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Justin Birnbaum

@justbirny.bsky.social

1.9K followers 130 following 140 posts

I cover the business of sports for Forbes and post photos of my dog | Northwestern & UAlbany alum | 📬: [email protected]

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Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · 15d

The biennial competition between the U.S. and Europe offers no prize money, but that hardly matters for these five players, who collected a combined $358 million over the past 12 months.

A look at the highest-paid players at the Ryder Cup at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Forbes Highest-Paid Golfers At The 2025 Ryder Cup List

Forbes' list of the Ryder Cup's highest-paid golfers features Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and three other players earning big money on and off the course.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · 19d

The Savannah Bananas, baseball’s zaniest team, are now worth half-a-billion dollars.

Take a trip to Banana Land with me at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

The Savannah Bananas, Baseball’s Zaniest Team, Are Now Worth Half A Billion Dollars

The barnstorming organization is generating more than $100 million in revenue—but owner Jesse Cole is more concerned with chasing a billion fans than a billion-dollar valuation.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · 21d

By signing Cooper Flagg, Shohei Ohtani, Coco Gauff and other young superstars, the 119-year-old sneaker and apparel brand is on a mission to redefine its place in the sports hierarchy.

Had a ton of fun collaborating with the video folks at @forbes.com on this one.
youtu.be/UcLZNDRCxiI?...

New Balance's Marketing Masterclass: How Killing The 'Dad Shoe' Image Won Them The Gen Z Market

YouTube video by Forbes

Reposted by Justin Birnbaum

Giacomo Tognini @giacomotognini.bsky.social · Sep 9

6/ @justbirny.bsky.social looked into the wealthiest sports team owners on the list. They range from Broadcom cofounder (and Anaheim Ducks owner) Henry Samueli to the Los Angeles Clippers' Steve Ballmer, the richest sports owner in the world at $153 billion.
www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

America’s Richest Sports Team Owners 2025

The top 20 owners on The Forbes 400 are worth $607 billion, up 20% from 2024. And with the cutoff rising to $10.1 billion, the club is more exclusive than ever.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Sep 7

Travis Hunter should use a time-turner.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Sep 7

Patrick Mahomes can add a crown to his collection of Super Bowl rings, as the leader of ten football stars hauling in an estimated $571 million combined this year.

Here are the NFL’s highest-paid players this season, from of @brettknight.bsky.social at @Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/brettk...

Forbes Highest-Paid NFL Players List 2025

Forbes' list of the highest-paid NFL players includes both playing contracts and endorsements. See how much Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and other stars are making.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Sep 7

Jim Irsay’s daughters have inherited an NFL team that has been in their family for 53 years and is now worth $5.9 billion—making them among the richest female owners in sports.

Meet the new billionaire owners of the Indianapolis Colts at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Meet The New Billionaire Owners Of The Indianapolis Colts

Jim Irsay’s daughters have inherited an NFL team that has been in their family for 53 years and is now worth $5.9 billion—making them among the richest female owners in sports.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Aug 26

Andy Reid is going to be invited to Taylor Swift’s wedding. Let’s all sit back and process that for a moment.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Aug 26

Frances Tiafoe is betting on Pro Padel with an investment in the league's NY team, The Atlantics. The round values the franchise at more than $10 million as the racket sport takes on pickleball in the U.S. with a faster-paced game and a growing fan base in Europe.

www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Tennis Star Frances Tiafoe Bets On Pro Padel With Investment In New York Team

A new funding round values the franchise at more than $10 million as the racket sport takes on pickleball in the U.S. with a faster-paced game and a growing fan base in Europe.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Aug 22

Lucrative endorsements and a stake in shoe brand On have made tennis legend Roger Federer just the seventh athlete in the three-comma club—and a food tech investment may serve up another payday.

My story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Tennis Legend Roger Federer Is Now A Billionaire

Lucrative endorsements and a stake in shoe brand On have made the Swiss star just the seventh athlete in the three-comma club—and a food tech investment may serve up another payday.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Aug 18

Dumb jock? Think again. This four-time Super Bowl champion has turned his larger-than-life personality into a winning brand that earns him an estimated $10 million a year—and he’s only getting bigger.

Take a look inside Rob Gronkowski's beautiful mind at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Inside Rob Gronkowski's Beautiful Mind

Dumb jock? Think again. The four-time Super Bowl champion has turned his larger-than-life personality into a winning brand that earns him an estimated $10 million a year—and he’s only getting bigger.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Aug 12

Alex Rodriguez's startup Jump is on a mission to become the Shopify for sports teams, and it just raised $23 million in Series A funding to do so. The company is now valued at more than $100 million as it builds a one-stop shop for fans.

My story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Alex Rodriguez’s Startup Jump Raises $23 Million In Quest To Be Shopify For Sports Teams

Founded by the MLB legend alongside billionaire Marc Lore, his Timberwolves co-owner, the company is now valued at more than $100 million as it builds a one-stop shop for fans.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Aug 12

Dana White reveals why he wanted David Ellison's muscle behind his MMA giant, why pay-per-view events no longer work, and what a potential UFC fight at the White House would look like on CBS.

Matt Craig has the story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/mattcr...

Dana White On How UFC Landed A $7.7 Billion Streaming Deal With Paramount

UFC's CEO reveals why he wanted David Ellison's muscle behind his MMA giant, why pay-per-view events no longer work, and what a potential UFC fight at the White House would look like on CBS.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jul 25

After signing a new $1.5 billion deal with Paramount, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are part of Hollywood’s most elite club.

Here's how South Park's creators became billionaires, courtesy of Matt Craig at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/mattcr...

'South Park' Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone Are Now Billionaires

After signing a new $1.5 billion deal with Paramount, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are part of Hollywood’s most elite club.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jul 11

Querétaro is the first of four clubs expected to change hands ahead of a private equity investment that would transform Liga MX—and could narrow the valuation gap with MLS.

@brettknight.bsky.social has the scoop at @Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/brettk...

Liga MX Team Querétaro Sells For More Than $120 Million To American-Led Group

Querétaro is the first of four clubs expected to change hands ahead of a private equity investment that would transform Mexican soccer—and could narrow the valuation gap with MLS.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jul 8

SCOOP: U.S. Soccer star Catarina Macario is joining Nike on a 10-year, $10 million sponsor deal. (She was previously with Adidas.)

More details on the new partnership, which cements Macario as one of the highest-paid players in her sport, at @Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

U.S. Soccer Star Catarina Macario Scores 10-Year, $10 Million Sponsor Deal From Nike

The partnership is among the richest in a sport where women’s shoe contracts usually run in the mid-five figures per year—but the paychecks are rising fast.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 26

Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg went No. 1 and can earn nearly $14 million next season—not including endorsements. It could be the beginning of a billion-dollar career for the 18-year-old.

A look at the contracts for the first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

NBA Draft 2025: Projected Contracts For Cooper Flagg And Other First-Round Picks

Duke’s freshman phenom went No. 1 and can earn nearly $14 million next season—not including endorsements. It could be the beginning of a billion-dollar career for the 18-year-old.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 24

By signing Cooper Flagg, Shohei Ohtani, Coco Gauff and other young superstars, New Balance is on a mission to redefine its place in the sports hierarchy.

My story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

How New Balance Went From ‘Dad Shoe’ To Scoring The No. 1 NBA Draft Prospect

By signing Cooper Flagg, Shohei Ohtani, Coco Gauff and other young superstars, the 119-year-old sneaker and apparel brand is on a mission to redefine its place in the sports hierarchy.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 13

Soccer’s top earner isn’t suiting up for the FIFA Club World Cup, but five other stars kicking off the tournament this month made a combined $381 million over the past year, led by Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.

My story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

The Highest-Paid Players At The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Soccer’s top earner isn’t suiting up, but five other stars kicking off the tournament this month made a combined $381 million over the past year, led by Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 11

Oklahoma City may be the 47th largest TV market in the U.S., yet it's the home to an NBA franchise, the Women's College World Series, a slew of minor league clubs and, in 2028, to Olympic events.

A look at the city's growing sports economy at @forbes.com: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UYK...

Why Oklahoma City Funded The Thunder’s New $900 Million Arena

YouTube video by Forbes

www.youtube.com

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 11

LIV Golf’s spending spree has seemingly come to an end, but the PGA Tour is chipping in record purses, helping the sport’s 10 top earners score $612 million over the past year.

Check out the full list of the world's highest-paid golfers at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

The World’s Highest-Paid Golfers 2025

LIV Golf’s spending spree has seemingly come to an end, but the PGA Tour is chipping in record purses, helping the sport’s 10 top earners score $612 million over the past year.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 5

Show me a single New Yorker willing to pay $60 a drink, and I will show you a liar.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 5

INBOX: LIV Golf has hired Chris Heck, former president of Aston Villa FC and the Philadelphia 76ers, as it's president of business operations. Another big change as the Scott O'Neil era gets underway.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 2

The first stadium ever constructed primarily for a women’s club has turbocharged the Kansas City Current’s business—and set a new standard for the National Women’s Soccer League.

Story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

The Future Of Women’s Pro Soccer Is Being Built In The Heart Of Kansas City

The first stadium ever constructed primarily for a women’s club has turbocharged the Current’s business—and set a new standard for the National Women’s Soccer League.

Justin Birnbaum @justbirny.bsky.social · Jun 2

Meet the wealthiest women changing the game—11 billionaires who control major pro franchises and are collectively worth $85 billion, led by the Mavericks’ Miriam Adelson.

Story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

The Richest Female Sports Team Owners 2025

Meet the wealthiest women changing the game—11 billionaires who control major pro franchises and are collectively worth $85 billion, led by the Mavericks’ Miriam Adelson.