Few teams in professional basketball carry as much history, heartbreak, and passion as the Philadelphia 76ers. From the dynasty days of Wilt Chamberlain and Julius Erving to the culture-shifting “Trust the Process” era, the Sixers have always been more than just a basketball team — they are a civic institution in Philadelphia. But behind every draft pick, every trade deadline move, and every home game at Xfinity Mobile Arena, there is an ownership group making the big decisions. So who actually owns the Sixers in 2026?
The answer starts with two private equity billionaires, a $280 million purchase in 2011 that now looks like one of the greatest investments in sports history, and a sports empire worth $14.6 billion that stretches from the NBA to the NFL to the English Premier League.
Who Owns the Sixers Right Now?
The Philadelphia 76ers are owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer. HBSE is a holding company that specializes in the investment of sports franchises and operates and manages sports arenas.
Joshua Jordan Harris is the majority owner and managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers. He is the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm, and the managing partner of the Washington Commanders of the NFL, a general partner of Crystal Palace in the Premier League, and a minority owner in Joe Gibbs Racing.
In plain terms: Josh Harris is the boss. He is the principal decision-maker, the majority stakeholder, and the man whose vision shapes the Sixers’ direction both on the court and in the boardroom. Alongside him is David Blitzer — his longtime business partner and co-managing owner — who handles day-to-day operations across HBSE’s broader portfolio.
Who Owns the Philadelphia 76ers — Ownership Table
| Owner / Stakeholder | Role | Ownership Type | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Harris | Majority Owner & Managing Partner | Controlling Stake | Co-founder of Apollo Global Management; net worth ~$11.1B (Forbes 2025) |
| David Blitzer | Co-Owner & Co-Managing Partner | Significant Minority Stake | Senior Blackstone executive; net worth ~$3.6B (Forbes 2025) |
| Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) | Parent Ownership Group | Controls the franchise | Founded September 2017; total assets $14.6 billion as of July 2025 |
| Bob Myers | President (Interim) | Executive — No ownership | Former Golden State Warriors GM; named HBSE President in October 2025 |
| Nick Nurse | Head Coach | No ownership stake | Named head coach in 2023; leads team on the court |
| Elton Brand | General Manager | No ownership stake | Manages basketball operations and roster decisions |
| Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith | Minority Investors (Historical) | Small minority stake | Joined original 2011 ownership group; still hold minor stake |
| Comcast-Spectacor | Previous Owner (Historical) | Sold 100% in 2011 | Owned team for 15 years; still owns Wells Fargo / Xfinity Mobile Arena |
Josh Harris: The Man Who Runs the Sixers
Josh Harris was born in December 1964 in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His father was an orthodontist and his mother was a schoolteacher. He completed his education at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School and a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1986.
After graduating, Harris went to work at the infamous “junk bond” firm Drexel Burnham Lambert before co-founding Apollo Global Management in 1990 — one of the largest and most powerful private equity firms in the world. By 2022, he had stepped down from Apollo to focus entirely on his sports investments through a new firm he founded called 26North.
As of early 2025, Josh Harris’s net worth is estimated at approximately $11.1 billion according to Forbes and $11.7 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as of June 2025. He has amassed this fortune through his stake in Apollo, his sports-team investments, real estate holdings, and other business ventures.
Harris is not a passive sports owner who shows up to games and lets others make decisions. He is deeply involved in the strategic direction of the Sixers, working directly with basketball operations and business leadership to shape both the roster and the brand.
David Blitzer: The Co-Owner Behind the Scenes
While Josh Harris gets most of the public attention, David Blitzer is an equally important figure in the Sixers’ ownership story.
David Blitzer is an American investor and owner of sports franchises. He graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1991 and later joined the Blackstone Group, where he rose to a senior role as chairman of Blackstone’s tactical opportunities division. He is a managing partner of the New Jersey Devils (NHL) and the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA). As of 2025, David Blitzer’s net worth is estimated at about $3.6 billion according to Forbes.
Blitzer joined Harris in the 2011 purchase and has been central to building HBSE into the global sports empire it is today. His role within the Sixers operation focuses more on business strategy, venue partnerships, and the broader HBSE portfolio rather than basketball decisions — but his influence on the franchise is substantial.
The Origin Story: $280 Million That Became $5.45 Billion
The story of how Josh Harris and David Blitzer came to own the Sixers is one of the best investment stories in modern American sports.
A group of investors, led by 1986 Wharton graduate Joshua Harris, paid approximately $280 million to purchase the Philadelphia 76ers basketball franchise from Comcast-Spectacor, which had owned the team for 15 years. The sports and entertainment company gave up 100 percent ownership of the team and operational control.
The ownership group that bought the team in 2011 was not just Harris and Blitzer. Harris led a group of 16 investors who bought the team from Comcast-Spectacor. Among the lengthy list of new owners and investors were co-managing owner David Blitzer, actor Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, GSI Commerce CEO Michael Rubin, real estate investors, and film producers.
That $280 million purchase price looks almost comically cheap in hindsight. According to Forbes, the Philadelphia 76ers are now the 10th Most Valuable NBA Franchise for the 2025-26 season, valued at $5.45 billion. The organization’s total estimated revenue is $472 million. HBSE has seen the estimated value of the 76ers organization increase by 1,798 percent over the last 14 years.
That is not a typo — 1,798 percent in 14 years. A $280 million investment has grown into a $5.45 billion franchise. It stands as one of the greatest returns on investment in the history of professional sports ownership.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment: A $14.6 Billion Sports Empire
The Philadelphia 76ers are the crown jewel of HBSE — but they are far from the only asset in this remarkable portfolio.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) was founded by Josh Harris and David Blitzer on September 25, 2017. The company is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, and had $14.6 billion in assets as of 2025. HBSE’s brands include the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), New Jersey Devils (NHL), and an upcoming Philadelphia WNBA team.
HBSE came in at No. 3 on CNBC’s rankings of the top 20 sports empires in 2025, with a combined value of $14.6 billion. That trails only Kroenke Sports & Entertainment ($21.2B) and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ($15.5B). HBSE holds a minority stake in English Premier League club Crystal Palace and in Joe Gibbs Racing as well.
The Washington Commanders (NFL) purchase was another landmark moment. Harris led the group that acquired the Commanders for a record-breaking price — adding an NFL franchise to a portfolio that already included NBA, NHL, and EPL assets.
The New Arena: A Game-Changer for the Sixers
One of the most exciting developments in the Sixers’ recent history has nothing to do with basketball — it is about real estate and a brand-new building.
In January 2025, Sixers owner Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment announced a joint venture with Comcast Spectacor, owner of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, to build a new home arena for both teams. The new arena will be built in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, the site of the teams’ current arena, now known as Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 50/50 joint venture is scheduled to open in 2031, ahead of the NHL and NBA seasons.
This is a landmark shift for HBSE — for years, Comcast had operational control over the arena where the Sixers played. The new joint venture gives HBSE equal say over its home venue for the first time, opening up enormous new revenue streams in concerts, events, and premium hospitality.
What Is Happening With the Sixers Right Now in 2026?
The 2025-26 season has been a challenging one for the Sixers on the court, but significant moves have been made in the front office. On May 12, 2026, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was fired, and Bob Myers was named as interim president. Myers, the former Golden State Warriors general manager who had joined HBSE as company president in October 2025, now oversees basketball operations as well.
Nick Nurse remains as head coach, and Elton Brand continues as General Manager. The team plays its home games at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia while the new joint arena project with Comcast Spectacor advances toward its 2031 opening.
On the WNBA front, HBSE was awarded a bid for a Philadelphia WNBA team in June 2025, set to begin play in 2030 — further expanding the Sixers’ ownership group’s footprint in professional basketball.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns the Philadelphia 76ers in 2026?
The Philadelphia 76ers are owned by Josh Harris and David Blitzer through their company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE).
Q2. How much did Josh Harris pay for the Sixers?
Josh Harris led a group that purchased the Sixers from Comcast-Spectacor for approximately $280 million in 2011.
Q3. How much are the Philadelphia 76ers worth in 2026?
Forbes values the Philadelphia 76ers at $5.45 billion for the 2025-26 season — the 10th most valuable franchise in the NBA.
Q4. What is HBSE and what teams do they own?
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) owns the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), New Jersey Devils (NHL), Washington Commanders (NFL), a stake in Crystal Palace (EPL), and a future Philadelphia WNBA team launching in 2030.
Q5. Did Will Smith own the Sixers?
Yes. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith joined the original 2011 ownership group as minority investors when Josh Harris bought the team from Comcast-Spectacor.
Q6. Who is the current president of the Philadelphia 76ers?
Bob Myers, former Golden State Warriors general manager, is serving as interim president of basketball operations after Daryl Morey was fired on May 12, 2026.
Q7. Who is the head coach of the 76ers in 2026?
Nick Nurse is the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, a role he has held since 2023.
Q8. Are the Sixers getting a new arena?
Yes. A new arena is being built at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in a 50/50 joint venture between HBSE and Comcast Spectacor, scheduled to open in 2031.
