How Much Did Jerry Jones Pay For The Cowboys Football Team?
Have you ever wondered about the big money moves behind your favorite sports teams? It's pretty common, you know, to think about who owns a team and what kind of cash changed hands when they took over. For fans of the Dallas Cowboys, or just folks curious about sports business, a question that often comes up is about the team's current owner, Jerry Jones.
Many people ask, quite directly, "How much did Jerry Jones pay for the Cowboys football team?" It's a question that gets at the heart of how these massive sports enterprises change hands. The sum involved in such a deal is often a truly large amount, representing a significant financial commitment from the buyer.
Understanding the purchase price gives us a bit of a peek into the world of professional sports ownership. It also helps us see just how much these teams have grown in value over time, which is, honestly, a pretty wild thing to consider, especially for a team like the Cowboys.
Table of Contents
- Jerry Jones: A Brief Look at the Man
- The Big Purchase: Uncovering the Cost of the Cowboys
- Why the Price Was What It Was
- The Cowboys' Value Today
- Frequently Asked Questions
Jerry Jones: A Brief Look at the Man
Jerry Jones is, arguably, one of the most recognizable figures in all of professional sports. He's known for being the owner, president, and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, a position he's held for quite some time now.
He's a man who made his fortune in oil and gas before stepping into the football world. His business background gave him, you know, a certain way of looking at things, which he brought directly to the Cowboys organization.
Before his football career, he was a pretty good player himself. He actually played college football at the University of Arkansas, where he was a co-captain of the 1964 national championship team. That's a fun fact, isn't it?
His story is pretty interesting, from his early days to becoming a very public face of the NFL. He's definitely made his mark, you could say, on the game.
Personal Details and Bio Data of Jerry Jones
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jerral Wayne Jones |
| Born | October 13, 1942 (currently 81 years old, as of 2024) |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California |
| Education | University of Arkansas (B.S. in Business Administration) |
| Occupation | Owner, President, and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys |
| Spouse | Gene Jones |
| Children | Stephen Jones, Charlotte Jones Anderson, Jerry Jones Jr. |
| Net Worth (approx.) | Reported to be in the billions (varies by source, but a very large amount) |
| NFL Hall of Fame | Inducted 2017 |
The Big Purchase: Uncovering the Cost of the Cowboys
So, let's get to the main question that brought you here: How much did Jerry Jones pay for the Cowboys football team? The answer takes us back a bit in time, to a specific moment in sports history.
The purchase happened back in 1989. At that point, the Dallas Cowboys were owned by a man named H.R. "Bum" Bright. The team, it's fair to say, wasn't doing so hot on the field.
Jerry Jones, a businessman from Arkansas, saw a real chance here. He decided to step in and buy the team, along with some other very important assets that came with it. It was a deal that, frankly, changed everything for the Cowboys.
The price he paid was a considerable sum for that era. It was a very significant financial commitment, one that raised a lot of eyebrows at the time, too it's almost.
The 1989 Deal: A Moment in Time
In February of 1989, Jerry Jones officially purchased the Dallas Cowboys. The amount he paid for the team itself was 140 million dollars. That was, you know, a truly massive amount of money for a sports franchise back then.
To give you some perspective, that figure was considered quite high at the time. It showed a lot of belief, or perhaps a lot of guts, on Jones's part to put that kind of money down for a team that was struggling.
This transaction was more than just buying a football team, though. It was a package deal, and that's an important detail to keep in mind, you know, when we talk about the overall cost.
The deal also involved taking on some existing debt that the team had. So, the 140 million dollars was just one part of the financial picture, really.
It was a moment that, apparently, shocked many in the NFL world. The idea of one person coming in and buying such a storied, though then struggling, franchise for that kind of cash was a pretty big deal, honestly.
What Was Included in the Sale?
When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, he didn't just get the team. He also got the rights to Texas Stadium, which was the team's home field at the time. This was a very important part of the deal, as a matter of fact.
Owning the stadium meant he had control over a lot of the team's revenue streams. This included things like concessions, parking, and other events held at the venue. That's a pretty big advantage for an owner, you could say.
So, the 140 million dollars covered both the football club and the stadium lease. This combination made the total investment a truly substantial one, demonstrating a large degree of financial commitment from Jones.
This kind of combined purchase, where the owner also gets control of the venue, is actually quite common in professional sports now. But back then, it was perhaps a bit more unique, or at least not as widely discussed.
It showed a vision for how to make the team more profitable, beyond just winning games. It was about creating a full entertainment enterprise, which, you know, is a pretty smart way to run things.
Why the Price Was What It Was
The 140 million dollar price tag, which was a very large amount, reflected a few things about the Cowboys at that time. Even though they were losing games, they were still the Dallas Cowboys.
The team had a history, a brand, and a fan base that was, basically, truly huge. This kind of established presence in the sports world always adds value, even when performance on the field isn't top-notch.
Also, the NFL itself was growing. The league was becoming more and more popular, with television deals getting bigger and bigger. This meant that owning an NFL team was seen as a good investment for the future, you know.
So, while the immediate performance of the team might have suggested a lower price, the potential for future earnings and the existing brand power made it worth a considerable sum. It was, in a way, a bet on the future of the NFL and the Cowboys' place within it.
The stadium rights, as mentioned, added a lot to the value, too. Having that control over the venue was a significant asset, allowing for more ways to make money from the team's operations. That's just good business, really.
It's also worth noting that Jones had a specific plan. He wasn't just buying a team; he was buying a project. He wanted to shake things up, and that kind of ambition can sometimes mean paying a bit more for the chance to make big changes.
The Cowboys' Value Today
Now, if you think 140 million dollars was a lot of money back in 1989, just consider what the Dallas Cowboys are worth today. The difference is, quite frankly, staggering. It shows just how much the NFL has grown, and how well Jones has managed the team's business side.
As of 2024, the Dallas Cowboys are consistently ranked as the most valuable sports franchise in the world. Their worth is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, a truly vast quantity compared to that initial purchase price.
This huge increase in value is due to a lot of factors. There's the massive revenue from television deals, which have grown incredibly over the years. There are also the sponsorships, the merchandise sales, and the success of AT&T Stadium, their current home field.
The Cowboys are, you know, a global brand now. They have fans all over the world, and that reach translates into a lot of money. It's a testament to the power of the NFL and, honestly, to Jones's business sense.
So, while he paid a significant amount back then, that initial investment has, apparently, paid off in a truly big way. It's a pretty amazing return on investment, if you think about it.
This growth in value also highlights the meaning of "much" in a different context. What was considered a large amount then is now a small fraction of the team's current worth, showing how much the scale of sports business has expanded. You can learn more about the current valuations of sports teams by checking out reports from financial publications like Forbes, which regularly track these figures. Forbes, for example, often provides updated estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Jerry Jones pay for the Cowboys football team and the stadium?
Jerry Jones paid 140 million dollars in 1989 for the Dallas Cowboys football team. This amount also included the rights to operate Texas Stadium, which was their home field at the time. It was a package deal, covering both the team and the stadium operations.
When did Jerry Jones buy the Dallas Cowboys?
Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys in February of 1989. This acquisition marked a significant turning point for the franchise, bringing in new ownership and a new direction for the team.
What is the Dallas Cowboys worth today?
As of 2024, the Dallas Cowboys are valued at a very large amount, estimated to be in the billions of dollars. They are often considered the most valuable sports franchise globally, showing a vast increase in worth since Jones's initial purchase. You can learn more about the history of the Dallas Cowboys on our site, and also find out more about how sports teams are valued on this page.
How Much Did Jerry Jones Pay for His Most Valuable Holding the Dallas Cowboys Now the Most
How much did Jerry Jones pay for the Cowboys?
How much did Jerry Jones pay for the Cowboys?
