IPL Owners List 2026 – Teams Info, Net Worth & Franchise Cost
The Billionaires, Bollywood Stars & Business Empires Behind Cricket’s Richest League
From Mukesh Ambani’s $92.8 billion empire to Shah Rukh Khan’s Bollywood swagger, meet every owner shaping the IPL’s $18.5 billion story.
Complete List of IPL Team Owners 2026
The IPL currently features 10 franchises owned by a mix of billionaire industrialists, global investment firms, Bollywood celebrities, and corporate houses.
Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians) is the wealthiest IPL owner with a net worth of $92.8 billion. The combined net worth of all IPL owners exceeds $150 billion.
MI
Mukesh & Nita Ambani
Reliance Industries
CSK
N. Srinivasan
India Cements / CSKCL
KKR
Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Jay Mehta
Red Chillies / Mehta Group
PBKS
Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, Karan Paul
Dabur/Wadia/PZNZ
DC
Sajjan Jindal & Parth Jindal
JSW Group + GMR Group
SRH
Kalanithi Maran & Kavya Maran
Sun TV Network
GT
CVC Capital + Torrent Group
CVC Capital Partners
LSG
Sanjiv Goenka
RPSG Group
RCB
Aditya Birla Group + Blackstone
New ownership (2026)
RR
Kal Somani-led consortium
New ownership (2026)
*RCB: Previously owned by Diageo/United Spirits ($11.95B). Sold in March 2026 to Aditya Birla Group-led consortium for $1.78 billion. The deal includes the WPL team.
Ownership Wealth Ranking (Individual Net Worth)
Ranked by personal/family wealth, not corporate Assets Under Management:
What Every IPL Franchise Cost: 2008 to 2026
The original 8 IPL franchises were sold for a combined $723.59 million in January 2008. The base price per team was set at $50 million.
Mumbai Indians was the most expensive at $111.9 million. Rajasthan Royals was the cheapest at $67 million. That same RR franchise just sold for $1.63 billion in 2026. That’s a 24x return.
Original 2008 Franchise Auction Prices
| # | Franchise | 2008 Price (USD) | 2008 Price (INR Cr) | Original Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai Indians | $111.9M | ~839 Cr | Mukesh Ambani / Reliance |
| 2 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | $111.6M | ~837 Cr | Vijay Mallya / UB Group |
| 3 | Chennai Super Kings | $91M | ~683 Cr | N. Srinivasan / India Cements |
| 4 | Delhi Daredevils | $84M | ~630 Cr | GMR Group |
| 5 | Punjab (Kings XI Punjab) | $76M | ~570 Cr | Mohit Burman consortium |
| 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders | $75.1M | ~563 Cr | Shah Rukh Khan / Red Chillies |
| 7 | Deccan Chargers | $107M | ~803 Cr | Deccan Chronicle Holdings |
| 8 | Rajasthan Royals | $67M | ~503 Cr | Emerging Media (Manoj Badale) |
Later Franchise Additions & Key Ownership Changes
| Year | Franchise / Event | Price | Buyer | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Pune Warriors India | $370M (INR 1,702 Cr) | Sahara Group | Highest ever IPL franchise bid at the time |
| 2010 | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | $333.3M | Rendezvous Sports World | Expansion team alongside Pune |
| 2012 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ~INR 425 Cr (~$85M) | Sun TV Network | Replaced terminated Deccan Chargers |
| 2018 | Delhi Capitals (50% stake) | ~INR 550 Cr | JSW Sports | Rebranded from Delhi Daredevils |
| 2022 | Lucknow Super Giants | INR 7,090 Cr ($940M) | RPSG Group | Highest expansion franchise fee ever |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | INR 5,625 Cr ($750M) | CVC Capital + Torrent | 10th franchise to complete expansion |
| 2026 | Rajasthan Royals (full sale) | $1.63 billion | Kal Somani consortium | First $1B+ IPL franchise sale |
| 2026 | RCB (full sale) | $1.78 billion | Aditya Birla + Blackstone | Most expensive IPL franchise sale ever |
The ROI Story: 2008 vs 2026
Shah Rukh Khan paid $75.1 million for KKR in 2008. Current brand value: $222 million. That’s a 302% return, excluding annual profits of INR 50-200 crore distributed each year.
Mukesh Ambani paid $111.9 million for MI. Current brand value: $242 million. That’s a 116% return on brand value alone. MI also reportedly generates INR 697 crore in annual revenue.
If the BCCI announced two new franchises tomorrow, analysts project each would cost INR 15,000-20,000 crore ($1.8-2.4 billion). That’s double what LSG and GT paid in 2022.
The 2026 Franchise Sales That Changed Everything
2026 marked the most dramatic ownership shake-up in IPL history. Two original franchises changed hands for a combined $3.41 billion.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
$1.78 Billion
Rajasthan Royals
$1.63 Billion
RCB Ownership Timeline
Franchise-by-Franchise Owner Profiles
Individual profiles of each current IPL franchise with team-colored borders and detailed ownership information.
Mumbai Indians
Owner: Mukesh Ambani & Nita Ambani | Company: Reliance Industries (Indiawin Sports subsidiary)
Chennai Super Kings
Owner: N. Srinivasan | Company: Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd (India Cements)
Delhi Capitals
Owner: Sajjan Jindal (JSW) & GMR Group | 50-50 co-ownership since 2018
Punjab Kings
Owners: Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, Karan Paul | Consortium ownership
Kolkata Knight Riders
Owner: Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla & Jay Mehta | Company: Red Chillies Entertainment + Mehta Group
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Owner: Kalanithi Maran & Kavya Maran | Company: Sun TV Network
Rajasthan Royals
New Owner (2026): Kal Somani-led consortium including Rob Walton (Walmart) & Hamp family
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Owner: Aditya Birla Group-led Consortium (Lead: Kumar Mangalam Birla) | Company: Aditya Birla Group
Lucknow Super Giants
Owner: Sanjiv Goenka | Company: RPSG Group
Gujarat Titans
Owner: CVC Capital Partners (33%) + Torrent Group (67%)
Disbanded IPL Teams: The Franchises That Disappeared
5 IPL franchises no longer exist. Three were terminated for financial failures, and two were temporary replacements that were dissolved when suspended teams returned.
One of them even won an IPL title. Another lost the final by a single run in their last-ever match.
1. Deccan Chargers (2008-2012)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| City | Hyderabad |
| Owner | Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd (T. Venkattram Reddy, Gayatri Reddy) |
| Franchise Cost | $107 million (2008) |
| Seasons Played | 5 (2008-2012) |
| IPL Title | 2009 (beat RCB in Johannesburg, South Africa) |
| Captain(s) | VVS Laxman (2008), Adam Gilchrist (2009-2010), Kumar Sangakkara (2011-2012) |
| Reason for Termination | Financial collapse. Could not pay INR 100 crore bank guarantee. BCCI terminated on Sept 14, 2012. |
| Replaced By | Sunrisers Hyderabad (Sun TV Network won rebid, Oct 2012) |
| Legal Aftermath | Bombay HC arbitration tribunal ruled termination was illegal in 2020. Awarded INR 4,814 crore + 10% interest to DCHL. |
The Chargers went from dead last in 2008 to champions in 2009. That remains the only “worst to first” turnaround in IPL history. Gilchrist changed everything: new kit, new attitude, backing youngsters like Rohit Sharma (who won Emerging Player of the Tournament).
2. Kochi Tuskers Kerala (2011)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| City | Kochi, Kerala |
| Owner | Kochi Cricket Pvt Ltd (Rendezvous Sports World) |
| Franchise Cost | $333.3 million (2010) |
| Seasons Played | 1 (2011). Finished 8th on points table. |
| IPL Title | None |
| Captain | Mahela Jayawardene |
| Star Players | Brendon McCullum, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, VVS Laxman, Ravindra Jadeja, S. Sreesanth |
| Reason for Termination | Internal ownership disputes. Failed to pay mandatory 10% bank guarantee. BCCI terminated on Sept 19, 2011. |
| Controversy | Sunanda Pushkar-Shashi Tharoor sweat equity scandal was linked to this franchise bid. |
| Aftermath | IPL ran as a 9-team tournament in 2012 because of Kochi’s exit. Players released into mini auction. |
Kochi Tuskers remain the shortest-lived IPL franchise. One season, one scandal, and gone.
3. Pune Warriors India (2011-2013)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| City | Pune |
| Owner | Sahara Group Sports Limited (Subrata Roy / Sahara India Pariwar) |
| Franchise Cost | $370 million (INR 1,702 crore) in 2010. Highest IPL franchise bid at the time. |
| Seasons Played | 3 (2011-2013). Never made playoffs. |
| IPL Title | None |
| Captain(s) | Yuvraj Singh (2011), Sourav Ganguly (2012), Aaron Finch (2013) |
| Key Players | Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly (comeback), Robin Uthappa, Aaron Finch, Angelo Mathews, Marlon Samuels, Steve Smith |
| Reason for Termination | Financial dispute with BCCI over franchise fees. Sahara bid based on 94-match season, BCCI reduced to 74 matches. Sahara withdrew voluntarily in May 2013. BCCI officially terminated in October 2013. |
| Boycott | Sahara boycotted the 2012 IPL auction entirely over the fee dispute, a dramatic standoff with the BCCI. |
| Irony | Despite paying the highest franchise fee ever ($370M), Pune had the worst overall win record of any IPL team. |
4. Rising Pune Supergiant (2016-2017)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| City | Pune |
| Owner | RP Sanjiv Goenka Group (same owner as current Lucknow Super Giants) |
| Type | Temporary replacement team while CSK was suspended (2016-2017) |
| Seasons Played | 2 (2016-2017) |
| IPL Title | None. Runner-up in 2017 (lost to MI by 1 run in a last-ball thriller). |
| Captain(s) | MS Dhoni (2016), Steve Smith (2017) |
| Key Players | MS Dhoni, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane, Faf du Plessis, Jaydev Unadkat |
| Best Moment | 2017 campaign: Beat MI twice in playoffs before losing the final by just 1 run. Ben Stokes was brilliant throughout. |
| Fate | Dissolved when CSK returned in 2018. Goenka returned to IPL ownership via Lucknow Super Giants in 2022. |
| Legacy | Losing the 2017 final by a single run in their last-ever match is possibly the cruelest ending in IPL history. |
5. Gujarat Lions (2016-2017)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| City | Pune |
| Owner | Sahara Group Sports Limited (Subrata Roy / Sahara India Pariwar) |
| Franchise Cost | $370 million (INR 1,702 crore) in 2010. Highest IPL franchise bid at the time. |
| Seasons Played | 3 (2011-2013). Never made playoffs. |
| IPL Title | None |
| Captain(s) | Yuvraj Singh (2011), Sourav Ganguly (2012), Aaron Finch (2013) |
| Key Players | Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly (comeback), Robin Uthappa, Aaron Finch, Angelo Mathews, Marlon Samuels, Steve Smith |
| Reason for Termination | Financial dispute with BCCI over franchise fees. Sahara bid based on 94-match season, BCCI reduced to 74 matches. Sahara withdrew voluntarily in May 2013. BCCI officially terminated in October 2013. |
| Boycott | Sahara boycotted the 2012 IPL auction entirely over the fee dispute, a dramatic standoff with the BCCI. |
| Irony | Despite paying the highest franchise fee ever ($370M), Pune had the worst overall win record of any IPL team. |
How Do IPL Owners Actually Make Money?
Every IPL franchise receives approximately INR 425 crore per year from the BCCI’s central revenue pool before selling a single ticket or signing a single sponsor.
Revenue Streams for IPL Owners
Expenses for IPL Owners
In FY2025, Mumbai Indians reported revenue of INR 697 crore. Top franchises like CSK and MI run at 15-20% profit margins.
IPL Owners’ Global Cricket Empire
IPL ownership has gone global. Several franchise owners now operate teams across multiple T20 leagues worldwide, building cricket empires that span continents.
Multi-League Ownership Map
| IPL Team | SA20 | CPL | MLC (USA) | ILT20 (UAE) | The Hundred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI | MI Cape Town | – | MI New York | MI Emirates | MI London (Oval Invincibles) |
| KKR | – | Trinbago Knight Riders | LA Knight Riders | Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | – |
| CSK | Joburg Super Kings | – | Texas Super Kings | – | – |
| DC (GMR) | Pretoria Capitals | – | Seattle Orcas | Dubai Capitals | Southern Brave |
| SRH | Sunrisers Eastern Cape | – | – | – | Sunrisers Leeds |
| LSG | Durban Super Giants | – | – | – | Manchester Super Giants |
| RR | Paarl Royals | Barbados Royals | – | – | – |
| PBKS | – | – | – | – | – |
| GT | – | – | – | – | – |
| RCB | – | – | – | – | – |
MI and DC/GMR are the most expansive, each operating teams across 5+ leagues worldwide.
This multi-league model allows franchise owners to develop player pipelines, share coaching resources, and build global fan bases. When MI scouts a talent in SA20, that player can flow into their IPL, MLC, ILT20, or Hundred squads seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
IPL ownership in 2026 tells one of sport’s greatest business stories: franchises bought for $67 million selling for $1.63 billion, 18 years later.
From Mukesh Ambani’s billions to Shah Rukh Khan’s star power, from 5 dissolved teams to 2 billion-dollar sales, the IPL ownership landscape keeps evolving.
This page is your one-stop reference for every owner, every price tag, and every power move behind the world’s richest cricket league.