Jimmy Haslam, the American businessman and popular sports team owner, has recently exited Pilot Company, the business that made him a billionaire. Haslam’s journey to the top has been nothing short of astounding.
Because of his many years of hard work and determination, Jimmy Haslam’s net worth is estimated at $15 billion as of 2024.
For many years, Haslam was the CEO of the Pilot Flying J truck stop chain. These days, he and his family own several teams, investing heavily in sports, among other assets.
Let’s see what exactly contributes to his wealth.
How Much is Jimmy Haslam Worth in 2024?
- Net Worth: Estimated at $15 billion in 2024, largely from the sale of Pilot Company and sports investments.
- Pilot Company Growth: Expanded his family’s truck stop business into a major enterprise before selling to Berkshire Hathaway.
- Sports Ownership: Owns stakes in the Cleveland Browns, Columbus Crew, and Milwaukee Bucks.
- Strategic Sales: Sold the family’s remaining stake in Pilot to Berkshire Hathaway for $2.6 billion in 2024.
- Real Estate: Invested in significant properties, including a $4.2 million mansion in Bratenahl.
- Philanthropy: Active in local community efforts, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland.
6 Fun Facts about Jimmy Haslam
- Football Passion: Owns a 25% stake in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, expanding his sports portfolio.
- Family Business: Started working at Pilot Company straight out of school, growing it to a $13.6 billion sale.
- Sports Champion: Celebrated the Columbus Crew’s MLS Cup win in 2020 under his ownership.
- Political Connections: Brother of former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam.
- Generous Donor: Known for significant charitable contributions in Tennessee and Ohio.
- University Connection: Inducted into the Junior Achievement of East Tennessee Business Hall of Fame in 2007.
Jimmy Haslam’s Net Worth: Full Breakdown
Jimmy Haslam spent many years growing his father’s business to become an empire.
While he and his family don’t live a very public life and rarely disclose details about how they spend their fortune, we were able to track down details surrounding their income as well as some major sales and purchases they’ve made over the years.
Armed with this information, we built a comprehensive estimate of Jimmy Haslam’s net worth. Here’s what it looks like in 2024.
| Asset or Income Source | Contribution to Net Worth |
| Pilot Company sale | $13.6 billion |
| Gas station and truck stop sales, 2021 | $220 million |
| Cleveland Browns acquisition, 2012 | -$1.05 billion |
| Cleveland Browns stake, 2024 | $4 billion |
| MLS Columbus Crew acquisition | Share of $68 million |
| Milwaukee Bucks stake | $800 million |
| Real estate | $4.2+ million |
| Total Net Worth | $15 billion |
Jimmy Haslam Net Worth: Early Life and Family
Born James Arthur Haslam III, the famous American businessman is the elder brother of the former governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam. James was born on March 9, 1954, to parents Jim and Cynthia Haslam, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
His father established the Pilot Oil Corporation back in 1958, a brand that later merged with Flying J in 2010, a bankrupt company, and turned into the highly successful Pilot Flying J business.
Jimmy Haslam studied at the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. His roommate at the university was Bob Corker, a United States Senator.
Today, Haslam still lives in his native Knoxville. He is married to the CEO of RIVR Media, Susan Dee Haslam, with whom he has three adult children, James Bagwell Haslam, Whitney Haslam Johnson, and Cynthia Haslam Arnholt. The couple has five grandchildren.
Jimmy Haslam Net Worth: Managing His Family Business to Make a Fortune
Straight out of school, Haslam started working at his family’s company. He remained there for most of his career and helped the business grow to one of the biggest companies in the US.
Early Career at Pilot Corporation
Jimmy Haslam began his career at his father’s company, Pilot Corporation, in 1976. He was named vice president of the business’s sales, development, and operations.
At that point, Pilot Corporation was based in Knoxville. The then-small truck-stop chain would become one of the largest US businesses. In 1981, Pilot opened the first travel center.
When Haslam became the chief executive officer and president of the business five years later, it was operating 96 travel centers and 50 convenience stores. The total gallon sales at this point reached $1.2 billion.
The Growth of the Pilot Brand
In 2001, Pilot entered an equal partnership with Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC and formed a bigger venture called Pilot Travel Centers LLC.
Seven years later, Pilot Travel Centers LLC sold a 47.5% stake to CVC Capital Partners, but the founders still retained 52.5% ownership of the business.
The new ownership structure retained James Haslam III on the throne of a business, so he kept managing the company on a day-to-day basis.
However, this structure didn’t stick for long. Fast forward to 2015, and Haslam’s family acquired all of CVC Capital Partners’ shares in the business. From this point forward, the convenience store operations were fully owned by Pilot.
By this time, the business had expanded and included some major subsidiaries. In 2010, for instance, Pilot Travel Centers LLC merged with Flying J Inc to help the truckstop company avoid filing for bankruptcy.
Two years later, the newly founded Pilot Flying J business acquired majority ownership of Maxum Petroleum and full ownership of Western Petroleum, and formed Maxum Enterprises LLC.
Pilot Flying J is now one of the largest privately held companies in the US, employing over 24,000 people.
Two years later, Haslam navigated yet another merger. In 2014, Pilot Logistics Services merged with Thomas Petroleum and created Pilot Thomas Logistics, one of the fastest-growing energy logistics businesses in North America today.
Exiting Pilot
On January 16, 2024, the Haslam family announced that they had sold their remaining 20% stake in Pilot to Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway brand.
It’s not too surprising that Buffet took a liking to the company as he loves investing in high cash-flow businesses with obvious intrinsic value. Buffet reportedly paid $2.6 billion in the final deal.
The Haslams have been selling their business to Berkshire for several years now. Based on what Buffet paid last, this means that Berkshire Hathaway has spent a total of $13.6 billion to buy the business, which now operates more than 725 locations in Canada and the US.
Berkshire Hathaway initially bought a 38.6% stake in Pilot in 2017, followed by a purchase of another 41.4% in January 2023.
However, the story does not end here. Recently, the Haslams sued the billionaire Warren Buffet for allegedly using improper accounting to devalue the remaining 20% stake they sold in 2024. Depending on how this trial proceeds, it might add even more to Haslam’s big fortune.
In 2021, the family also sold its 38 remaining gas stations and two travel centers or truck stops to Casey’s General Stores, the third-largest convenience store company in the US. The deal was closed for $220 million in cash.
Awards and Achievements
Having stayed in his hometown in Tennessee, Jimmy Haslam has served on the boards of the Anderson Media Corporation and the United Way of Greater Knoxville. He was also an honorary chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the campaign committee in Cleveland.
In 2007, Haslam was inducted into the Junior Achievement of East Tennessee Business Hall of Fame. He was also a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2010.
Three years later, Haslam was recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by his alma mater, the University of Tennessee.
Jimmy Haslam Net Worth: Other Investments and Assets
Jimmy and his wife Dee are managing partners of the Haslam Sports Group (HSG). Through this group, the family initially acquired a small ownership in the Pittsburg Steelers, a popular NFL franchise in 2008.
However, they acquired the NFL’s Cleveland Browns later on, which prompted them to sell their stock in the Steelers.
The Haslam Sports Center
Dee Haslam is the CEO of HSG while Jimmy Haslam is the chairman. Today, the group manages several teams and five athletic facilities. The five facilities are all based in Ohio and include:
- Cleveland Browns Stadium
- CrossCountry Mortgage campus
- Lower.com Field
- OhioHealth Performance Center
- Historic Crew Stadium
In 2012, HSG became the majority owner of the Cleveland Browns. They bought their stake for over $1 billion, but the Cleveland Browns are now worth over $4 billion.
In addition to this team, HSG also bought the Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew from Anthony Precourt in 2019. They didn’t buy it on their own though, but partnered with the former team doctor Pete Edwards.
The deal was reportedly closed for $68 million, though we don’t know how much of this came from the Haslams.
The Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup in 2020, which gave the billionaire his first major sports championship win as an owner. In 2023, the Crew won their second cup under his ownership.
In 2023, Haslam Sports Group bought a 25% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks worth $800 million. Today, the NBA team is valued at $3.2 billion and its value is likely to continue to rise as it’s currently one of the best teams in the league.
Before the completion of this purchase, The Wall Street Journal reported that Mark Lasry, the owner of the stake in Milwaukee Bucks, agreed to sell it to Jimmy and Dee for $3.5 billion. However, they seem to have bought it for much less.
Assets in Real Estate
Back in 2012, the Haslam family bought a Bratenahl mansion located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland. They spent $4.2 million on this property.
In 2015, they listed a Knoxville mansion for sale at $4.9 million, though we don’t know if they eventually sold it.
What Can We Learn from Jimmy Haslam’s Story?
Jimmy Haslam’s story serves as a narrative rich with lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs of all kinds. His journey is an example of how important it is to be resilient in the face of adversity.
Through some bold decision-making and strategic vision, Haslam turned his father’s modest business into an empire, seizing opportunities with foresight and courage.
Haslam’s commitment to integrity underscores the significance of upholding ethical standards in leadership and business.
Through his role as the company’s CEO, as well as the owner of several sports brands, he has prioritized transparency and integrity, building trust and credibility.
His decision to sell the family business, Pilot, shows the importance of recognizing opportune moments for transformation. Some times selling your business is simply the best decision and he recognized that, pushing emotional attachments aside.
His ability to make bold decisions highlights the necessity for a businessman to remain agile in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Finally, Haslam’s acquisitions in the sports industry demonstrate the power of purpose and passion in driving entrepreneurial ventures. His investments in sports go beyond mere financial gains. It also represents a commitment to contributing to the community and revitalizing a beloved institution.