Bought for $100, now worth over $6 billion: Why the Chicago Bears might just be the smartest investment in the history of professional sports
From $100 to $6 billion: How the Chicago Bears became the greatest sports investment in history (Chicago Bears)
Imagine owning your favorite pro sports team — being in that exclusive inner circle where decisions shape legacies and fortunes. For most people, that's a fantasy reserved for video games and dreams.
The reality? Team ownership is the ultimate billionaire's playground. Even the most underperforming franchises are worth hundreds of millions, while championship-caliber teams demand valuations in the billions. It's a club reserved for the ultra-wealthy, with even minor league ventures often proving to be financial sinkholes.
How the
Chicago Bears
turned pocket change into a $6 billion empire over 100 historic years
But every rule has an exception, and in the world of professional sports investments, the Chicago Bears are that golden outlier.
What began as a modest $100 investment by George Halas in 1920 has now evolved into one of the most iconic and valuable franchises in sports history.
That original $100 — equivalent to about $1,500 today — wouldn't even get you a lower-level ticket at Soldier Field now. But it did give Halas complete control of a fledgling football team back then. Fast forward to 2025, and the Bears are worth over $6 billion. It's arguably the greatest investment story in American sports history.
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What makes this tale even more fascinating is that the Halas family still owns the franchise. Virginia Halas McCaskey, daughter of George Halas, is currently the principal owner. Her family's long-standing control over the Bears is one of the last remaining examples of generational ownership in the
NFL
, a league now defined by hedge funds, tech moguls, and corporate giants.
Despite the lack of recent on-field success, the value of the Bears continues to skyrocket.
A big reason for that lies in the NFL's growth into a financial juggernaut. From humble beginnings, the league has ballooned into a $20 billion empire. Television rights, global marketing, and the rise of fantasy football have turned franchises into billion-dollar businesses, whether they win or not.
The Bears may not have added much silverware in the Super Bowl era, with just one Lombardi Trophy secured in 1985, but their legacy stretches far beyond titles.
They've won 8 NFL Championships, mostly in the pre-merger days, and their longstanding rivalry with the Green Bay Packers — which began in 1921 — remains the oldest continuous rivalry in the league. The franchise's iconic orange-and-blue colors draw inspiration from the University of Illinois, and their nickname 'Bears' was a nod to the Chicago Cubs, symbolizing the bond between baseball and football in the city.
But make no mistake — things are changing fast in Chicago. With a new stadium project looming and the dawn of the Ben Johnson era on the horizon, the Bears are entering a transformative chapter. They'll kick off the 2025 NFL season under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, hosting the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. This will be more than just a game — it will mark a new beginning for a team that's hungry to return to relevance.
Before the regular season kicks off, Chicago will play three preseason games starting in early August, with two of those at home. With an extra road game on the schedule this year, the chance to showcase their talent in front of home fans during the preseason becomes even more valuable.
While most of us can only fantasize about owning an NFL team, stories like that of the Chicago Bears keep the dream alive. 'Could you imagine purchasing an NFL franchise for $100?' That's not just a rhetorical question — it's a testament to how vision, timing, and belief can turn the improbable into a legacy worth billions.
In an era where sports are driven by data, deals, and deep pockets, the Bears' journey is definitely a reminder that even the biggest success stories often begin with something small — like $100 and a dream.
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