The San Francisco Giants are one of the most recognizable brands in baseball, and they’re still among the preeminent franchises in the sport.
According to Forbes’ annual franchise valuations list, the Giants are worth $3.7 billion. That figure is up 6% from last year’s estimate. Just four teams ranked higher than the Giants, who are at same place as last year.
The Giants ownership group, led by Charles B. Johnson, Larry Baer and Peter Magowan, bought the team in 1993 for roughly $100 million.
The Yankees top the list at $7.1 billion, with the Dodgers ($4.8 billion), Red Sox ($4.5 billion), and Cubs ($4.1 billion) rounding out the top-five with San Francisco.
More glaring than San Francisco’s overall worth is their performance from last season. Only the Seattle Mariners took home more profit than the Giants.
The Mariners brought in $83.8 million in operating income — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Giants earned $75 million in profit.
Seattle earned their operating income by reaching the postseason for the first time since 2001, showcasing a talented roster with a young core centered around American League Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez.
The Giants, meanwhile, went 81-81 and were out of wild card contention for the entire second half of the season. The club’s attendance total plummeted to its lowest point in a non-pandemic season since the team moved to its waterfront ballpark.
The Giants spent $179 million on player expenses, per Forbes, and took in $130 million in gate receipts. The organization’s television rights deal is also a substantial revenue driver.
The franchise’s $75 million profit mark is a major increase over the $32 million a year prior, per Forbes. The Giants saw $64 million loss for the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season.
