Sports owners are worth billions, yet some have spent decades finding creative ways to avoid spending money. From sheep mowing stadium grass to players washing their own uniforms, these are the most notorious penny-pinchers in sports history.

Expansion teams have become one of the most polarizing trends in modern sports. Whether it’s giving a new city a fresh identity or pumping extra revenue into a league, every new franchise raises the same question: Does expansion actually strengthen the sport, or simply spread the talent too thin? From the Utah Mammoth to the Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken, the answer looks less straightforward than ever.

Money drives nearly every part of modern sports — from college NIL deals to multi-million-dollar pros earning bonuses for mic’d-up moments. Yet, not every athlete plays for a paycheck. From the Ryder Cup’s long-standing debate on compensation to the NBA’s in-season prize purses, this story explores whether today’s stars are motivated more by love of the game… or the commas in their contracts.