When you think about the Chargers, you can’t help but wonder how much the team really means to Dean Spanos. After all, he’s been at the helm since 2018, and his connection to the franchise runs deep. With a record of 45-44 since taking over, Spanos has seen both the highs and lows of being a football owner. This season, they are off to a 3-2 start, and eyeing that playoff ticket. You know, coincidentally 2018 was the last time they had that postseason run. So, it’s about time they did it.

And you just know the love Spanos has for the franchise. The Man literally launched the Chargers Champions All-Star Gala to honor high school students and educators in San Diego. So, no doubt, he’d be getting in behind the team. With the cash splurge or words, doesn’t matter. Because he’s got both in abundance. And as for his financial standing, well, you can very well guess it’s another family thing (in the NFL).

How much is the Spanos family worth?

When it comes to the Spanos family, the Chargers aren’t just a football team—they’re a legacy. Dean Spanos, son of Alexander Spanos, took over the reins after his father passed, and it’s been a wild ride since.

You may remember the team’s controversial move from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2017 after the stadium deal fell through. After 56 years in San Diego, this was no small change. But hey, business is business, right?

Dean’s father, Alex, wasn’t just about football. He built AG Spanos Companies, one of the largest apartment developers in the country, and that’s where the family fortune really took off. Imagine building an empire from the ground up, and then buying a football team on top of it. Not bad for a guy who once wrote a letter to his family about his battle with dementia—a touching moment shared with the world in the San Diego Union Tribune.

As for Dean himself? He’s reportedly worth about $1 billion. But his family’s collective fortune sits around $2.4 billion. And while Alex’s sons now run the day-to-day operations, it’s clear that the Chargers’ DNA still deeply weaves the Spanos name. But…

How much is the LA Chargers franchise worth?

It’s not just about the Spanos family. They have made sure to take the Chargers through a financial glow-up as well (but the fans are still waiting for this wealth surge to turn into silverware). Per Forbers—as of August 2024—the franchise’s value reached $5.1 billion. Now, if you know the average valuation of the teams in the league, you’d know they are below average by $1 billion. But by the business playbook, this is a huge W.

One key factor that turned out to be massive was the team’s move from San Diego to L.A. in 2017. It sent market value skyrocketing. I mean, who would have thought? Sure, in the process, the Spanos family did lose the game of fame (due to fans’ backlash back in the day). But relocating to the larger market and the shiny new SoFi Stadium has definitely paid off. It’s like they went from a rusty old jalopy to a brand-new sports car!

But hold your helmets, folks, because we have just been taught a lesson in investment here. The dubs for the Spanos family just keep on coming. What if we go back in time to 1984? Well, that’s when they bought the Chargers for $72 million. That’s crazy, considering the current valuation of the team. And in terms of what they are making, it’s $574 million in revenue and $110 million of operational income.

So, you’d expect them to put some of it to use, right? I mean, that’s what the owners are there for. Don’t worry, they did. After a tough season that had QB Justin Herbert dealing with injuries, the Chargers made a big splash by bringing in Jim Harbaugh from Michigan. The five-year deal, averaging $16 million per year, has fans dreaming again of that playoff. Now, if they are to do it you must know it would also shave Dean Spanos some sour fame in the fandom. But that’s a big if.