Vinod Khosla agrees to buy Seattle Seahawks in record $9.6bn deal
San Francisco 49ers investor Vinod Khosla has agreed to purchase the Seattle Seahawks in a record-breaking transaction worth $9.612bn.
The proposed acquisition represents the highest price ever paid for a National Football League franchise.
It easily surpasses the $6.05bn benchmark set by Josh Harris when purchasing the Washington Commanders in 2023.
League owners are now expected to convene for a special meeting in late August to formally approve the takeover.
End of the Allen era
The reigning Super Bowl champions were officially put up for sale shortly after their recent championship victory over the New England Patriots.
Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen originally purchased the team in 1996, saving the organisation from a threatened relocation to Southern California.
Following his death in 2018, his sister Jody Allen assumed control as executor of his expansive estate.
She was operating under a strict directive from her late brother to eventually sell the team and donate the proceeds to charitable causes.
Silicon Valley investment
The tech billionaire heading the purchase is the founder of venture capital firm Khosla Ventures.
His sports investment portfolio already includes a minor stake in the San Francisco 49ers, which he acquired early in 2025.
The broader composition of his new ownership group for the NFC West side remains undisclosed at this stage.
However, the collective is securing a highly successful operation that boasts seven playoff appearances over the past decade.
Stadium and infrastructure
The newly acquired franchise plays its home fixtures at Lumen Field, widely regarded by opposing teams as one of the most intimidating stadiums in the sport.
The venue recently benefited from nearly $20m in structural upgrades ahead of its duties hosting matches at the 2026 World Cup.
On the field, the team retains the highly regarded leadership combination of general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald.
While shattering the NFL record, the $9.6bn fee falls just short of the all-time American sports benchmark, set when Mark Walter purchased the Los Angeles Lakers for $10bn.