The Chicago Bears And Their 8.2 Billion Percent Return on Investment

The Chicago Bears have been one of the greatest investments in the history of mankind, returning a total of 8.2 billion percent (and counting).

From the franchise's inception in 1920 until now, the Bears have had an annualized return of 18.76%, easily beating the stock market over that same period.

In 1920, George Halas and A.E. Staley teamed up to launch the Decatur Staleys. The Staleys were to be part of the newly formed American Professional Football Association.

A.E. Staley paid the $100 franchise fee for the team. This works out to $1,562.50 in 2026 dollars.

In 1921, Staley couldn't justify the losses that the team was suffering, so he gave the team to George Halas.

In addition, Staley gave Halas $5,000 to help move the team to a bigger market, providing that Halas kept the team name of the "Staleys" for at least one year.

Halas took on a partner (Dutch Sternaman), and the team relocated to Chicago.

The team played at Wrigley Field (then called Cubs Park). After the naming agreement with Staley ended after the 1921 season, George Halas renamed the team the Chicago Bears, and the rest is history. Halas would eventually buy out his partner for $38,000 and assume full control of the team.

After buying out Dutch Sternaman in 1933, George Halas would remain the sole owner until his death in 1983. The team would be passed to his daughter, Virginia McCaskey.

During McCaskey's reign as team owner, the Bears would win a Super Bowl (1986). As TV contracts became more and more lucrative, McCaskey would watch the valuation of her franchise soar into the billions of dollars.

Virginia McCaskey passed away in 2025 at the age of 102. The McCaskey family still controls a 77.5% stake in the franchise, and the entire team has a valuation of $8.2 billion.

Many early professional football franchises went under. The history of professional football in the United States is littered with the carcasses of teams that didn't make it.

The Chicago Bears, however, had tremendous lasting power and have been one of the greatest investments in the history of the world.

Source: NFL Team Purchase Prices

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