis.
Critics point to the Cubs largely avoiding the biggest free agent contracts of recent years, including a pass on Juan Soto, as evidence ownership favors financial discipline over aggressive spending.
The Wrigley Field renovation also drew some negative attention, with reported budget overages and a federal review of accessibility compliance during construction.
So is Tom Ricketts a good owner? Financially, yes. On the field, many fans and insiders still want to see more spending every season.
How Much Are The Chicago Cubs Worth In 2026
Valuation estimates vary slightly by methodology, but every major outlet agrees the Cubs now rank among baseball’s most valuable teams.
Forbes put the franchise at 5 billion dollars in its March 2026 rankings, with 2025 revenue of roughly 599 million dollars.
CNBC calculated a slightly higher figure of 5.25 billion dollars, while Sportico’s independent model placed the Cubs at 6.48 billion dollars, up from 5.69 billion the year before.
All three rankings placed the Cubs behind only the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and a small handful of other franchises.
Since the Ricketts family bought the Cubs for roughly 700 million dollars in comparable team value in 2009, the franchise has appreciated more than 600 percent.
What Is The Ricketts Family Net Worth In 2026
The Ricketts family fortune is closely tied to the Cubs franchise itself, now valued between 5.25 billion and 6.48 billion dollars.
That valuation alone makes the family’s ownership stake worth billions on paper, even before counting their other business interests.
Additional wealth traces back to patriarch Joe Ricketts, who built and later sold TD Ameritrade, one of the largest online brokerage firms in the country.
Exact personal net worth figures vary by source and change with market conditions, but the Cubs remain the family’s single most valuable asset.
Wrigley Field And The Marquee Sports Network Under Ricketts
Soon after taking over, Ricketts ownership committed to modernizing Wrigley Field without abandoning its historic character.
The 1060 Project, named for the ballpark’s address on Addison Street, ran from roughly 2014 through 2019 and cost about one billion dollars.
The project added new clubhouses, expanded concourses, video boards, and the Gallagher Way plaza and office development surrounding the stadium.
In 2020 the family also launched the Marquee Sports Network, a regional channel that gave the Cubs more direct control over one of their largest revenue streams.
Are The Chicago Cubs For Sale In 2026
No, the Ricketts family has given no indication the Cubs are for sale in 2026, and the team remains fully family owned.
The closest the family came to selling any portion of the franchise was back in 2014, when Tom Ricketts said the group was exploring options, including possibly selling non controlling minority shares, to help finance the Wrigley Field renovation.
That plan never resulted in an outside minority owner joining the group, and ownership has stayed concentrated among Tom, Laura, Pete, Todd, and Joe Ricketts ever since.
Chicago is home to numerous major American companies alongside the Cubs, from consumer packaged goods brands like Fairlife Milk to global financial firms.
Ownership scrutiny of this kind is not unique to baseball. We explored similar questions in our breakdown of who owns FIFA, the global governing body of soccer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicago Cubs Ownership
Who Is The Owner Of The Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are owned by the Ricketts family. Thomas S. Ricketts serves as chairman and controlling governor, while his siblings Laura, Pete, and Todd Ricketts are also listed as co owners.
Who Is Tom Ricketts
Tom Ricketts is the chairman and controlling governor of the Chicago Cubs. He is the son of Joe Ricketts, the TD Ameritrade founder, and has led the family’s ownership group since 2009.
How Much Did The Ricketts Family Pay For The Cubs
The Ricketts family paid 845 million dollars in 2009 for 95 percent of the Cubs, Wrigley Field, and a stake in the team’s television rights.
Are The Chicago Cubs For Sale In 2026
No. As of 2026 the Cubs remain fully owned by the Ricketts family, with no reported plans for a sale.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.