Edward John DeBartolo, Jr. (born November 6, 1946) is an American businessman who made a large fortune developing shopping malls as part of his father's (Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. ) organization, but is probably better-known as the former owner of the five-time Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. In a protracted legal battle in the late 1990s he lost control of the team, which is now operated by his sister and brother-in-law, Denise DeBartolo York and John York .