NFL owners approve Seahawks' $9.6 billion sale to venture capitalist Vinod Khosla

On Wednesday, NFL owners formally approved the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his family. The team's new owners are expected to take on the responsibilities of running the franchise. The staggering $9.6 billion price tag sets a new record for the highest sum paid for an NFL team, surpassing the previous record of $6.05 billion paid for the Washington Commanders in 2023.

This transaction also ranks as the third-largest private sale in sports history, trailing behind the Los Angeles Lakers' $10 billion sale in 2021 and $12.5 billion sale the following year.

The estate of Paul G. Allen, the former Microsoft CEO, announced the sale on July 11, 2023. Allen, who passed away in 2018, had been the original owner of the Seahawks since 1997 when he purchased the team for $194 million. The team's ownership was then transferred to Allen's estate, managed by his sister Jody, with the intention of eventually selling the team to support his philanthropic goals.

The sale process was initiated less than a month after the Seahawks won Super Bowl 60, the team's most recent championship victory.

Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald expressed his understanding of the situation, stating that nothing has changed from two weeks prior to the announcement of the sale. The team's coach has been with the organization since 2021 and was interviewed by Jody Allen two years ago, prior to the sale being formally considered. Khosla, who made brief social media statements following the news of the deal, expressed his excitement about joining the franchise.

Khosla, a venture capitalist with a net worth of $13.2 billion, has previously owned a minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers and has invested in various experimental technologies.