Seahawks Sale Approved: Vinod Khosla Group Secures NFL Franchise for Record $9.612 Billion
In a historic franchise transaction, NFL team owners unanimously voted on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, to approve the record-breaking $9.612 billion sale of the Seattle Seahawks to venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his family. The vote, which took place during a one-day league meeting at the Atlanta Airport Marriott, clears the final major hurdle for the most expensive franchise sale in NFL history.
The New Ownership Structure
Under the approved ownership framework, Vinod Khosla's wife, Neeru Khosla, is expected to serve as the Seahawks' controlling owner. Vinod Khosla, born in India and educated at Stanford University, is one of Silicon Valley's most prominent venture capitalists, boasting an estimated net worth of $13.2 billion. His firm, Khosla Ventures, is renowned for backing emerging technologies and was the first venture capital company to invest in OpenAI.
The $9.612 billion purchase price sets a new high-water mark for an NFL franchise, eclipsing all prior sales.1 Across North American sports, it ranks behind only the consecutive sales of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers ($10 billion and $12.5 billion) in terms of total transaction value.
49ers Divestment Requirement
To complete the purchase and assume control of the Seahawks, Vinod Khosla must fully divest his minority ownership stake in the San Francisco 49ers.2 Khosla acquired a 3.5% stake in the 49ers in 2025, but strict NFL regulations prohibit any individual from holding ownership interests in multiple franchises simultaneously:
"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. ... completing the Seahawks purchase requires him to fully divest from the San Francisco organization before assuming ownership responsibilities in Seattle."
The transaction is expected to officially close in September 2026 once the 49ers divestment is finalized.
End of the Paul Allen Era
The sale of the Seahawks marks the end of a legendary era for the franchise. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen purchased the Seahawks in 1997, a move that famously saved the team from relocating to Southern California. Following Allen's death in 2018, control of the franchise passed to his sister, Jody Allen, as chair of the Paul G. Allen Estate.
In accordance with Paul Allen's wishes, both the Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers were slated for sale, with all proceeds directed toward philanthropic causes. The Trail Blazers' sale closed in March 2026, and the Seahawks agreed to terms with the Khosla family on July 11, 2026, shortly after capturing Super Bowl 60 in February.
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An instance of Ten-billion-dollar sports valuations inevitably break the family trusts that historically governed them. — The soaring transaction values of NFL franchises are bringing an end to legacy estate ownerships like the Paul Allen era. ↩︎
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An instance of Acquiring a professional sports franchise forces the immediate liquidation of rival league holdings. — Strictly enforced NFL rules prevent Vinod Khosla from taking control of the Seahawks until he divests from his minority holdings in the rival 49ers. ↩︎