Quick Facts: Memphis Grizzlies
| Current Owner | Robert Pera |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Owner Since | 2012 |
| Purchase Price | ~$377 million |
| Owner’s Day Job | Founder & CEO, Ubiquiti Networks |
| Franchise Founded | 1995, as the Vancouver Grizzlies |
| Arena | FedExForum, Memphis |
Who Owns the Memphis Grizzlies?
Robert Pera has owned the Memphis Grizzlies since 2012, when he bought the team for roughly $377 million and became the NBA’s youngest controlling owner at the time.
Pera made his fortune founding Ubiquiti Networks, a wireless networking equipment company, giving him a tech-industry background distinct from the private equity and family-wealth profiles common among NBA owners.
He bought the Grizzlies from Chicago businessman Michael Heisley, who had owned the franchise since its Vancouver days and moved it to Memphis in 2001 after struggling to build a fanbase in Canada.
As of 2026, Forbes ranks Pera among the wealthiest team owners in American sports, with his net worth having grown substantially since the original purchase alongside Ubiquiti’s expansion.
Memphis Grizzlies Ownership History
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Franchise founded as Vancouver Grizzlies | Original Vancouver ownership group | NBA expansion team |
| 1998 | Michael Heisley buys the team | Michael Heisley | Chicago-based industrialist |
| 2001 | Relocates to Memphis | Michael Heisley | Vancouver fanbase never fully developed |
| 2012–Present | Sold for ~$377 million | Robert Pera | Youngest controlling owner in the NBA at the time |
About Robert Pera
Pera founded Ubiquiti Networks in 2003 after working as a wireless engineer at Apple, building the company into a major player in networking hardware for internet service providers and enterprises.
His approach to the Grizzlies has emphasized analytics and a defense-oriented team identity, with the franchise building a reputation for gritty, physical basketball that became a point of local civic pride in Memphis under his ownership.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Pera was the NBA’s youngest controlling owner when he bought in: a tech entrepreneur profile that stood out from the league’s typical ownership background in 2012.
- The franchise has only ever had two long-term owners: Michael Heisley from 1998 until the 2012 sale, and Robert Pera since.
- The Vancouver-to-Memphis move happened under the previous owner: Heisley relocated the team in 2001, over a decade before Pera’s purchase.
- Pera’s wealth is entirely tech-industry sourced: unlike many NBA owners with real estate, finance, or inherited wealth backgrounds, his fortune comes from founding Ubiquiti Networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Memphis Grizzlies?
Robert Pera, founder and CEO of Ubiquiti Networks, who has owned the team since 2012.
Where did the Grizzlies originally play?
Vancouver, Canada, from the franchise’s founding in 1995 until its relocation to Memphis in 2001.
Who owned the team before Robert Pera?
Michael Heisley, a Chicago businessman who bought the franchise in 1998 and moved it to Memphis in 2001.
How much did Robert Pera pay for the team?
Approximately $377 million in 2012.
What is Robert Pera’s business background?
He founded Ubiquiti Networks, a wireless networking equipment company, after working as a wireless engineer at Apple.
Related Reading
See also our profile of fellow NBA franchise the Atlanta Hawks.