Khosla Family Buys Seahawks for Record $9.612 Billion
The Seattle Seahawks are being sold to a group led by the Khosla family, including Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, for a record $9.612 billion, according to AP News. The deal, announced Saturday by the Seahawks, marks the most expensive transaction in NFL history and one of the largest in professional sports.
The sale, which is subject to approval by NFL owners at a special meeting expected in late August, comes just months after the Seahawks captured their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX.
A New Era for the Seahawks
The Khosla family will become the team’s controlling owner, ending the Allen family’s 28-year stewardship of the franchise. Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, said in a statement: “We are honored to be entrusted as the next stewards of the Seattle Seahawks. We look forward to building on the winning legacy Paul Allen created and to earning the trust of the Seahawks organization and fans everywhere.”
According to ESPN, the Khosla family must relinquish its ownership stake in the San Francisco 49ers as part of the deal. Vinod Khosla purchased 3.1% of the 49ers in 2025 at a valuation of over $8.5 billion. His wife, Neeru Khosla, is expected to serve as the controlling owner, while their son, Neal Khosla — CEO of AI healthcare company Curai — is expected to have a significant leadership role in the ownership group.
A Record-Breaking Price Tag
The $9.612 billion price shatters the previous NFL record of $6.05 billion, set in 2023 when Josh Harris purchased the Washington Commanders. That represents a 59% increase in just three years, underscoring the explosive growth in NFL franchise valuations. For context, the Denver Broncos sold for $4.65 billion in 2022.
As CBS Sports noted, the record for any American sports franchise remains $10 billion, set when Mark Walter agreed to purchase majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025. The Seahawks sale brings NFL franchise values remarkably close to that benchmark.
Paul Allen’s Legacy and Charitable Impact
Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder, purchased the Seahawks for $194 million in 1997, famously saving the team from a potential relocation to Southern California. After his death in 2018 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, his sister Jody Allen served as executor of the estate and controlling owner.
Per Allen’s will, the vast majority of the sale proceeds will be donated to charity, primarily through the Paul G. Allen Foundation, which supports scientific research, conservation, and community initiatives. This makes the transaction one of the largest charitable donations in sports history, as Fortune reported.
“Excited to be part of this great franchise. Also excited to see the money all go to a non-profit,” Vinod Khosla wrote on Twitter/X following the announcement.
What’s Next
The Seahawks are expected to remain in Seattle, with a lease at Lumen Field that runs through 2032 with three 10-year options. The team, led by general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald, will look to defend its Super Bowl title under new ownership.
NFL owners are expected to hold a special meeting in late August to vote on and ratify the sale. The deal also sets a new benchmark for NFL franchise values, likely increasing valuations across the league and reinforcing the trend of tech billionaires acquiring professional sports franchises.
The sale marks the end of an era for the Seahawks and the beginning of a new chapter — one that will see the Khosla family, with its deep Silicon Valley roots, take the helm of one of the NFL’s most successful franchises while simultaneously generating an extraordinary charitable legacy through the Paul G. Allen Foundation.