This is one of the biggest ownership stories in the NFL right now. As of this week, the Seattle Seahawks are owned by the Estate of Paul G. Allen and chaired by Jody Allen, Paul’s sister — but that’s about to change. On July 12, 2026, a group led by billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla agreed to buy the team for a reported $9.612 billion, the largest sale price in NFL history.
I want to be precise about where things stand, because “agreed to buy” and “owns” are different things. The deal still needs approval from NFL owners, expected at a special meeting in late August 2026. Until that vote happens, the Allen estate remains the legal owner.
Quick Facts
| Team | Seattle Seahawks |
|---|---|
| Current Owner | Estate of Paul G. Allen (Jody Allen, Chair) |
| Pending Buyer | Group led by Vinod Khosla (Khosla Ventures) |
| Sale Price | $9.612 billion (pending, record for an NFL franchise) |
| Founded | 1976 |
| League | NFL (NFC West) |
| Home | Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington |
| NFL Approval | Expected at special owners meeting, late August 2026 |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1976 | Founded as an NFL expansion team |
| 1997 | Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen buys the Seahawks for $200 million, saving the team from a potential move to Los Angeles |
| 2013 | Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII under Allen’s ownership |
| 2018 | Paul Allen dies; ownership passes to his estate, with sister Jody Allen serving as chair and trustee; his will directs that team assets eventually be sold to fund his charitable foundations |
| 2025 | Jody Allen states publicly the team is “not for sale right now,” even as Seattle wins Super Bowl LX |
| July 2026 | Estate agrees to sell the Seahawks to a group led by Vinod Khosla for a reported $9.612 billion, pending NFL owner approval |
Key Ownership Highlights
- At $9.612 billion, this would be the highest sale price for a North American sports franchise, surpassing the Boston Celtics and Washington Commanders deals.
- Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, has a reported net worth of $13.8 billion built through early-stage bets on companies like OpenAI, DoorDash, and Instacart.
- Khosla currently holds a limited-partner stake in the San Francisco 49ers, which he’ll be required to relinquish before becoming the Seahawks’ controlling owner under NFL cross-ownership rules.
- Khosla’s wife, Neeru Khosla, is set to serve as the team’s control owner of record, with son Neal Khosla also expected to take a leadership role.
- Per Paul Allen’s will, sale proceeds are directed toward Allen’s charitable foundations rather than family inheritance.
FAQ
Do the Khoslas own the Seahawks yet?
Not yet. The two sides have a signed agreement, but NFL owners still need to formally ratify the sale, expected at a special league meeting in late August 2026. Until then, the Paul Allen estate remains the legal owner.
Why is the team being sold?
Paul Allen’s will stipulated that his major assets, including the Seahawks, the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, and a stake in MLS’s Seattle Sounders, be sold over time to fund his charitable foundations rather than pass down as a family inheritance.
Is this the most expensive NFL sale ever?
Yes, at $9.612 billion the pending Seahawks sale would set a new record for an NFL franchise, ahead of the Washington Commanders’ $6.05 billion sale in 2023.
