Who bought the Celtics?

The Boston Celtics have been sold for a record $6.1 billion valuation, making it the most expensive sale of a North American sports franchise. A person familiar with the transaction confirmed the sale to USA TODAY Sports.

Chisholm-Led Group Acquires Majority Stake

The Celtics’ longtime majority owners, H. Irving Grousbeck and Wyc Grousbeck, have agreed to sell the team to William Chisholm, a managing partner at Symphony Technology Group (STG), a private equity firm based in Menlo Park, California.

The Chisholm group includes major investment partners such as Sixth Street, along with other stakeholders.

Two-Phase Sale Structure

• The Grousbeck family originally purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.
• In July 2024, they announced plans to sell the team for estate and family planning reasons.
• The sale will take place in two phases:
  • 51% of the ownership stake is being sold now.
  • The remaining shares will be sold in 2028.
• Wyc Grousbeck will remain as the team’s governor until the final sale closure in 2028.

Largest Sale in North American Sports History

This $6.1 billion deal surpasses the previous record set in 2023, when Josh Harris and his group purchased the NFL’s Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion.

Celtics’ Strong Position in the NBA

• The Boston Celtics are one of the NBA’s most valuable and successful franchises, holding a record 18 NBA championships.
• The team’s core roster, featuring Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porziņģis, remains in title contention for the foreseeable future.
• The NBA’s financial health is strong, especially after securing a $76 billion, 11-year media rights deal with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon in 2024.