The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They play in the NHL (National Hockey League), in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. The Sharks compete at SAP Center at San Jose (often called “The Shark Tank”). Founded in 1991 (first playing in the 1991-92 season) under an expansion franchise arrangement, the team has become a major fixture in Bay Area sports.
Ownership Status of the San Jose Sharks
There is no single private owner in the sense of a large publicly‐traded corporation owning the Sharks; rather, the franchise is owned by a private sports & entertainment company, and consolidated into the hands of one individual. Specifically:
- The Sharks are owned by Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE), a privately held company that oversees the operations of the team and associated assets.
- The majority (and effectively sole) owner of SSE is Hasso Plattner, a German-businessman and philanthropist who took over as majority owner in 2010 and is now the principal owner.
Major Shareholders
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hasso Plattner | (Majority / Practically 100%) | Became majority owner in 2010. |
| Other institutional / individual minority stakeholders | Minor | Former investors included Kevin Compton, Stratton Sclavos, etc. |
Note: The exact current percentage for Plattner has not been publicly broken out in recent filings; what is clear is that he is recognized as the owner and principal owner of SSE.
About The Owner Hasso Plattner
Hasso Plattner is a German businessman and philanthropist, born on January 21, 1944 in Berlin, Germany. He studied communications engineering at the University of Karlsruhe (now Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) and graduated in 1968. After starting his career at IBM Germany, he co-founded the software company SAP SE in 1972 along with four colleagues. Over the years, Plattner held key leadership roles at SAP, including serving as Chairman of its Supervisory Board from 2003 till 2024.
Beyond his business ventures, Plattner has made significant philanthropic contributions. He founded the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) in 1998, a non-profit research institute dedicated to IT systems engineering and digital innovation. He also established the Hasso Plattner Foundation, which supports education, culture, and science.
Plattner’s interest in sports is also noteworthy: he became the principal owner of the San Jose Sharks (NHL) by acquiring full control of its ownership entity Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE) around 2013.
Hasso Plattner Net Worth
Estimating the net worth of Hasso Plattner involves looking at multiple sources, and values vary depending on the date and methodology. According to Forbes, at one point his net worth was reported at around US $17.9 billion. Other outlets provide different figures: one source estimates his wealth at US $13.9 billion (Dec 2024). Some reports claim higher values: for example one tracking site lists his net worth as US $23.1 billion as of October 2025.
Key factors influencing his net worth include his stake in SAP SE, his other investments (including venture capital via his firm Hasso Plattner Ventures), his sports ownership interests, and his real-estate or luxury assets (e.g., the yacht “Visione”).
Because asset values can fluctuate (especially equity holdings in publicly traded companies) and because private holdings are harder to estimate, a conservative range for recent years would place his net worth in the US $13 billion to US $20 billion bracket.
Key Shareholder Highlights
- Hasso Plattner: He is recognized as the owner of the Sharks, through SSE. According to the NHL’s official site, “Hasso Plattner serves as the sole owner of Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE).”
- Prior to Plattner’s consolidation, other local investors held stakes (for example Kevin Compton and Stratton Sclavos). In January 2013, Plattner purchased their shares, which marked a move toward sole ownership.
- The ownership structure reflects typical professional‐sports ownership in North America: a private company controlling operations, fronted by a principal owner who sits on the Board of Governors of the league.
Recent Developments in Ownership
There have been no major changes in ownership of the Sharks in recent years (i.e., no sale of the franchise, according to public sources). The last significant transaction occurred when Plattner purchased remaining investor stakes circa 2013.
The team continues to negotiate arena lease and facility issues (e.g., the lease at SAP Center) under Plattner’s ownership.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of the San Jose Sharks?
The current owner is Hasso Plattner, via his ownership of Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE).
2. Is the San Jose Sharks publicly traded or privately owned?
The franchise is privately owned (not publicly traded). Ownership is held via a private company (SSE) rather than shares traded on a public exchange.
3. Who founded the Sharks franchise?
The Sharks were awarded as an NHL expansion franchise in 1990, beginning play in 1991. The founding ownership came via the Gund family (George Gund III & Gordon Gund) that sold their stake in the North Stars to bring hockey to the Bay Area.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
No major change (such as sale to a new ownership group) is publicly noted in recent years. The recent major shift occurred around 2013 when Plattner purchased other stakes and consolidated his position.
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