Real Madrid’s basketball section recorded a net loss of 33.2 million euros last season, according to financial data published by 2Playbook.
That deficit is expected to grow to 35 million euros for the current campaign, as detailed in official club accounts reported by Encestando ahead of a meeting with delegate members on November 21.
The club has approved a record operating budget of 67.2 million euros for the basketball team for the 2026-27 season, surpassing the previous year’s figure reported by Encestando.
Personnel costs represent the vast majority of that spending. Encestando notes that total staff expenditure is budgeted at 52.7 million euros, with 44.4 million euros specifically allocated to players and the coaching staff.
Basketball operations generated 27.4 million euros in revenue last term, marking an increase of nearly 10% from the previous period, as reported by 2Playbook.
Sponsorships serve as the primary income stream, rising from 14 million euros in 2025-26 to a projected 17.5 million euros, alongside audiovisual revenue climbing past 7 million euros. Because expenses outstrip revenue by such a wide margin, the basketball division relies heavily on financial resources generated by the club’s football operations to sustain its high-tier EuroLeague roster.
Real Madrid’s spending places the club among the wealthiest operations in European basketball, comparable to Panathinaikos, which operates with an estimated budget between 55 and 60 million euros, and Hapoel Tel Aviv at roughly 70 million euros, according to Encestando.
Other continental competitors function with significantly lower allocations, such as Armani Milano at approximately 40 million euros and Zalgiris Kaunas at 28.8 million euros, as outlined in Encestando’s financial breakdown.
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