Owning a professional sports team … this is every sports fan’s ultimate dream!
With the huge fortunes that US Powerball and US Mega Millions have given away in recent years, we thought it’d be fun to think about which teams you could buy with the biggest lotto jackpot wins! The value of each team was taken from Forbes magazine’s latest lists of the most valuable sports franchises.
So, here’s the list of the four biggest lottery jackpots in history, and the teams that kind of money could buy:
1. US Powerball: US$1.586 billion
The world’s largest-ever jackpot win happened on 16 January 2016, and is the first and only jackpot to ever surpass the US$1 billion mark.
Taking home this much money would put you in the running for one of the world’s top sports franchises:
Photo courtesy of Danny Molyneux (Flickr)
Liverpool FC (Premier League association football)
2016 value: US$1.548 billion
One of the “Big Four” Premier League clubs, Liverpool is a seriously elite team.
Buying this team with your lottery fortune would mean owning one of the world’s top football squads!
Liverpool has won more Champions League titles than any other English club, and is the second most-winning team in association football.
Other teams you could buy:
- Juventus FC (Serie A football), US$1.299 billion
- Houston Rockets (NBA basketball), US$1.5 billion
- Carolina Panthers (NFL American football), US$1.56 billion
2. US Mega Millions: US$656 million
While it’s not quite on the level of the biggest-ever lottery jackpot, this Mega Millions jackpot, won on 30 March 2012 is nothing to scoff at!
What’s more, winning an amount like this still gets you into the sports-owning game with an amazing team:
Photo Courtesy of Orchi (Creative Commons CC BY-SA)
Schalke 04 FC (Bundesliga football)
2016 value: US$655 million
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. This Bundesliga squad has enjoyed a surge in value thanks to the current owners’ deep pockets.
They’re also a pretty amazing team, having won the Europa Cup in 1997 and the German championship 7 times!
Other teams you could buy:
- Tampa Bay Rays (MLB baseball), US$650 million
- New Orleans Pelicans (NBA basketball), US$650 million
3. US Mega Millions: US$648 million
Won on 17 December 2013, the next biggest jackpot came this close to surpassing the largest Mega Millions win.
With this much lottery money, you can make a serious dent in the world of sports-team ownership:
Photo Courtesy of Carlos Delgado (Creative Commons CC BY-SA)
Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
2016 value: US$633 million
While it’s no Real Madrid (good luck buying that team, even with a lottery win!), Atletico is still a seriously decorated club.
Perennial Champions league contenders, Atletico is always a threat to win, having won the Europa Cup twice and La Liga’s championship 10 times!
Other teams you could buy:
- Detroit Red Wings (NHL ice hockey), US$600 million
- Inter Milan (Serie A Football), US$559 million
4. US Powerball: US$590 million
Rounding out the list, this winning jackpot broke the half-billion mark and was won on 18 May 2013.
For this entry, we’re recommending trading in your football for some ice skates:
Photo Courtesy of mark6mauno (Creative Commons CC BY-SA)
Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
2016 value: US$580 million
Okay, hear us out: hockey is a seriously cool sport! And the LA Kings are one of the very best teams in the NHL, the world’s top hockey league.
With two Stanley Cup championships in recent years, this team is a perfect investment for a lottery winner, and owning it means you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous Hollywood stars who frequent the games!
Plus, there’s that gorgeous Southern California sun waiting for you outside the arena!
Other teams you could buy:
- West Ham United (Premier League football), US$542 million
- AS Roma (Serie A football), US$508 million
So there you have it.
Who knows – you may soon be one of the lucky few who could someday own a team of your very own!