Quick Facts: Sacramento Kings
| Current Owner | Vivek Ranadive (with Arctos Sports Partners) |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Owner Since | 2013 |
| Purchase Price | ~$534 million |
| Bought From | The Maloof family |
| Owner’s Day Job | Founder, Bow Capital (ex-TIBCO Software founder) |
| Recent Move | Bought out remaining minority owners, 2020s |
Who Owns the Sacramento Kings?
Vivek Ranadive has owned the Sacramento Kings since 2013, when his group bought the team for roughly $534 million and, in doing so, blocked a competing bid that would have relocated the franchise to Seattle.
Ranadive made his fortune founding TIBCO Software, a data infrastructure company, before moving into sports ownership and later founding Bow Capital, an investment firm focused on AI and deep-tech companies.
He bought the team from the Maloof family, who had owned the Kings since 1998 and had grown increasingly open to relocation offers as the team’s finances and arena situation deteriorated in Sacramento.
In the years since, Ranadive and investment firm Arctos Sports Partners have bought out the remaining minority owners, consolidating control of the franchise more tightly than at any point since the 2013 purchase.
Sacramento Kings Ownership History
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Maloof family buys majority stake | Maloof family | Team had relocated to Sacramento from Kansas City in 1985 |
| 2011–2013 | Relocation threat to Seattle | Maloof family (selling) | Sacramento group outbid the Seattle offer |
| 2013–Present | Bought for ~$534 million | Vivek Ranadive | Kept the franchise in Sacramento |
| 2020s | Minority owners bought out | Ranadive + Arctos Sports Partners | Consolidated, tighter ownership structure |
About Vivek Ranadive
Ranadive founded TIBCO Software in 1985, building it into a major enterprise data-infrastructure company before selling it and moving deeper into sports ownership and venture investing.
Beyond the Kings, he’s continued expanding his sports footprint — he owns the Sacramento River Cats (the Kings’ minor league baseball counterpart in spirit, if not affiliation) and is a founding partner of Major League Volleyball, a new professional volleyball league launching in 2026.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Ranadive’s purchase directly stopped a relocation: the 2013 deal beat out a competing Seattle-based bid that would have moved the Kings out of Sacramento entirely.
- Ownership has become more consolidated over time: Ranadive and Arctos Sports Partners have bought out remaining minority owners in recent years.
- Ranadive’s business background is entirely tech and data: TIBCO Software and now Bow Capital, an AI and deep-tech investment firm.
- He’s built a broader Sacramento sports presence: ownership of the River Cats and a founding role in the new Major League Volleyball league, launching in 2026.
- The Maloof family’s exit followed years of financial strain: their willingness to entertain relocation offers is what created the opening for Ranadive’s group to buy in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Sacramento Kings?
Vivek Ranadive, alongside investment firm Arctos Sports Partners, who together control the franchise following purchases and consolidation since 2013.
Who owned the Kings before Ranadive?
The Maloof family, who bought the team in 1998 and nearly relocated it to Seattle before selling in 2013.
How much did Vivek Ranadive pay for the team?
Roughly $534 million in 2013.
What is Vivek Ranadive’s business background?
He founded TIBCO Software, a data infrastructure company, and later founded Bow Capital, an AI and deep-tech investment firm.
Does Ranadive own other sports teams?
Yes, the Sacramento River Cats minor league baseball team, and he’s a founding partner of the new Major League Volleyball league launching in 2026.
