NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his family on Wednesday, clearing the final major hurdle for one of the most significant franchise transactions in league history.
Under the ownership structure, Vinod Khosla’s wife, Neeru Khosla, is expected to serve as the Seahawks’ controlling owner. As part of the transaction, Vinod Khosla will be required to sell his ownership interest in the San Francisco 49ers. NFL regulations prohibit an individual from holding ownership stakes in multiple franchises simultaneously. Born in India and educated at Stanford University, Khosla is one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capitalists.
He has an estimated net worth of $13.2 billion, according to Forbes.
The vote took place during a one-day NFL meeting at the Atlanta Airport Marriott, according to ESPN.
The Seahawks were sold for $9.6 billion, establishing a new record for the highest amount ever paid for an NFL franchise. Only the recent sales of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, which reportedly changed hands for $10 billion and $12.5 billion in consecutive years, exceeded the Seahawks’ sale price. The transaction also ranks among the largest sales in North American professional sports history.
The firm also gained recognition as the first venture capital company to invest in OpenAI, according to Forbes.
