The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Western Conference’s Central Division.
Founded (in their current incarnation) in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers, the franchise was relocated to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season and renamed the Jets. The team is privately owned and not publicly traded.
Ownership Status of the Winnipeg Jets
There is no single individual “owner” in the sense of a publicly traded company; instead, the franchise is owned by the private company True North Sports & Entertainment (TNSE). True North operates as a holding entity that owns the Jets and other assets (arena, minor-league club, real-estate ventures). Within this private structure, key figures are Mark Chipman (Executive Chairman of TNSE) and David Kenneth Roy Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet (via his firm/Osmington Inc., a partner in TNSE) and their respective investments.
Major Stakeholders
| Shareholder / Entity | Role / Note |
|---|---|
| True North Sports & Entertainment | Principal owner entity of the Winnipeg Jets. |
| Mark Chipman | Executive Chairman of TNSE and key individual behind ownership |
| David Thomson (via Osmington Inc.) | Business partner / investor in TNSE and the team. |
Note: Because TNSE is privately held, detailed percentage breakdowns of ownership are not publicly disclosed.
Key Shareholder Highlights
Mark Chipman
Mark Chipman is a Canadian business-executive, lawyer and sports-entrepreneur. He was born in Winnipeg in 1960. He attended the University of North Dakota where he earned both a B.A. in economics and a J.D. in law. He became President of his family’s holding company (Megill-Stephenson) in 2001 and founded (with partners) TNSE in 2001 with the aim of returning an NHL franchise to Manitoba. Under his leadership, TNSE purchased the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011, relocated them to Winnipeg and re-branded them as the Jets. Chipman serves as the Jets’ Governor on the NHL Board of Governors, and as Chairman of the True North Youth Foundation.
Mark Chipman Net Worth
According to publicly available estimates, Mark Chipman’s net worth is approximately USD $500 million as of 2025. Much of this wealth arises from his role in the family holding company, his sports-ownership stake via TNSE, and real-estate/automotive business interests. It is worth noting that such estimates for private individuals are approximate and may not capture all assets, liabilities or off-books ownership.
Key takeaway: Chipman is a multimillionaire but not in the billionaire class; his level of wealth is substantial but significantly smaller than that of his partner Thomson.
David Thomson
David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet, is a Canadian/British media and real-estate magnate. Born June 12, 1957 in Toronto. He inherited significant holdings from his family’s empire (the Thomson family) and serves as Chairman of the family’s investment vehicles.
Through his real-estate firm Osmington Inc., Thomson became a minority partner in TNSE by providing land for the construction of the downtown Winnipeg arena (Canada Life Centre) and thus holds a stake in the franchise. While not day-to-day involved in hockey operations, his financial backing and investment interest make him a significant stakeholder in the ownership structure.
David Thomson Net Worth
The publicly reported estimates for David Thomson’s net worth vary, but common figures place it in the tens of billions of US dollars. For example, his net worth has been cited at approximately USD $50 billion as of 2025.
Some reports indicate higher figures (e.g., CAD $73.7 billion for the Thomson family) depending on valuation methodology. The bulk of his wealth comes from the family’s majority stake in Thomson Reuters Corporation, real estate holdings, art collections, and assorted investments. Key takeaway: Thomson is among the wealthiest individuals in Canada and one of the richest globally; his stake in the Winnipeg Jets is a very small part of his broader portfolio.
Recent Developments in Ownership
- In May 2011, True North (led by Chipman & Thomson) purchased the Atlanta Thrashers franchise and relocated it to Winnipeg, officially becoming the Winnipeg Jets as of the 2011-12 season.
- The arena in downtown Winnipeg (now Canada Life Centre) was developed by TNSE, with land provided by Thomson’s company Osmington, meaning the ownership group’s real-estate arm is entwined with the franchise’s foundation.
- Because TNSE remains privately held, there are no publicly filed shareholder disclosure documents (as you would see for a public company) giving exact ownership percentages. For this reason, most statements about “ownership” are based on press reports or company statements rather than regulatory filings.
- There have been no widely publicised major changes in the ownership structure since the relocation, meaning the Chipman/Thomson partnership remains the controlling dynamic — though internal ownership percentages may have shifted privately.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of the Winnipeg Jets?
The Jets are owned by the private company True North Sports & Entertainment. The principal individuals associated with ownership are Mark Chipman (Executive Chairman) and David Thomson (via Osmington Inc.).
2. Is the Winnipeg Jets publicly traded or privately owned?
The team franchise is privately owned; it is not publicly traded on any stock exchange.
3. Who founded the Winnipeg Jets franchise in its current form?
The franchise traces to the Atlanta Thrashers (founded 1999). In 2011, Chipman’s group, along with partners, purchased the Thrashers, relocated the team to Winnipeg and renamed it the Jets.
4. Have there been any recent shifts in ownership?
There are no publicly documented major changes in ownership or controlling interest since the 2011 relocation; since the structure is private, minor internal shifts may happen without public disclosure.
5. How much is Winnipeg Jets owner worth?
- Mark Chipman’s net worth: estimated around USD $500 million.
- David Thomson’s net worth: estimated around USD $50 billion (or more depending on source).
The Winnipeg Jets are controlled by a private ownership group, True North Sports & Entertainment, led by Mark Chipman and supported by investor David Thomson. While the franchise is not publicly traded, these key individuals and their companies drive the ownership structure. Chipman remains deeply hands-on in the operations of the team and community, while Thomson’s stake is larger in scale but less operationally visible.
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