San Francisco 49ers Strike Record-Breaking Valuation Deal with New Minority Owners.
The San Francisco 49ers have just set a new benchmark in the sports world—not with a game-winning touchdown, but with a history-making valuation. This week, team CEO Jed York finalized a deal to sell a 6.2% minority stake in the franchise for an eye-popping $8.5 billion valuation, making it the highest in professional sports history.
The ownership slice will go to three wealthy Bay Area families, all with deep roots in the tech and venture capital world. Vinod Khosla leads the investment, acquiring 3.1%, followed by Byron Deeter with 2.1%, and William Griffith with 1%. Altogether, the trio is expected to pay approximately $527 million for their combined stake.
Meet the New Stakeholders
Vinod Khosla – One of Silicon Valley’s founding giants, Khosla co-founded Sun Microsystems and later launched Khosla Ventures, backing major disruptors like Impossible Foods and Square. Known for bold investments in clean energy and health tech, Khosla’s estimated contribution is around $263.5 million.
Byron Deeter – A veteran investor at Bessemer Venture Partners, Deeter has played a significant role in shaping cloud computing through early investments in Twilio, LinkedIn, and DocuSign. He’s investing roughly $178.5 million into the 49ers.
William Griffith – A partner at ICONIQ Capital, Griffith represents the quiet power behind some of the tech industry's biggest fortunes. His $85 million stake brings in a wealth of financial strategy and tech-world savvy.
A Legacy Franchise
The 49ers have long been a crown jewel of the NFL, with five Super Bowl wins and eight NFC Championship titles. While the team didn’t reach the playoffs last season, it made Super Bowl appearances in 2019 and 2023, and remains one of the most competitive and valuable franchises in the league.
Since acquiring the team in 1977, the DeBartolo-York family has steered the franchise through periods of dominance and transformation. Eddie DeBartolo Jr.'s era as owner included five Super Bowl titles, but after stepping down amid legal troubles in the late '90s, ownership passed to his sister Denise DeBartolo York. Her son, Jed York, now runs the team.
Context in a Growing Market
This deal follows a trend of sky-high valuations in the NFL. The Eagles sold an 8% stake at an $8.3 billion valuation last year, and the Dolphins were valued at $8.1 billion in a partial sale. The Chargers are reportedly next in line to sell a minority share, and with current momentum, could push valuations even higher.
Conclusion
The San Francisco 49ers’ recent ownership stake sale not only reaffirms their elite standing in American sports, but also showcases the increasing value of NFL franchises in the modern investment landscape. By bringing in accomplished investors like Khosla, Deeter, and Griffith, the 49ers are aligning with forward-thinking minds who understand both innovation and legacy. As the franchise continues to build for future championships both on and off the field, this record-setting deal adds another powerful chapter to its storied history.
