Quick Facts: Chicago Cubs
| Current Owner | Ricketts family (Tom Ricketts, Chairman) |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Owner Since | 2009 |
| Purchase Price | $845 million |
| Bought From | Tribune Company |
| Family Fortune Source | Joe Ricketts, founder of TD Ameritrade |
| 2026 Valuation | $6.5 billion |
Who Owns the Chicago Cubs?
The Ricketts family has owned the Chicago Cubs since 2009, when they bought the franchise from Tribune Company for $845 million. Tom Ricketts serves as chairman, with siblings Laura, Todd, and Pete also on the ownership board.
The family fortune traces back to their father, Joe Ricketts, who founded TD Ameritrade and built it into one of the largest discount brokerages in the country before his children used a portion of that wealth to buy into baseball.
By 2026, Forbes valued the Cubs at $6.5 billion — nearly eight times what the family paid just 17 years earlier, reflecting both the team’s on-field success and the broader boom in MLB franchise values.
The Ricketts era delivered the moment Cubs fans waited over a century for: the 2016 World Series championship, ending a 108-year title drought that had become one of the most famous droughts in professional sports.
Chicago Cubs Ownership History
Few MLB franchises carry as much ownership history as the Cubs, one of baseball’s original teams dating back to the 1870s.
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1876 | Franchise founded | Original National League ownership | One of baseball’s founding franchises |
| 1921 | William Wrigley Jr. takes full control | Wrigley family | Chewing-gum fortune; family named the ballpark |
| 1981 | Wrigley family sells to Tribune Company | Tribune Company | Corporate media ownership era begins |
| 2009 | Sold for $845 million | Ricketts family | Deal finalized amid Tribune’s bankruptcy proceedings |
| 2016 | World Series championship | Ricketts family | Ended a 108-year title drought |
| 2026 | Valued at $6.5 billion | Ricketts family | Roughly 7.7x the 2009 purchase price |
About the Ricketts Family
Joe Ricketts founded TD Ameritrade in 1975, pioneering discount stock trading and building the wealth that let his children pursue the Cubs purchase decades later — Joe himself was not part of the buying ownership group.
Tom Ricketts, the family’s public face as chairman, co-founded Incapital LLC (a bond distribution firm) before stepping into the Cubs role, while siblings Laura, Todd, and Pete round out the ownership board with their own business and political interests.
Key Ownership Highlights
- The Cubs are one of baseball’s original 1876 franchises: ownership has passed through several distinct eras, from early National League owners to the Wrigley family, Tribune Company, and now the Rickettses.
- The 2016 championship ended one of sports’ most famous droughts: 108 years without a World Series title, finally broken under Ricketts family ownership.
- The purchase happened during Tribune’s bankruptcy: the 2009 sale was finalized as Tribune Company worked through Chapter 11 proceedings, adding complexity to the deal.
- Franchise value has grown roughly 7.7x since the Ricketts purchase: from $845 million in 2009 to a $6.5 billion valuation in 2026.
- The Wrigley family’s ballpark name outlasted their ownership: Wrigley Field still carries the family name decades after they sold the team to Tribune in 1981.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Chicago Cubs?
The Ricketts family, led by chairman Tom Ricketts, who have owned the team since 2009.
How much did the Ricketts family pay for the Cubs?
$845 million, in a deal with Tribune Company finalized in 2009.
Where did the Ricketts family fortune come from?
Patriarch Joe Ricketts founded TD Ameritrade, the discount brokerage firm.
Did the Cubs win a World Series under Ricketts ownership?
Yes, in 2016, ending a 108-year championship drought.
What is the Cubs’ current valuation?
Approximately $6.5 billion as of 2026, according to Forbes.
