Quick Facts: Brooklyn Nets
| Current Owner | Joe Tsai (BSE Global, controlling) |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Founded | 1967, as the New Jersey Americans (ABA) |
| Headquarters / Arena | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York |
| Bought Full Control | August 2019, from Mikhail Prokhorov |
| Notable Minority Owner | Julia Koch (~15% of BSE Global, since 2024) |
| Parent Entity | BSE Global (also owns Barclays Center) |
Who Owns the Brooklyn Nets?
The Brooklyn Nets are owned by Joe Tsai, the Taiwanese-Canadian billionaire who co-founded Alibaba Group alongside Jack Ma.
Tsai controls the team through BSE Global, the holding company that also owns the Nets’ home arena, Barclays Center, and the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
He first bought a 49% stake in the Nets back in 2018, then exercised an option to buy the rest from Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov in August 2019 — a deal that valued the franchise at roughly $2.35 billion at the time.
In 2024, Tsai sold about 15% of BSE Global to Julia Koch, part of the family behind Koch Industries, in a deal worth roughly $700 million. He remains BSE Global’s chairman and the Nets’ governor.
Brooklyn Nets Ownership History
Few NBA franchises have moved as many times, or changed hands as often, as this one — three cities, three leagues’ worth of history, and now Wall Street-level ownership.
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Founded as New Jersey Americans | ABA ownership group | Joined NBA in 1976 merger, renamed Nets |
| 2004 | Bought by real-estate group | Bruce Ratner | Began push to move team to Brooklyn |
| 2010 | Majority stake purchased | Mikhail Prokhorov | First non-American majority NBA owner |
| 2012 | Team relocates to Brooklyn | Prokhorov | New home: Barclays Center |
| 2018 | Joe Tsai buys 49% stake | Joe Tsai | ~$2.3 billion team valuation |
| 2019 | Tsai buys remaining stake + arena | Joe Tsai | Full control of Nets and Barclays Center |
| 2024–Present | Julia Koch buys ~15% of BSE Global | Joe Tsai (controlling) + Julia Koch | ~$700 million deal |
About Joe Tsai
Joe Tsai co-founded Alibaba Group with Jack Ma in 1999, structuring the deal that gave the company its early financial backbone, and has served in senior roles there ever since, including chairman.
His net worth is tied heavily to Alibaba stock, and he’s used sports ownership as a way to diversify — beyond the Nets, his BSE Global umbrella also owns the WNBA’s New York Liberty, whom he bought in 2019 and has since built into a championship contender.
Tsai has faced scrutiny over his ties to China given Alibaba’s base there, something ESPN and other outlets have covered extensively given the NBA’s broader relationship with Chinese business and politics.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Three relocations, three eras: The franchise started in New Jersey (as the Americans, then Nets), and didn’t find a permanent identity until the 2012 move to Brooklyn under Prokhorov.
- Prokhorov was a first: When Mikhail Prokhorov bought majority control in 2010, he became the first foreign majority owner in NBA history.
- Tsai’s buyout was a two-step deal: He bought 49% in 2018, then exercised his option on the rest in 2019 rather than buying the whole team outright from the start.
- BSE Global bundles the arena too: Unlike many NBA owners who rent arena space, Tsai’s BSE Global owns Barclays Center outright, giving him full control over both the team and its venue economics.
- The Koch family connection is new: Julia Koch’s 2024 investment marked one of the more notable minority-stake sales in recent NBA ownership history, bringing outside capital into BSE Global without ceding control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Brooklyn Nets today?
Joe Tsai, through his holding company BSE Global, is the controlling owner. He’s held full control since buying out Mikhail Prokhorov in August 2019.
Who founded the team that became the Nets?
The franchise began in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans in the American Basketball Association, joining the NBA in the 1976 ABA-NBA merger under the Nets name.
Has the team changed ownership multiple times?
Yes. From its original ABA ownership group, to Bruce Ratner’s real-estate-driven purchase in 2004, to Mikhail Prokhorov in 2010, to Joe Tsai’s full buyout completed in 2019.
Does Joe Tsai own the Nets’ arena too?
Yes. His BSE Global company owns Barclays Center outright, along with the Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
Who is Julia Koch and what’s her role with the Nets?
Julia Koch, part of the family behind Koch Industries, bought roughly 15% of BSE Global in 2024 for about $700 million. She’s a minority investor — Joe Tsai remains the controlling owner and governor.
