Top 15 Sports Executives In the World

By Tyler

Ranking the Best Sports Executives In the World Today

Robert Kraft sports executives — Over the last few weeks, the sports world has been enthralled by Roger Goodell's perennial mishandling of player punishment in the NFL. And while this has been a crash course in bad player management, these 15 men consistently show what it means to be one of the best sports executives in the world today.

15. Billy Beane

billy beane sports executives

15. Billy Beane

billy beane moneyball — Most people know Billy Beane as the man behind the movie Moneyball, but the Oakland A's general manager is still going strong. With the A's on track for a third consecutive playoff appearance, it is clear that Beane is still a top executive a decade after the world was first introduced to his innovative ways.

14. John Elway

John Elway sports executives

14. John Elway

John Elway sports executives — A lot of the current success of the Denver Broncos and general manager John Elway can be drawn back to quarterback Peyton Manning, but that doesn't mean nobody else is contributing. Elway did a terrific job of reconfiguring the Broncos defense during the past offseason, and Denver may just end up celebrating a Super Bowl victory because of this.

13. Dana White

dana white sports executive

13. Dana White

dana white sports executive — White is the President and CEO of UFC, which has already become the most popular fighting ring in the world, and looks destined for even more success in the future.

12. Joe Sakic

joe sakic sports executives

12. Joe Sakic

joe sakic sports executives — Patrick Roy garnered a lot of the praise for the Colorado Avalanche making the postseason in 2014, but general manager Joe Sakic also deserves some praise. A rookie during the 2013-2014 season, Sakic has picked up key players such as Jarome Iginla during the summer, and the Avalanche look like a Stanley Cup contender in 2015.

11. Tim Leiweke

tim Leiweke sports executive

11. Tim Leiweke

tim Leiweke sports executives — Leiweke is the man who first brought David Beckham to the LA Galaxy and MLS, and he has pulled off another coup in 2014 by bringing Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto to Toronto FC. Aside from this, Leiweke is also the CEO of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, making him the most important sports figure in Toronto.

10. Dave Dombrowski

Dave Dombrowski sports executives

10. Dave Dombrowski

Dave Dombrowski detroit tigers — Dombrowski has built a juggernaut with the Detroit Tigers, and he continues to make moves that stun rival general managers, such as trading away Prince Fielder and picking up David Price within the last year.

9. Pat Riley

pat riley sports executive

9. Pat Riley

pat riley sports executives — Riley was a little embarrassed when LeBron James left the Miami Heat this summer, but he recovered by bringing back Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and surrounding them with a great core.

8. Dayton Moore

Dayton Moore sports executive

8. Dayton Moore

Dayton Moore sports executives — Moore has taken the Kansas City Royals from an eyesore for MLB in 2006 to a playoff team in 2014, which required loads of patience, efficiency in player development, and plain old executive skill.

7. David Beckham

David beckham sports executives

7. David Beckham

David beckham sports executives — Beckham only became an executive this year when it was announced that he will own an expansion MLS team. Nevertheless, Beckham's star power was shown as numerous high profile soccer stars lined up to say they would move to Miami and play with the former England star.

6. Bill Belichick

bill belichick sports executive

6. Bill Belichick

bill belichick — Belichick may only be listed as general manager of the New England Patriots, but he is really the heart and min that makes the team operate. Suffice to say, the Patriots operate at a level that arguably no other NFL team can meet.

5. R.C. Buford

r.c. buford sports executive

5. R.C. Buford

r.c. buford san antonio spurs — Gregg Popovich gains most of the praise of the San Antonio Spurs success, but general manager R.C. Buford has been the man finding such diamonds in the rough as Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter since 2002.

4. Stan Bowman

Stan Bowman Chicago Blackhawks

4. Stan Bowman

Stan Bowman Chicago Blackhawks — Bowman has led the Chicago Blackahwks to two Stanley Cup championships since becoming general manager in 2009. During this time, Bowman has locked down stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and solidified a wonderful core of players around them.

3. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson los angeles dodgers

3. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson los angeles dodgers — Nothing can seem to go wrong during the Magic Johnson era as part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sure, Johnson likely doesn't do much in player personnel, but his mere presence attracts more viewers, players and prestige.

2. Florentino Perez

florentino perez real madrid

2. Florentino Perez

florentino perez real madrid — Perez initiated the process of Real Madrid by signing virtually every big name player in its sights, and this finally resulted in La Decima during the 2013-2014 season. Sure, it came at a hefty cost, but Perez and Real Madrid fans could care less.

1. Adam Silver

adam silver roger goodell

1. Adam Silver

adam silver roger goodell — Nobody has looked better in the aftermath of the recent Roger Goodell fiasco than NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who quickly took care of a similarly embarrassing situation with Donald Sterling this summer. Silver may not be flashy, but he certainly does a great job as commissioner.

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