The Minnesota Twins have one of the most dramatic ownership stories in recent MLB history. In 2024, the Pohlad family shocked fans by announcing they were exploring a sale. Then in August 2025, they shocked everyone again by announcing they were not selling. And in December 2025, the ownership picture shifted once more with a leadership change inside the family itself.
Here is everything you need to know about who owns the Minnesota Twins right now in 2026.
What Are the Minnesota Twins?
The Minnesota Twins are a professional Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play their home games at Target Field and compete in the American League Central division. The franchise was originally the Washington Senators, relocating to Minnesota in 1961. The team has won World Series championships in 1987 and 1991 and has been a cornerstone of Midwest sports culture for over six decades.
Who Owns the Minnesota Twins Right Now in 2026?
The Pohlad family owns and controls the Minnesota Twins. The Pohlad family retains the control of the ownership group, with Tom Pohlad now serving as the controlling owner following a leadership change finalized in December 2025.
The Twins announced a plan to make Tom Pohlad the controlling owner and primary liaison to the league in place of his younger brother, Joe Pohlad, as part of a new executive leadership structure coinciding with new investors joining the ownership group.
Tom Pohlad, age 45, had never held a role with the baseball club before, previously serving as executive chairman of Pohlad Companies, overseeing the family’s diverse portfolio of businesses. He now steps into the most prominent role the family has had in the franchise’s future.
The Dramatic Sale Saga — And Why the Pohlads Stayed
After 40 years, the Pohlad family decided to seek a buyer for the Twins in 2024. “It’s our objective to find an ownership group who all of us can be proud of and who will take care of the Minnesota Twins,” Joe Pohlad said at the time.
The sale process ran for nearly 10 months. Billionaire Justin Ishbia was reportedly the leading contender but ultimately chose to increase his minority stake in the Chicago White Sox instead. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had previously indicated with confidence that a sale was imminent.
Then on August 13, 2025, Executive Chair Joe Pohlad confirmed the Twins would no longer be sold. The Pohlad family reversed course, choosing to remain principal owner while adding new limited partnership investors to reduce debt. The team carried a reported debt load of more than $425 million, partly a result of lost crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of their regional television contract.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Investor | Role | Ownership Type | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pohlad Family | Principal Owner | Majority controlling stake | Owns the Twins since 1984; family retains full control |
| Tom Pohlad | Controlling Owner | Family leadership head | Became controlling owner December 2025; age 45 |
| Joe Pohlad | Former Executive Chair | Family member | Stepped back from lead role in December 2025 |
| Jim Pohlad | Former Chairman | Family member | Served as chairman 2009–2022; former primary MLB liaison |
| Glick Family Investments | Minority Investor | Non-controlling stake | Multi-generational New York venture capital firm |
| George Hicks | Minority Investor | Non-controlling stake | Minnesota native; co-founder of global firm Varde Partners |
| Craig Leipold | Minority Investor | Non-controlling stake | Majority owner of the Minnesota Wild (NHL) |
| MLB (Other Owners) | League Governance | No equity in Twins | Approves all ownership transfers and minority stake sales |
The Pohlad Family: How It All Started
Carl Pohlad officially became the second owner in team history, buying the franchise from Calvin Griffith on July 31, 1984. The Griffith family had owned the franchise since 1919, when it was the Washington Senators. Pohlad, who built his fortune in banking, paid $44 million — around $137 million in today’s dollars when adjusted for inflation.
Carl Pohlad was a banking magnate from the Midwest who turned a $44 million investment into one of the most valuable sports franchises in the American League. Under his ownership, the Twins won the World Series in both 1987 and 1991 — the two greatest moments in franchise history.
Since Carl’s death on January 5, 2009, his sons Jim, Bill, and Bob inherited the Twins franchise. All three are on the team’s executive board. The Twins front-office directory lists the Pohlad family as a whole as the owner of the team.
Now, the third generation of Pohlads has taken the reins. Tom Pohlad — grandson of Carl — leads the ownership group into what will be the most important chapter in the franchise’s recent history.
The New Minority Investors: Who Joined and Why
When the Pohlad family decided not to sell in August 2025, they committed to bringing in outside investors to address the franchise’s debt load and inject fresh strategic thinking.
Major League Baseball approved the acquisition of noncontrolling minority interests in the Twins by Glick Family Investments, a multigenerational New York venture capital firm; a group of Minnesota business leaders spearheaded by George Hicks; and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold.
George Hicks is a Minnesota native and former executive of Cargill Financial who co-founded Varde Partners, a startup in 1993 that has grown into a global investment firm. Craig Leipold brings experience as the majority owner of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, making him uniquely positioned in the Twin Cities sports market.
Critically, none of these new investors have a path to controlling ownership. The Pohlad family retains full control — the new partners simply provide capital and board-level perspective.
What Is the Minnesota Twins Worth in 2026?
The Pohlad family purchased the Twins in 1984 for $44 million. Today, the team is estimated to be valued between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion, marking more than four decades of family stewardship.
That valuation growth — from $44 million to $1.5–1.7 billion — represents one of the great wealth-building stories in American professional sports, even if the Twins have not been a consistent on-field contender in recent years.
The 2026 Season: A Fresh Start Under New Leadership
The Twins went 70–92 in 2025 — one of the worst records in MLB — and fired manager Rocco Baldelli at season’s end. They replaced him with Derek Shelton as the new manager, signaling a commitment to on-field improvement alongside the new ownership structure.
Tom Pohlad has made it clear that the new ownership structure is not just cosmetic — it is a commitment to meaningful investment in the baseball operation going forward. Fans, who were openly frustrated during the sale saga, will be watching closely to see whether those words translate into a bigger payroll and real playoff contention in 2026 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns the Minnesota Twins in 2026?
The Pohlad family is the majority controlling owner, with Tom Pohlad serving as the new controlling owner since December 2025.
Q2. Did the Pohlad family sell the Minnesota Twins?
No. After a 10-month sale process, the Pohlad family reversed course in August 2025 and decided to retain control of the franchise.
Q3. Who is the new controlling owner of the Twins?
Tom Pohlad replaced his younger brother Joe Pohlad as controlling owner and primary MLB liaison in December 2025.
Q4. Who are the new minority investors in the Twins?
Glick Family Investments, George Hicks (co-founder of Varde Partners), and Craig Leipold (owner of the Minnesota Wild) each hold non-controlling minority stakes.
Q5. When did the Pohlad family buy the Minnesota Twins?
Carl Pohlad purchased the Twins from Calvin Griffith on July 31, 1984 for $44 million.
Q6. How much are the Minnesota Twins worth in 2026?
The Twins are currently valued between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion — up from the $44 million paid in 1984.
