The Yankees are owned by a holding company, Yankee Global Enterprises (YGE), which also owns stakes in other businesses. The Steinbrenners control YGE, and other limited partners own the rest.
Who owns the Yankees today?
| Owner | Role | What is public (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Hal Steinbrenner | Managing General Partner and Chairperson | MLB.com front office page, October 2026 |
| Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal | General Partner and Vice Chairperson | MLB.com, October 2026 |
| Jessica Steinbrenner | General Partner and Vice Chairperson | MLB.com, October 2026 |
| Steinbrenner family (combined) | Control owners of YGE | "A bit more than 60%" after the Apollo deal, the New York Post reported, per Newsweek, September 2026 |
| Apollo Sports Capital | New minority investor | Reported 8% now plus 8% later in convertible preferred stock, City AM, September 21, 2026 |
| Other limited partners | Minority owners | Not individually disclosed |
The family's exact percentage has never been published by the team. The "a bit more than 60%" figure is from New York Post reporting on the Apollo deal.
The Apollo deal
On August 11, 2026, the Yankees announced a $2.6 billion financing package from Apollo Global Management, Sportico reported. It mixes debt and equity in YGE: Apollo refinances existing debt and takes a minority stake. Al Tylis, CEO of Apollo Sports Capital, joins the YGE board in a newly created seat, and the Steinbrenners remain full control owners.
Later reports filled in the stake. What was reported, and by whom:
| Detail | What was reported | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo's stake | 8% of YGE now, plus preferred shares that convert into another 8% later, for 16% | City AM, September 21, 2026; New York Post via Newsweek |
| Who is selling | Steinbrenner family and some limited partners; Sportico said the family is selling at least 4%, while a person close to the deal told the Post no more than 3% | Sportico; New York Post, September 2026 |
| Valuation of YGE | More than $10 billion (Sportico) or more than $12 billion (New York Post) | September 2026 |
| League rule | MLB raised the cap for a private equity investor in one team from 15% to 20%, Forbes' Maury Brown reported | Newsweek, September 2026 |
I found no announcement that the stake sale had closed as of October 25, 2026. The New York Post reported that Hal Steinbrenner said the deal is not a step toward selling the team.
How much are the Yankees worth?
| Estimate | Value | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes | $8.5 billion, the most in MLB | March 2026 |
| Sportico | $9.4 billion | March 2026 |
| Apollo deal (whole of YGE, including other businesses) | More than $10 billion to more than $12 billion, as reported | September 2026 |
Forbes' $8.5 billion is for the team only and does not deduct debt. It lists 2025 revenue of $710 million and an operating loss of $53 million, after excluding stadium revenue used for debt payments. The Apollo deal values YGE, which also holds stakes in the YES Network, the Legends hospitality company, New York City FC and AC Milan, so it is not directly comparable.
How much did George Steinbrenner pay for the Yankees?
A 12-member group led by George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees from CBS on January 3, 1973, for $10 million, according to HISTORY.com. Steinbrenner himself put in $168,000 for a little less than 2% at the start. Forbes lists the purchase price as $8.8 million, a net figure; ESPN has cited $8.7 million. George Steinbrenner handed control to Hal in 2008 and died in July 2010.
From $8.8 million in 1973 to Forbes' $8.5 billion in 2026 is nearly a 1,000-fold increase in 53 years.
Every Yankees owner
| Controlling owner | Years | How they got the team | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Farrell and Bill Devery | 1903 to 1915 | Awarded the new American League franchise in New York | Not reliably recorded |
| Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast Huston | 1915 to 1923 | Bought the team together, each paying half | $350,000 |
| Jacob Ruppert, then his estate | 1923 to 1945 | Bought out Huston in 1923; his heirs ran the team after his death in 1939 | Buyout price not given |
| Dan Topping and Del Webb (with Larry MacPhail until 1947) | 1945 to 1964 | Bought from the Ruppert estate | $2.8 million |
| CBS | 1964 to 1973 | Bought 80% from Topping and Webb after the 1964 season | $11.2 million for 80% |
| George Steinbrenner | 1973 to 2008 | Led a 12-member group that bought the team from CBS, then bought out most partners within a year | $10 million ($8.8 million net per Forbes) |
| Hal Steinbrenner and family | 2008 to today | MLB approved Hal as the person in control on November 20, 2008 | Family ownership |
Sources: the Yankees' Wikipedia history, citing team histories and contemporary reports; HISTORY.com; Associated Press, 2008; Forbes, 2026.
The Yankees have changed hands six times in 123 years, and the Steinbrenners have now owned the team for 53 of them, longer than any other owner.
Yankees ownership timeline
- 1903
Frank Farrell and Bill Devery get the American League's New York franchise
- 1915
Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast Huston buy the team
- 1923
Ruppert buys out Huston and becomes sole owner
- 1945
Del Webb, Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail buy the team from the Ruppert estate
- 1964
CBS buys 80% of the Yankees from Topping and Webb
- 1973
George Steinbrenner's 12-member group buys the team from CBS on January 3
- 2008
MLB owners unanimously approve Hal Steinbrenner as the person in control on November 20
- 2010
George Steinbrenner dies on July 13
- 2020
Hank Steinbrenner, Hal's brother and fellow general partner, dies on April 14
- 2026
Forbes values the team at $8.5 billion in March; Apollo agrees a $2.6 billion financing and minority stake deal, announced August 11
Who runs the Yankees?
Hal Steinbrenner sets the budget as managing general partner. Randy Levine is president, and Brian Cashman is senior vice president and general manager, according to the team's front office page in October 2026.
Related reading
Sources & methodology
Observations retain their source, period and definition. Uncertainty is preserved; missing values are not zero.
- Yankees Front Office (MLB.com) ↗
MLB.com
Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Yankees bought by George Steinbrenner-led group (HISTORY.com, This Day in History, January 3) ↗
HISTORY.com
Accessed 2026-10-25.
- Owners approve Hal Steinbrenner as Yankees control person (Associated Press via Honolulu Advertiser) ↗
Associated Press via Honolulu Advertiser · 2008-11-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Forbes: New York Yankees team value ↗
forbes.com
- New York Yankees, Apollo Agree on $2.6B Capital Injection, Investment (Sportico via Yahoo Sports) ↗
Sportico via Yahoo Sports · 2026-08-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Steinbrenner Family Selling Part of Yankees Stake in Apollo Deal (Sportico) ↗
Sportico
- Wrexham and Atletico Madrid owner Apollo nears Yankees stake in $12bn deal (City AM) ↗
City AM · 2026-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- MLB Changed Its Team Ownership Rules, and the $12B Yankees Took Advantage (Newsweek) ↗
Newsweek
- New York Yankees: history (Wikipedia) ↗
Wikipedia
Accessed 2026-10-25.
- George Steinbrenner dies at 80 (ESPN) ↗
ESPN · 2010-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Hank Steinbrenner, Yankees co-owner, dead at 63 (New York Post) ↗
New York Post · 2020-04-14T00:00:00.000Z