Teams/Central Division
Chicago Bulls
Jerry Reinsdorf, 90, a former tax lawyer, has controlled the Bulls since 1985, when his group paid $9.2M for 56.8%. Forbes values the team at $6.7B; it has had three ownership groups since its founding in 1966.
Every owner since the start
- 1985 to todayJerry Reinsdorf and his investor group
Bought 56.8% for $9.2M in March 1985. Wikipedia names the sellers as Philip Klutznick, George Steinbrenner, Walter Shorenstein and the Arthur Wirtz estate.
- 1972 to 1985Ten-member group including Lester Crown and Arthur Wirtz
Bought the team for $5.1M from Dick Klein, Elmer Rich and other original holders. The NBA approved the sale in August 1972.
- 1966 to 1972Dick Klein and partners
Founded. Wikipedia gives the expansion fee as $1.6M. His partners removed Klein from running the team in 1969.
Value over time
Show the numbers
| Year | Forbes value |
|---|---|
| 1998 | $303M |
| 1999 | $307M |
| 2000 | $314M |
| 2002 | $329M |
| 2003 | $323M |
| 2004 | $368M |
| 2005 | $409M |
| 2007 | $500M |
| 2008 | $504M |
| 2009 | $511M |
| 2011 | $511M |
| 2012 | $600M |
| 2013 | $800M |
| 2014 | $1B |
| 2015 | $2B |
| 2016 | $2.3B |
| 2017 | $2.5B |
| 2018 | $2.6B |
| 2019 | $2.9B |
| 2020 | $3.2B |
| 2021 | $3.65B |
| 2022 | $4.1B |
| 2023 | $4.6B |
| 2024 | $5B |
| 2025 | $6B |
| 2026 | $6.7B |
Forbes valued the Bulls at $303M in 1998 and $6.7B in 2026, about 22.1 times as much. The biggest one-year jump, $1.0B, came twice: 2014 to 2015, when the value doubled to $2.0B, and 2024 to 2025.
How the current owner bought it
- Reinsdorf led a syndicate, a group of investors, that bought 56.8% in March 1985 for $9.2M.
- The sale followed the death of partner Arthur Wirtz in July 1983. Reinsdorf later described the club he took over as poorly run by owners with little time for it.
- Wikipedia says the group reached 63% in January 1986 by buying Jonathan Kovler's 7%.
- The team is held in a limited partnership. Reinsdorf is its NBA control person, the partner the league treats as in charge.
- On 26 June 2026 Lukas and Samantha Walton agreed to buy a minority interest in the Bulls and part of United Center. The sellers are existing limited partners, not the Reinsdorf family.
Partners in the team
| Partner | Stake | Who they are |
|---|---|---|
| Lukas and Samantha Walton | undisclosed | Lukas, 39, is a Walmart heir who runs the investment firm Builders Vision. |
Wikipedia also lists Lester Crown and the estate of Lamar Hunt as current partners.
How the team is run
- Michael Reinsdorf, Jerry's son, has been president since 2010 and is now president and chief executive. He runs the club day to day.
- Hoops Rumors reports that Michael leads executive searches and Jerry gives final approval.
- The Bulls fired basketball chiefs Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley on 6 April 2026. The team went 31-51 in 2025-26, its fourth straight season out of the playoffs.
- The Reinsdorf and Wirtz families keep control of the arena and of the 1901 Project, a redevelopment of the land around it. Its first phase broke ground in June 2026.
- Sportcal reports that the 2026 agreement gives the Waltons no path to control. The team has never relocated or been run by the league.
Quick answers
Who owns the Chicago Bulls?
Jerry Reinsdorf, 90, a former tax lawyer, has controlled the Bulls since 1985, when his group paid $9.2M for 56.8%.
How much are the Chicago Bulls worth?
Forbes values the Chicago Bulls at $6.7B in its October 2026 list, up 12% from $6B a year earlier. That makes them the 6th most valuable of the 30 teams; in 1998 Forbes put the team at $303M.
How much did the current owner pay for the Bulls?
$16M (Jerry Reinsdorf, 1985). Forbes now values the team at about 419 times that price.
Who owned the Chicago Bulls before the current owner?
Ten-member group including Lester Crown and Arthur Wirtz (1972 to 1985). Bought the team for $5.1M from Dick Klein, Elmer Rich and other original holders. The NBA approved the sale in August 1972.
Open questions
- The size, price and valuation of the Walton stake are undisclosed. Sportcal says US reports suggest about 10%.
- Whether the NBA has approved the Walton deal, and when it closes, was still not found on 28 October 2026. The advisers' July 2026 notices do not say.
- Reinsdorf's exact share is not public. The 40% is a Forbes estimate; Wikipedia's 63% is the 1986 group figure.
- The partners who sold to the Waltons are not named.
- The 1972 price and buyer list rest on one newspaper report. The 1966 fee and the 1985 seller list rest on Wikipedia.