There are so many ways to measure wealth.
But every recent source I can find lists the wealth of the entire Dolan family at around $5.5 billion, the vast majority of which belongs to the Charles Dolan branch. That branch owns Cablevision, the Knicks, the Rangers, Madison Square Garden and its cable network.
Paul is a relatively poor cousin worth nowhere close to a billion, unless he sells the club. The Indians are his only major asset. His other sources of income are, in terms of the stratosphere of major league sports, meager.
Of course, all of this is beyond the grasp of peons like me. But in his 'club', he is a relative pauper.
Over the years a lot of fans have wished that a guy like Mark Cuban would buy the team. THEN we'd be a real contender, because he would spend a LOT of money.
Cuban is worth about $4.5 billion. He has owned the Mavs since 2000. In the 21 seasons since he has won one title...2011...one conference championship, and two other division titles. Since he plays on a level playing field with a salary cap and revenue sharing , all he has to do to win is be smarter.
What do you think this org would accomplish on a level playing field with a salary cap and revenue sharing? It would win a lot more than the Mavs.
The point is that money may be important, but a elite FO is more so. The dream is that a really rich guy would buy the team, sit back, and give the incumbent FO a lot of cash to spend, and let them do their thing, without interfering.
But that is only a dream. Its not close to reality. Rich people don't spend a dime, without strings attached...esp millions and millions of dollars. They have to stick their noses...and their accountants noses...into everything.
Cleveland fans should know that better than anybody. In 1961 a television promotional genius (which he was) from New York City bought the most successful organization in pro football. Unfortunately for everybody involved, he couldn't keep his hands off the football end, which he knew nothing about. Northeast Ohio knows all about what happened after that. He won one championship with Paul Browns team immediately after his firing, and the whole thing then went down the tube.
That was in 1963. Football in Cleveland has never recovered...and its been over half a century.