Stephen Ross isn’t ready to cash out - not even for a jaw-dropping $15 billion.
The 85-year-old Miami Dolphins owner revealed he’s turned down offers approaching that figure, saying the NFL remains the most valuable investment he can think of. And when you look at the current landscape of professional sports - with franchise values skyrocketing and media rights deals growing by the year - it’s hard to argue with him.
“I don’t think there’s a better asset,” Ross told Bloomberg. “I know what I’ve been offered, numbers you wouldn’t believe… Close to $15 billion.
Pretty high numbers. But you say, ‘Where would you put the money?
Then what would I do with it?’”
That’s not just a flex - it’s a reflection of how bullish Ross is on the NFL’s future. While most investors would jump at the chance to turn that kind of profit, Ross sees long-term value in staying the course. And he’s thinking generationally, too.
Ross made it clear he doesn’t plan to sell the team and instead intends to keep it in the family. His son-in-law, Daniel Sillman, is in line to take over the reins when the time comes. Sillman is currently CEO of Relevent Sports Group - a global sports marketing and media rights firm founded by Ross - and has worked closely with him for years, even before marrying Ross’s daughter.
This isn’t just about legacy, though. Ross has already dipped into the world of private equity, selling a 10 percent stake in the franchise to Ares Management. But that move was strategic - not a step toward relinquishing control.
“If I sell 10, 20 percent I have total control,” Ross said.
That’s the key detail here. Ross isn’t against bringing in outside capital - he just wants to make sure the Dolphins stay under his family’s direction. And with valuations continuing to soar, he’s sitting on one of the most valuable assets in all of sports.
For context, a $15 billion sale would shatter every record in the books. The most expensive franchise deals to date haven’t come close to that number.
But Ross sounds unmoved. He’s not playing the short game.
He’s betting on the continued dominance of the NFL, and he’s not ready to walk away from the table - no matter how high the offer.
In an era where ownership groups shuffle and rebrand at a dizzying pace, Ross is doubling down on stability, legacy, and the long-term value of being part of the NFL machine. And for now, the Dolphins aren’t going anywhere.