CAA crowned most valuable sports agency
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
CAA crowned most valuable sports agency
CAA was valued at a reported US$7 billion when Francois-Henri Pinault acquired a majority stake in the agency in 2023. It has over 3,000 clients, including baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The outlet noted that the top ten North American sports agencies generates up to US$4.61 billion in commissions, on more than US$72 billion in active contracts under management. WME Sports has divested its American football and basketball representation divisions to avoid violating conflict-of-interest regulations.
Confirmed:
CAA was adjudged to have the largest value of maximum commissions at US$1.14 billion, up 18 per cent from three years ago
Agency estimated to have US$15.9 billion in playing contracts under management and US$4.59 billion in non-playing contracts
Commissions total ahead of second-placed Wasserman, which have a maximum commissions total of US$956 million
Excel Sports Management ranked in third place with a maximum commissions total of US$783 million
Context:
CAA was valued at a reported US$7 billion when Francois-Henri Pinault acquired a majority stake in the agency in 2023. It has over 3,000 clients, including baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Forbes last ranked sports agencies in 2022, with the list sorted by estimated maximum commissions. It noted that many agencies had grown their respective businesses considerably since 2022. Fifth-ranked Klutch Sports Group has seen its estimated commissions rise by 252 per cent to US$351 million, while Octagon, one place above, this year had US$463 million in maximum commissions, an increase of 119 per cent from 2022’s total.
The outlet noted that the top ten North American sports agencies generates up to US$4.61 billion in commissions, on more than US$72 billion in active contracts under management. This represents significant growth on the same totals from three years ago, with the top ten then earning US$3.79 billion in maximum commissions on US$57.8 billion in contracts.
One agency missing from Forbes’ rankings this year is WME Sports, which has divested its American football and basketball representation divisions to avoid violating conflict-of interest regulations. This came about after its parent company Endeavor was taken private by Silver Lake earlier this year.
Coming next:
Forbes noted that a surge of private equity investment has been made into agencies. The outlet reports that Excel is currently in search of a new investor, with Shamrock Capital said to be considering selling the minority stake it bought in 2020.
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