Jim Crane
- Net worth $2.5 billion
- Birthday January 17, 1954
- Status -
- Country United States
- Source(-s) of wealth Businessman, Entrepreneur
How much is Jim Crane Worth? Jim Crane Net Worth in 2026
Jim Crane’s net worth is estimated at $2.5 billion as of November 2026. In 2007 he lost a bidding war for his own company, and losing paid him $82.6 million more for his stake than his own bid had valued it. He started that company in 1984 with $10,000 borrowed from his sister, and today the Houston Astros carry about half of his fortune.
| Net worth | $2.5 billion (our estimate, range $1.8 billion to $3.2 billion) |
|---|---|
| Born | January 17, 1954; grew up in Dellwood, Missouri |
| Age | 72 |
| Country | United States |
| Known for | Owner and chairman of the Houston Astros, founder of EGL and Crane Worldwide Logistics |
| Main income sources | Astros stake, Crane Worldwide Logistics, proceeds of the 2007 EGL sale |
How much is Jim Crane worth in 2026?
We put him at $2.5 billion. One number is filed: his 17.6% of EGL when it was sold. One is a published team valuation. His share of the Astros and the value of Crane Worldwide are not public, so those rows rest on our assumptions and the range is wide.
Adding up the team, the freight company and the EGL money
| Source | Our estimate | What it rests on |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros stake | $1.28 billion | Our assumption of 40%, since he is the largest investor in a group of 10 principal investors, times the club’s $3.2 billion valuation from March 2026. Team debt is not public and is not deducted. |
| Crane Worldwide Logistics | $760 million | Our assumptions: about $450,000 of revenue per employee across 4,500 staff, or roughly $2 billion a year, a value of half of revenue, and a 75% stake for Crane, its founder and chairman. |
| EGL sale money not put into the above | $440 million | $341.3 million for 7,186,230 shares at $47.50 in 2007, $290.1 million after 15% tax. Our assumption: half went into the Astros and Crane Worldwide, and the other $145 million grew 6% a year for 19 years. |
| Total | $2.5 billion | $2.48 billion before rounding. |
Losing the bid for EGL
Crane founded Eagle USA Airfreight in March 1984 and grew it into EGL, a Houston freight forwarder. In 2007 he offered $36 a share to take it private. Apollo, through CEVA Logistics, came in higher, and shareholders took $47.50 in cash. The merger proxy, dated June 26, 2007, lists him with 7,186,230 shares, 17.6% of the company.
Our calculation: at his own $36 bid the stake was worth $258.7 million. At Apollo’s $47.50 it was worth $341.3 million. He opposed the deal, per his biography, and it still made him $82.6 million more than his own offer would have.
Five times the money on the Astros
His group agreed in May 2011 to buy the team for $680 million, including a share of a new regional sports network. Baseball’s owners approved the sale on November 17, 2011, and Crane received $35 million from McLane and the league tied to the team’s move to the American League, for a net cost of $645 million. The club was valued at $3.2 billion in March 2026, up 14% in a year, even though it ran an operating loss of $45 million on $464 million of 2025 revenue.
By our math, $645 million to $3.2 billion is about a fivefold gain in roughly 14 years, close to 12% a year. In August 2026 Crane fired general manager Dana Brown and named himself temporary head of baseball operations.
A second freight company
A year after EGL sold, he launched Crane Worldwide Logistics in August 2008, aiming for 4,000 staff and more than $1 billion in revenue within five to seven years. By April 2026 it had more than 4,500 employees in more than 150 offices across 33 countries, and it had just opened an office and bonded warehouse near Madrid through the purchase of Blue Cargo. Revenue is not published, which is why that ledger row is the softest one here.
Why other estimates disagree
Public estimates move with the Astros: when a new team valuation comes out, they shift. Estimates that credit him with the whole club run higher; he is the lead investor in a group, not the sole owner.
What would move the figure
A filed or reported Astros ownership percentage would settle the biggest row. A sale or recapitalization of Crane Worldwide would put a real price on the second.
Jim Crane net worth FAQ
What is Jim Crane’s net worth?
About $2.5 billion as of November 2026 by our estimate, in a range of $1.8 billion to $3.2 billion.
How much did Jim Crane make from selling EGL?
His 7,186,230 shares were worth $341.3 million at the $47.50 a share paid in 2007, before tax.
How much did Jim Crane pay for the Astros?
His group agreed to $680 million in 2011. He later received $35 million from the former owner and the league tied to the move to the American League.
How much are the Houston Astros worth?
About $3.2 billion as of March 2026, up 14% from a year earlier.
How old is Jim Crane?
He was born on January 17, 1954, and is 72.
What is Crane Worldwide Logistics?
A Houston freight forwarder he launched in August 2008. By April 2026 it had more than 4,500 employees in 33 countries.
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How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: November 2026.