Steve Bisciotti owns the Baltimore Ravens. He has held majority control since April 9, 2004, when the NFL approved his purchase of the controlling stake from founding owner Art Modell, according to the team’s ownership record.
The deal took four years to complete. Bisciotti first bought 49% of the club in 2000, then exercised an option to buy the rest. The full purchase was valued at $600 million.
Who owns the Baltimore Ravens today
Bisciotti, born April 10, 1960, is the majority owner of the Ravens. The Ravens are privately held, and no outside equity partners appear in public records.
Art Modell kept a 1% stake after the 2004 sale. He held that share until his death in 2012, as recorded in the Baltimore Ravens franchise history.
Baltimore Ravens ownership timeline from Modell to Bisciotti
The Ravens have had two principal owners since the club began play in Baltimore. The handover between them ran across a Super Bowl season.
The Modell years, 1996 to 2004
Modell owned the Cleveland Browns and announced plans in 1995 to move the franchise. The team began play as the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. Cleveland kept the Browns name, colors and records.
By the late 1990s Modell faced money problems. The league pushed him to sell, and Bisciotti became the buyer.
The Bisciotti handover
- March 27, 2000NFL owners approved the sale of 49% of the Ravens to Bisciotti for $275 million, according to the franchise history. The deal gave him an option to buy the remaining stake in 2004.
- January 28, 2001The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV. Bisciotti was a minority owner at the time.
- April 9, 2004The NFL approved Bisciotti’s purchase of the majority stake for an additional $325 million.
- October 2004The team opened its training complex in Owings Mills, known as “The Castle,” one of the first projects of his tenure.
- 2008Bisciotti hired John Harbaugh after firing Brian Billick following the 2007 season.
- February 2013The Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII, the first title with Bisciotti as majority owner.
- January 2026Bisciotti fired Harbaugh after 18 seasons and hired Jesse Minter as head coach.
How Steve Bisciotti built the fortune behind the Ravens
Bisciotti made his money in staffing, not football. In 1983 he co-founded Aerotek with his cousin Jim Davis.
They ran the company out of a basement office with secondhand equipment. It recorded $1.5 million in sales in its first year, according to his biography.
Aerotek grew into Allegis Group, which is described as the largest privately held staffing firm in the world. That business funded the 2000 and 2004 Ravens purchases.
Baltimore Ravens value under Bisciotti’s ownership
The $600 million price from 2004 now looks small. Forbes valued the Ravens at $8.2 billion in its September 2026 ranking, placing the team 24th in the league.
That figure is up from $6.1 billion in the 2025 list, which itself marked a 22% rise, according to the Forbes NFL valuations record. The Ravens still sit in the bottom third of NFL values, even after years of playoff football.
The jump in 2026 matches a league-wide trend. Forbes reported the Dallas Cowboys at $17 billion in its 2026 NFL valuations, and private stake sales have pushed prices higher across all 32 clubs.
Bisciotti’s role and the 2026 coaching change
Bisciotti has a reputation as a hands-off owner who leaves football calls to his general manager. He has stepped in on coaching decisions, though.
He fired John Harbaugh on January 6, 2026, after the Ravens missed the playoffs. At a January 13 news conference, he said he took sole responsibility for the decision, as reported by the NFL.
On January 22, 2026, the Ravens hired Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter on a five-year deal. Minter is the fourth head coach in franchise history, after Ted Marchibroda, Brian Billick and Harbaugh.
What happens to Ravens ownership next
Any future buyer would need approval from at least 24 of the 32 NFL owners. At current values, a controlling stake would cost several billion dollars.
FAQ
Who is the owner of the Baltimore Ravens?
Steve Bisciotti is the majority owner. He bought 49% of the team in 2000 and took control on April 9, 2004, after the NFL approved his purchase from Art Modell.
How much did Steve Bisciotti pay for the Ravens?
He paid $275 million for 49% in 2000 and $325 million for the controlling stake in 2004. The total purchase was valued at $600 million.
How much are the Baltimore Ravens worth?
Forbes valued the Ravens at $8.2 billion in September 2026. That ranked 24th among NFL teams and was up from $6.1 billion in 2025.
How did Steve Bisciotti make his money?
He co-founded staffing firm Aerotek with his cousin Jim Davis in 1983. The company grew into Allegis Group, a large privately held staffing and recruiting business.
Who owned the Ravens before Steve Bisciotti?
Art Modell owned the team from its 1996 move to Baltimore until 2004. He kept a 1% stake after selling control and held it until his death in 2012.