hero-image

Michael Bidwill net worth: How much is Arizona Cardinals owner worth in 2023?

Michael Bidwill finds himself at the center of the latest controversy surrounding the Arizona Cardinals. He has been accused by former executive Terry McDonough of cheating. These reports can create a cloud over him and the team and add an off-field drama to a team that was not performing well on the field in the first place.

It has the potential to hit his net worth, which currently stands at $1.4 million. While he is a billionaire, he is not immune from transgressions, especially in the NFL, since that is where he has accrued his fortune.

How did Michael Bidwill become worth $1.4 billion?

Unlike other owners who might have made their money elsewhere before entering the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals have long been owned by a single family. Much like the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, the Bidwill family has owned the franchise since 1933. They have overseen the franchise's relocation from Chicago to St. Louis and finally to Arizona.

Michael Bidwill is the grandson of Charles Bidwill, who started the family legacy, and the son of Bill Bidwill, who owned the team before him. He became the owner in 2019 once his father passed away. Since most of his net worth comes from the football business, any controversies in the NFL affect him more than other owners who have outside interests.

This has been brewing for a while, and carries some serious accusations—Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill is accused of "bullying treatment" towards pregnant women and having "created an environment of fear for minority employees."

Arizona is disputing the accusations. twitter.com/AdamSchefter/s…

That is not to say that Michael Bidwill did not have any interest beyond football before becoming the owner. He was a federal prosecutor in Phoenix from 1990 to 1996 before joining football operations. He has also been active in the local community, promoting business, and is on the board of organizations outside the football team. At one point, there were reports of him being appointed as a senator from Arizona, though it never materialized.

His credibility on football matters has been burnished by delivering to the Cardinals' current home stadium. A dome with a retractable roof, it has already hosted three Super Bowls, including the latest version. Their on-field success has proved elusive, and despite being the oldest franchise in the NFL at the moment, they have never won a Super Bowl.

Known then as the Morgan Athletic Club, the Cardinals began play in 1898 (22 years before the NFL was founded) & are the oldest continuously run franchise in pro football.

120 years later they open the 2018 regular season today at State Farm Stadium against Washington. #WASvsAZ https://t.co/dIHrdWfEHP

This is something they will look forward to putting right in the coming seasons, but it cannot be helped by off-field controversies like the one Michael Bidwill is facing right now. If confidence in him drops further within the organization, it could lead to a cascading effect that could harm the team more than his net worth.

You may also like