San Francisco 49ers Plan to Offload Almost 6% of Team for Highest Ever Sports Valuation
The San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise has recently undergone a significant change, as a 6% minority stake in the team has been sold to a trio of prominent Bay Area families: the Khosla family, the Griffith family, and the Deeter family. This transaction, officially announced in June 2025, received approval from the NFL at the League meeting on May 20, 2025[1].
The new partners are acquiring a non-controlling, minority interest in the team, ensuring that the York family, led by Jed York, retains majority control and operational leadership of the 49ers[1]. This ownership expansion comes at a notable time for the franchise, with Levi’s Stadium preparing to host Super Bowl LX and six matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it the first stadium to host both events in a single year[1].
The sale is positioned not only as a financial investment but also as a commitment to supporting the team's future growth, enhancing fan experiences, and bolstering regional ties[1]. The 49ers' sale reflects a strategic approach similar to other teams that seek to bring in local business leaders and investors to strengthen community ties and financial backing without ceding controlling interest.
The Khosla family, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, and billionaire Vinod Khosla, are among the buyers. They are joined by Will Griffith, a founding partner at Iconiq Growth in Palo Alto, Calif., and Byron Deeter, a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners in San Francisco. The exact breakdown of the 6% ownership between the three families is unclear.
This transaction is part of a trend of recent minority stake sales in the NFL, with the Philadelphia Eagles recently selling two minority stakes to individuals at an $8.1 billion valuation. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers' owner, Walter, is set to buy the Lakers at a record $10 billion valuation, according to a related story.
Despite the sale, a representative for the 49ers declined to comment. The NFL has opened its ownership ranks to private equity, but some teams still prefer individual investors. The exact valuation of the 49ers varies, with Sportico valuing the team at $6.86 billion. The New York Giants, on the other hand, are currently looking to sell about 10%, and their preference is for high-net-worth individuals, not institutional funds.
[1] Source: [San Francisco 49ers Press Release](https://www.49ers.com/news/san-francisco-49ers-announce-minority-ownership-stake-sale-to-bay-area-families)
- The sale of a minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise to the Khosla family, the Griffith family, and the Deeter family, who are prominent Bay Area business figures, has not only been a financial investment but also a commitment to supporting the team's future growth, enhancing fan experiences, and bolstering regional ties.
- This ownership expansion of the 49ers, with Levi’s Stadium preparing to host Super Bowl LX and six matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, follows a strategic approach similar to other sports teams that seek to bring in local business leaders and investors to strengthen community ties and financial backing.
- The recent trend in NFL ownership involves selling minority stakes to private equity firms or individual investors, as demonstrated by the 49ers' sale, the Philadelphia Eagles' recent sale of two minority stakes, and the possibility of the Los Angeles Dodgers' owner, Walter, buying the Lakers at a record $10 billion valuation.
