Quick Facts: Los Angeles Chargers
| Controlling Owners | Spanos family (~61%) |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Spanos Family Owner Since | 1984 |
| Minority Owner | Tom Gores (27% stake, approved late 2024) |
| Institutional Investor | Arctos Sports Partners (8% stake, approved May 2025) |
| Relocated to LA | 2017 (from San Diego) |
| Managing Owner | Dean Spanos |
Who Owns the Los Angeles Chargers?
The Spanos family, led by Dean Spanos, controls the Los Angeles Chargers with roughly 61% ownership, following two rounds of minority stake sales that brought in outside capital over 2024 and 2025.
Alex Spanos, Dean’s father, bought the team in 1984 for a reported $70 million from original owner Eugene “Gene” Klein, before the family gradually took over full management as Alex’s health declined in later years.
In late 2024, NFL owners approved Tom Gores — who also owns the NBA’s Detroit Pistons — buying a 27% stake in the Chargers, marking one of the more notable owner-to-owner cross-league investments in recent NFL history.
Then in May 2025, the league approved an additional 8% stake sale to Arctos Sports Partners, a private equity firm, reducing the Spanos family’s share to about 61% while keeping majority control and day-to-day management authority firmly with Dean, Alexis, and Michael Spanos.
Los Angeles Chargers Ownership History
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Alex Spanos buys the team | Alex Spanos | Bought from Eugene Klein |
| 2017 | Team relocates to Los Angeles | Spanos family | Left San Diego after decades |
| 2024 | Tom Gores buys 27% stake | Spanos family + Tom Gores | Gores also owns the NBA’s Detroit Pistons |
| 2025–Present | Arctos buys 8% stake | Spanos (61%) + Gores (27%) + Arctos (8%) | Spanos family retains majority control |
About the Spanos Family & Their New Partners
Alex Spanos built his fortune in real estate development before buying the Chargers, and the family has run the team through multiple generations since, with Dean now serving as the primary managing owner.
Tom Gores made his fortune through Platinum Equity, a private equity firm he founded, and already owned the Detroit Pistons before adding the Chargers stake — making him one of a small number of individuals with meaningful ownership positions in two major American sports leagues at once. Arctos Sports Partners, the other new investor, has built a broader strategy of taking minority stakes across multiple major-league franchises since the NFL opened the door to private equity ownership.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Ownership has genuinely diversified in just two years: from a Spanos-family-only structure to a three-way split with Tom Gores and Arctos Sports Partners by mid-2025.
- Tom Gores’ stake is a rare cross-league ownership case: he simultaneously owns a meaningful piece of the Chargers while controlling the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
- The Arctos deal reflects a broader NFL shift: the league only recently began approving private equity ownership stakes, and the Chargers were among the first teams to bring one in.
- The Spanos family retains full management control despite selling down to 61%: Dean, Alexis, and Michael Spanos continue running day-to-day operations.
- The 2017 relocation to Los Angeles happened under the same family: unlike many relocated franchises, ownership continuity was maintained through the entire San Diego-to-LA transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Los Angeles Chargers?
The Spanos family holds roughly 61% and retains management control, with Tom Gores at 27% and Arctos Sports Partners at 8%.
Who is Tom Gores?
The founder of Platinum Equity and owner of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, who bought a 27% Chargers stake approved by the NFL in late 2024.
When did the Spanos family buy the team?
Alex Spanos bought the Chargers in 1984 from Eugene Klein.
Why did the Spanos family sell minority stakes?
To bring in outside capital while retaining majority control, part of a broader trend of NFL teams selling minority stakes to individuals and private equity firms.
When did the Chargers move to Los Angeles?
2017, after decades based in San Diego.
Related: Tom Gores’ Other Team
Tom Gores’ 27% Chargers stake isn’t his only major sports investment.