Robert Kraft Cashes In Big Time: Patriots Valued at Staggering $9 Billion in New Minority Stake Deal
A billion dollar NFL franchise has got new minority owners. Robert Kraft, the man who’s been running the show in Foxborough since the Clinton administration, has decided it’s time to let a couple of wealthy friends buy their way into his exclusive club. And boy, are they paying through the nose for it.
The Deal That Makes Your Head Spin
The New England organization has agreed to sell off an 8% minority stake at a jaw-dropping $9 billion valuation. Let that sink in for a moment. Nine. Billion. Dollars. For a team that’s currently sitting at 1-2 and looking about being a Top 5 valued franchise is crazy.
Two investors are splitting this golden opportunity: billionaire Dean Metropoulos is scooping up 5%, while private equity firm Sixth Street Partners is grabbing the remaining 3%. Together, they’re shelling out $720 million for less than one-tenth of a franchise that, let’s be honest, hasn’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard lately.
To put this in perspective, Kraft originally bought this team back in 1994 for a “measly” $172 million. That was considered highway robbery at the time – the highest price ever paid for a sports franchise. Fast forward 30 years, and that investment has multiplied by more than 50 times and in the billions. Not too shabby for a guy who basically bought himself a really expensive hobby.
Why Everyone’s Suddenly Playing Monopoly with NFL Teams
This isn’t some isolated case of Kraft getting greedy (though the timing is certainly interesting). The entire NFL has caught valuation fever, and it’s spreading faster than rumors about Tom Brady’s next comeback.
The New York Giants recently made headlines by selling 10% of their franchise at a valuation exceeding $10 billion – because apparently, even being terrible on the field doesn’t hurt your bank account in the NFL. The Chicago Bears closed a deal selling just over 2% at an $8.9 billion valuation, while the San Francisco 49ers are reportedly moving 3% at $8.6 billion.
It’s like everyone in the league suddenly realized they’re sitting on gold mines, even if some of those mines haven’t produced championship ore in quite some time.
The Money Game Behind the Money Game
Here’s what’s really fascinating about this whole situation: these minority stake sales are essentially allowing NFL owners to have their cake and eat it too. They get to maintain control of their franchises while simultaneously cashing in on valuations. The NFL changed its rules last year to allow private equity investment, and boy, did these owners waste any time taking advantage
The organization has been struggling to recapture the magic of their dynasty years, and throwing more money at the ownership structure isn’t exactly going to fix what’s happening between the lines. Mac Jones is gone, Drake Maye is waiting in the wings, and the team is still trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up.
The Broader NFL Landscape
This valuation bonanza isn’t happening in a vacuum. Television deals are through the roof, streaming services are throwing money around like confetti, and somehow, despite ticket prices that require a second mortgage, fans keep showing up. The NFL has essentially become too big to fail, even when individual teams are failing spectacularly on the field.
The league’s revenue-sharing model means that even the worst teams get a piece of the pie, making every franchise a guaranteed money-maker. It’s like being handed a winning lottery ticket every year, regardless of whether your team can actually win games. As the organization prepares to welcome their new minority partners, fans are left wondering whether this cash injection will translate into anything meaningful for the team’s on-field performance.
