Jerry Jones has owned the Dallas Cowboys since 1989, when he bought the team and hired Jimmy Johnson as head coach on the same trip to Dallas — a famously bold double move for someone stepping into the NFL for the first time. Thirty-plus years later, the Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world.
Jones bought the team for $140 million, which included the purchase of Texas Stadium. It’s one of the great value stories in American sports: that $140 million investment is now worth more than $12 billion.
Quick Facts
| Team | Dallas Cowboys |
|---|---|
| Owner, President & GM | Jerry Jones |
| Ownership Since | 1989 |
| Purchase Price | $140 million (including Texas Stadium) |
| Founded | 1960 |
| League | NFL (NFC East) |
| Home | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| Estimated Value (2026) | $12 billion+ (highest in the NFL) |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1960 | Cowboys founded as an NFL expansion team |
| 1960-1989 | Owned by original founder Clint Murchison Jr., then briefly by Bum Bright |
| 1989 | Jerry Jones buys the team from Bum Bright for $140 million, immediately firing legendary coach Tom Landry and hiring Jimmy Johnson |
| 1990s | Cowboys win three Super Bowls (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) under Jones’s ownership |
| 2009 | AT&T Stadium opens in Arlington, Texas, one of the most expensive stadiums ever built at the time |
| 2020s | Cowboys become the first sports franchise in the world valued above $10 billion, per Forbes |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Jones serves as owner, team president, and general manager simultaneously, a level of hands-on control unusual even among NFL owners.
- The Cowboys have been the NFL’s — and often the world’s — most valuable sports franchise for years running, driven heavily by sponsorship and stadium revenue Jones pioneered.
- Despite the team’s commercial dominance, the Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season, a notable gap given the franchise’s financial success over the same period.
- Jones’s children, including Stephen Jones (Executive Vice President) and Charlotte Jones (Executive Vice President/Chief Brand Officer), hold senior executive roles, suggesting a family succession plan already in motion.
FAQ
How much did Jerry Jones pay for the Cowboys?
$140 million in 1989, which included Texas Stadium. The team is now valued above $12 billion.
Does Jerry Jones still run football operations?
Yes. Unlike most NFL owners, Jones also holds the title of general manager, giving him direct control over personnel decisions alongside ownership authority.