USFL Owners

In stark contrast to the last professional football league to challenge the NFL, the 1974-75 World Football League, United States Football League owners were generally well-capitalized and had the means to operate a pro sports franchise.

Though USFL owners came from all walks of life, many of them built their fortunes in real estate. USFL owners included shopping mall developers, a politically-savvy attorney, oil tycoons, the world's largest cotton magnate, erstwhile politians, accomplished surgeons and even a former football player. One later became an NFL team owner.

A few may have made money on the sale of their USFL franchises, but most made greater impressions in their chosen fields. Listed below are the majority owners of USFL franchises:

• Arizona Wranglers - Jim Joseph
• Baltimore Stars - Stephen Ross
• Birmingham Stallions - Marvin Warner
• Boston Breakers - Matthews & Vataha
• Chicago Blitz/Arizona Wranglers - Dr. Ted Diethrich
• Chicago Blitz - Dr. James Hoffman
• Denver Gold - Ron Blanding
• Denver Gold - Doug Spedding
• Houston Gamblers - Jerry Argovitz
• Jacksonville Bulls - Fred Bullard
• Los Angeles Express - Bill Daniels & Alan Harmon
• Los Angeles Express - J. William Oldenburg
• Memphis Showboats - Logan Young & Billy Dunavant
• Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders - A. Alfred Taubman
• New Jersey Generals - J. Walter Duncan
• New Jersey Generals - Donald J. Trump
• New Orleans/Portland Breakers - Joseph Canizaro
• Oakland Invaders - Tad Taube
• Oklahoma Outlaws - William Tatham
• Orlando Renegades - Donald Dizney
• Philadelphia Stars - Myles H. Tanenbaum
• Pittsburgh Maulers - Edward J. DeBartolo
• San Antonio Gunslingers - Clinton Manges
• Tampa Bay Bandits - John Bassett
• Washington Federals - Berl Bernhard