When you look at the glittering glass canopy of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, you aren’t just looking at a football field. You’re looking at a $5 billion monument to one man’s vision of what modern sports should be. But if you ask the average fan who owns Los Angeles Rams, the answer usually starts and ends with a name: Stan Kroenke.
Honestly, that’s only half the story.
Ownership in the NFL is rarely just about a guy with a checkbook anymore. It is about massive holding companies, family trusts, and a web of real estate that stretches from the London suburbs to the dusty plains of Texas. Enos Stanley Kroenke—known to most as "Silent Stan"—is the undisputed boss, but the way he holds that power is a masterclass in business maneuvering that would make a corporate lawyer dizzy.
The Man Behind the Curtain: Who is Stan Kroenke?
Stan Kroenke didn't grow up with a silver spoon. He was born in 1947 in a tiny Missouri town called Mora. He spent his childhood sweeping floors in his father’s lumber yard. By the time he was ten, he was doing the books. That early obsession with numbers stuck.
He didn't make his billions in sports, though. He made them in dirt. Specifically, the dirt under shopping centers. After marrying Ann Walton in 1974—yes, of that Walton family (the Walmart heirs)—Kroenke founded the Kroenke Group in 1983. He built a fortune by developing shopping plazas, many of which conveniently featured a Walmart as the anchor tenant.
Today, as of early 2026, Kroenke isn't just a team owner. He is officially the largest private landowner in the United States, boasting over 2.7 million acres. That is more land than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. When he bought the nearly 1-million-acre ranch in New Mexico late last year, it cemented a portfolio that makes the Rams look like a small side project.
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How He Actually Got the Team (It Wasn’t Easy)
The road to full ownership of the Los Angeles Rams was a slow burn. Kroenke didn't just walk in and buy the thing overnight.
- 1995: He bought a 30% stake in the team to help Georgia Frontiere move the Rams from Los Angeles to St. Louis.
- 2010: After Frontiere passed away, Kroenke exercised a "right of first refusal." He basically stepped in front of other bidders to buy the remaining 60% for about $450 million.
- 2016: He orchestrated the most controversial move in modern sports history, relocating the team back to LA.
People in St. Louis still haven't forgiven him. The move led to a massive $790 million settlement that Kroenke and the NFL had to pay out in 2021. But from a business perspective? The team’s value skyrocketed. Forbes now pegs the Rams at a valuation of roughly **$10.5 billion**. He bought the whole thing for a total of about $750 million across fifteen years. That’s a 1,300% return on investment.
The Family Business and the "Cross-Ownership" Loophole
Here is where it gets kinda weird. The NFL has very strict rules about "cross-ownership." Basically, you aren't supposed to own an NFL team in one city and a different pro sports team (NBA, NHL, etc.) in another NFL city.
Kroenke owns the Denver Nuggets (NBA) and the Colorado Avalanche (NHL).
To keep the NFL happy, he technically "transferred" ownership of the Nuggets and Avalanche to his wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, and their son, Josh Kroenke. If you look at the legal paperwork for the Rams, Stan is the guy. But the broader empire, known as Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), is a family-run juggernaut.
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Josh Kroenke is the one you usually see at the games. He’s the Vice Chairman of KSE and is heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the Rams, Arsenal FC in London, and the Denver teams. While Stan is the architect and the bank, Josh is increasingly the face of the franchise.
Why Ownership Matters More Than Ever in 2026
We are living in an era where the "owner" is also the "developer." Stan Kroenke didn't just want a football team; he wanted a "lifestyle destination."
SoFi Stadium is the crown jewel of Hollywood Park, a 298-acre development that includes the YouTube Theater, retail spaces, and luxury residences. By owning the land and the stadium, Kroenke captures every single dollar spent on a Sunday. He doesn't pay rent to the city. The Los Angeles Chargers actually pay him $1 a year in rent, but he keeps the revenue from the suites and sponsorships.
This model has changed how we think about who owns Los Angeles Rams. It's not just a sports team anymore; it's a real estate portfolio that happens to play football on the weekends.
The Championship Pedigree
For a long time, the knock on Kroenke was that he was a "slumlord" owner—someone who only cared about the bottom line and not the trophies. That narrative died a quick death over the last few years.
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- 2022: The Rams won Super Bowl LVI in their own stadium.
- 2022: The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup.
- 2023: The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA Championship.
- 2024: Arsenal FC finally broke through to win the Premier League.
Kroenke is currently the only owner in history to win titles in four different major sports within a five-year span. His strategy is basically "spend big, hire smart people like Sean McVay and Les Snead, and then stay out of the way." It’s an approach that values stability over headlines.
What This Means for the Future of the Rams
If you’re a fan, the ownership situation is actually very stable. Unlike teams with aging owners who haven't set up a succession plan, the Kroenke family is locked in.
There have been rumors about minority stakes being sold to private equity firms—the NFL recently changed rules to allow this—but there is zero indication that Stan is looking to give up the reins. With the 2026 World Cup matches coming to SoFi and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the Rams are the center of the sporting universe.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Investors:
- Watch the Real Estate: If you want to know where the Rams are going, look at the Warner Center development. The team is building a massive new headquarters and practice facility there, further anchoring them to the valley.
- Succession is Clear: Keep an eye on Josh Kroenke. As Stan (now 78) steps further back, Josh’s influence on team culture and roster spending will be the defining factor of the next decade.
- Valuation Growth: The Rams are no longer just a football team. They are a media and tech entity. Their value will likely outpace the S&P 500 for the foreseeable future because they own the "live experience" which can't be pirated or replaced by AI.
The reality of who owns Los Angeles Rams is that it's a closed loop. It’s a multi-billion dollar family office that uses the NFL as its most visible marketing arm. As long as the wins keep coming and the rent checks from Hollywood Park keep clearing, Stan Kroenke isn't going anywhere.