The Steinbrenners are an American family of Irish-German descent. The family has owned the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball since George Steinbrenner purchased the franchise in 1973. After George's death, Hal Steinbrenner, his son, became the chairman of the Yankees. The Steinbrenner family also has financial interests in real estate, horse racing, and automobile racing. Forbes estimated the Steinbrenner family to be worth $3.8 billion in 2015, making them the 75th richest family in the United States.[1]
Businessman George Steinbrenner owned the American Ship Building Company and served as its chairman, as well as purchasing sports franchises. He led a group that bought the New York Yankees from CBS in 1973 for $10 million ($68,635,682 in current dollar terms). He sold two garages included in the sale, reducing the purchase price to $8.8 million ($60,399,400 in current dollar terms).[2] He invested $168,000 of his own money ($1,153,079 in current dollar terms) in the sale.[3] In 2009, Forbes estimated the Yankees to be worth $1.5 billion.[4] Steinbrenner died in July 2010.[3]
George married Joan Zieg on May 12, 1956. Joan was a philanthropist and invested in real estate. Additionally, she served as a vice chairperson for the Yankees. She died in December 2018.[5]
George and Joan had four children: Hank, Jessica, Jennifer, Hal.[6] All four have served as general partners for the Yankees.[7]
Hank was the oldest of the four children. He was co-chairman of the Yankees and died in 2020. Hal is the youngest of the four. He is chairman and CEO of Steinbrenner Hotel Properties.[8] Hal became chairman of the Yankees in 2008, succeeding his father.[9]
Jessica runs Kinsman Farm, a stud farm, in Ocala, Florida.[10] She has also authored children's books.[8] Jessica has been married and divorced three times. Her second marriage was to Joe Molloy, who served as managing general partner of the Yankees in 1992, while George was banned from baseball. Her third husband, Felix Lopez, served as a vice president for the Yankees.[11]