Drew Carey is widely known for his successful television career, but one of his most lucrative financial moves happened far away from Hollywood. Long before Major League Soccer’s recent boom, the comedian and The Price Is Right host became an investor in the Seattle Sounders, helping launch the club as an MLS expansion franchise in 2007.
Nearly two decades later, that decision looks increasingly valuable. According to Sportico, the Seattle Sounders are now valued at $915 million, with analysts suggesting the franchise could soon surpass the $1 billion mark. While the exact size of Carey’s ownership stake has never been publicly disclosed, his investment has appreciated dramatically alongside the club’s rise into one of Major League Soccer’s most successful organizations.
Drew Carey helped shape the Seattle Sounders from the beginning
When Major League Soccer awarded Seattle an expansion franchise in 2007, the ownership group—led by Adrian Hanauer, Joe Roth, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Sports & Entertainment, and Drew Carey—paid a $30 million expansion fee to join the league.
Carey’s involvement extended well beyond writing a check. A lifelong soccer supporter, he proposed the creation of the Sounders FC Alliance, allowing supporters to vote on whether the club’s general manager should remain in the role. Carey continues to serve as the Alliance’s chairman, giving fans an unusually direct voice in club governance.
He also played a key role in establishing Sound Wave, the club’s official marching band, helping create the distinctive matchday atmosphere that has become synonymous with Seattle Sounders home games.
The Sounders quickly became one of MLS’s premier franchises. The club won the U.S. Open Cup during each of its first three seasons before adding another title in 2014. Seattle also captured the Supporters’ Shield in 2014 and lifted MLS Cup trophies in 2016 and 2019.
The team’s profile continued to grow after becoming the first MLS club to win the modern Concacaf Champions League in 2022. More recently, Seattle added another milestone by defeating Inter Miami 3-0 in the 2025 Leagues Cup Final, completing a collection of every major North American club trophy.
Those achievements translated into stronger attendance, increased sponsorship opportunities, and rapidly rising franchise values.
Carey’s investment keeps appreciating as MLS expands
According to Sportico’s latest franchise valuations, Seattle is now the sixth-most valuable club in Major League Soccer, valued at $915 million. If the club eventually reaches a $1 billion valuation, Carey’s reported stake—estimated to be between 7.5% and 10% following ownership restructuring—could be worth between $75 million and $100 million.
The Sounders’ growth mirrors Major League Soccer’s broader financial expansion. Sportico estimates the league’s combined franchise value now exceeds $22 billion, fueled by increasing media rights, celebrity ownership groups, and global exposure through Apple’s streaming partnership.
For Carey, whose television career has already generated significant wealth, the Seattle Sounders investment stands as one of his most successful long-term business decisions. What began as participation in a $30 million expansion franchise has evolved into ownership in one of North America’s most valuable soccer clubs.
