Brown Family/Bengals Finances

[SunsetBengal]

(07-22-2022, 01:09 PM)pally Wrote: Unlike some teams you can not separate the Brown family and Bengals' finances.  The family wealth comes from the team and the team only.  

Mike Brown is generally considered the 2nd poorest (relative term) NFL owner next to Mark Davis of the Raiders who shares ownership with his mother. As an only child, when she dies, he should inherit full ownership.

Brown's net worth is estimated to be $925 million. For perspective, Rob Walton, the new Bronco's owner is worth around $60 billion.

How much of Brown's wealth is from outside sources or is liquid is unknown.

As we move into negotiations with the team's biggest stars, cash assets or the ability to access cash is paramount because of the escrow rules.  It is unlikely that the Browns, despite their overall wealth, have the cash on hand to place hundreds of millions of dollars into an escrow account for multiple guaranteed contracts unlike owners like Haslam and Walton. But we really don't know that for sure.

One financial concern that must be at the forefront of the Bengals' planning, is the fact that their principal owner, Mike Brown, will be 87 in 3 weeks.  They have to plan for his death, the transition of ownership, and the impact that will have on the family and team's overall finances.  Granted, having dealt with the whole tax impact of his father's death has taught Mike valuable lessons which I'm sure he has already taken into consideration.  It would not surprise me to find out that Mike has quietly been transferring team stock to his children Katie and Paul to lessen the impact of his death.

So, what do you all think may be the Brown Family and the team's overall financial position?  Is the reluctance to pay out large guarantees due to cash restraints, their contract philosophy, the particular player, or some other reason?
Numerous teams whose principal owner has died (Bills, Titans, Broncos) have had to be sold to satisfy estate issues. What impact do you think Mike Brown's inevitable death will have on the team's finances and management.

Mike Brown may have a net worth of $925M, but the Bengals team is worth more than double that amount.

Quote:Mike Brown net worth

ESPN reported that Brown, based on Forbes data from 2015, has a net worth of $925 million. It has been several years since the report so there could be some variance, however. That number, adjusted for inflation, would be about $1.09 billion.
According to a 2021 Forbes report, the Bengals, as a franchise, are valued at $2.275 billion, which is actually the second-lowest valuation of any NFL team. Back in 2015, they were valued at just $990 million. Needless to say, Brown's net worth has likely climbed in the years since that last valuation.
By comparison, Rams' owner Stan Kroenke, the owner of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, has a net worth of $10.7 billion, per Forbes.