50 Wealthiest: Frank McCourt #39

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NET WORTH: $960 million

LAST YEAR: Not on list

AGE: 58

RESIDENCE: Beverly Hills

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Sports, real estate

THE MONEY: It may be tough for fans to swallow, but L.A. Dodgers’ historic $2.15 billion sales price catapults McCourt back on list even after accounting for huge divorce settlement, banker and attorney fees, taxes and debt.

BUZZ: Whirlwind year for McCourt, who put Dodgers into bankruptcy to avoid takeover by Major League Baseball. He eventually sold team for highest price in sports history and settled divorce with his ex-wife, Jamie. She got $131 million and most of the couple’s homes, while he kept Cape Cod estate. Taxes and debt exceeded $1 billion, but still doubled his original $430 investment in team. Could also benefit from future development of stadium parking lots; Guggenheim Baseball Management, ownership group led by Mark Walter and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, allowed McCourt to keep stake in lots. Still, sour final year as owner. McCourt didn’t get much credit for making Dodgers into playoff contenders and received blame for lack of security after vicious beating of San Francisco Giants fan Brian Stow in parking lot. Messy divorce proceedings revealed that McCourts had spent millions of dollars from team earnings. McCourt now lives in Santa Monica and retains controlling interest in Los Angeles Marathon.

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