Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. Net Worth & Biography

Mr. Eddie DeBartolo, popularly known as “Mr. D” to a section of his admirers and former National Football League players, is a successful American entrepreneur and investor. He is the former owner of the popular National Football League team San Francisco 49ers. His involvement in the 1998 corruption case of ex Louisiana state governor Edwin Edwards barred him from managing the 49ers team for one year. He later gave up the control of the team to his sister, Marie Denise DeBartolo, as the legal battle persisted. It was that same case that led to the collapse of the DeBartolo Corp. in 1987 and forced the entrepreneur to sell most of his shopping malls to Simon Property Group in 1999. In the 23 years that he owned the San Francisco 49ers, the team won five Super Bowls within a 14-year period, setting a record for the most titles won by a single owner in a certain period. His accomplishments in sport led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February 2016. He pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to report a felony labeled against him and was handed a $1 million fine and two years of probation for testifying against the Louisiana governor. On February 18, 2020, then US President Donald Trump granted him a presidential pardon.

Early Life: Childhood, Education

Edward John DeBartolo Jr. was born on November 6, 1946 in Youngstown, Ohio, in the United States of America. His mother was Marie Patricia (Montani) and his father, Edward John DeBartolo Sr., was a real estate developer. He is a half-brother of Edward M. Kobel, who is the president and chief operating officer of DeBartolo Development currently.

He went to high school at Cardinal Mooney and completed his Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame University.

Professional Life: Entrepreneurial Career

DeBartolo developed shopping malls under a corporation that his father founded. With time, the DeBartolo Corporation became one of the most successful real estate businesses in the United States. DeBartolo was also actively involved in franchise ownership and eventually thrived in sports management where he became one of the most successful owners in professional sports. His ownership of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League proved especially notable. He controlled the football team for twenty-three years starting from 1977 and helped the 49ers win an unprecedented five Super Bowls in 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, and in 1995. His family approach to running the team, according to 49ers quarterback Steve Young, changed the landscape of the National Football League. Under it, emphasis was placed on the attention and welfare of the players and his contributions helped change the face of the sport as every other team began to follow the model of DeBartolo and the 49ers.

In 2007, he worked with fellow Professional Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks to establish the Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa, Florida.

Achievements: Awards & Honors

In 2016, Mr. D was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Prior to that, in 2008, he was elected into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, and into the 49ers Hall of Fame in 2009. He is also a member of the National Italian American hall of fame.

As an owner of the San Francisco 49ers, he won the Super Bowl on five occasions, setting a record for the most wins by a single owner within a period of time.

Personal Life

Eddie DeBartolo has been married to his wife Candy for several decades. They have three daughters together, namely Lisa, Nicole, and Tiffanie.

His last daughter, Tiffanie is an author and a filmmaker who directed the 1996 film “Dream for an Insomniac”.

Controversy & Legal Troubles

This successful sports team owner had a huge share of scandalous cases in his career. In 1992, he was accused of sexual assault by a cocktail waitress he met at a bar. Married at the time, DeBartolo denied any wrongdoing and reportedly paid $200,000 to settle the matter out of court. He later pleaded guilty to his involvement in the 1998 corruption case of Edwin Edwards, a former governor of Louisiana State, and was fined $1 million in return for his testimony against Edwards. DeBartolo was also fined by the National Football League, and suspended for a year from active control of the 49ers. Instead of returning to the team after his suspension, he ceded its control to his sister, Denise York, in 2000, in exchange for other parts of the family’s business empire. He was granted a presidential pardon by President Donald Trump on February 18, 2020.

Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. Net Worth

Edward “Eddie” DeBartolo, Jr.’s net worth is currently estimated at over $3 billion dollars. Today, he is listed among the wealthiest businessmen in the world.

We’re aware that most of his wealth has been derived from his career in business which has now spanned over four decades. He inherited his father’s real estate company, DeBartolo Realty Corporation, and merged it with the Simon Property Group to establish what went on to become one of the largest real estate businesses in the United States history. His other source of income was the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers which he bought in the year 1977, turned into a successful title-winning team, before handing it over to his sister in the year 2000 in exchange for more portions of the Simon Property Group. Nowadays, Mr. DeBartolo is concerned with a number of businesses including a chain of sports clubs under the umbrella of DeBartolo sports and Entertainment, and a popular chain of Pizza restaurants called Famous Famiglia. He is hailed as one of the most successful and generous sports team owners in history.