The Boston Celtics are now owned by a group led by private equity investor William Chisholm, who serves as Governor of the franchise.
Chisholm closed his purchase in August 2025, ending more than two decades of ownership by the Grousbeck family.
Wyc Grousbeck, who bought the team in 2002 and delivered two championship banners, did not disappear. He stayed on as Alternate Governor and CEO.
The National Basketball Association Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale, clearing the way for one of the largest transactions in sports history.
The price tag was large enough to briefly set a new benchmark for North American sports. Keep reading to see exactly how much changed hands, who is really in charge now, and what it means for the team going forward.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Team | Boston Celtics |
| Current Owner | William Chisholm, Governor |
| Purchase Price | Approximately 6.1 billion dollars |
| Valuation | 6.1 billion dollars at close, second stage payment expected by 2028 |
| Founded | 1946 |
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Arena | TD Garden, Boston |
| Former Owner | Wyc Grousbeck ownership group, 2002 to 2025 |
Table of Contents
Who Owns The Boston Celtics Today
The controlling owner of the Boston Celtics is William Chisholm, a private equity executive and Massachusetts native who now holds the title of Governor. Chisholm leads an investor group that took majority control of the franchise in August 2025.
Chisholm is joined by a long list of co investors, including Aditya Mittal, who serves as an Alternate Governor and is described as the second largest stakeholder in the group. Wyc Grousbeck, the previous controlling owner, also remains an Alternate Governor and continues to run day to day operations as CEO.
This dual leadership setup is somewhat unusual for a professional sports franchise sale. Rather than a clean handoff, the Celtics ownership transition was structured in stages, with Grousbeck staying closely involved through the change.
How Much Did The Celtics Sell For In 2025
Chisholm agreed to buy the Boston Celtics for a total valuation of roughly 6.1 billion dollars, according to ESPN, Sportico, and the Boston Globe. At the time of the agreement in March 2025, that figure made it the largest sale price ever recorded for a North American sports franchise.
The deal closed in stages. The first stage, which handed Chisholm operating control, closed in August 2025 after the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale. A second stage payment is expected to complete the full buyout by around 2028, a structure that let Grousbeck and other longtime investors retain some interest for tax and continuity reasons.
For context on scale, Grousbeck’s family group originally purchased the Celtics in 2002 for 360 million dollars. The 2025 sale price represented more than a sixteen fold increase in just over two decades, reflecting how much NBA franchise values have climbed.
Note that the Celtics deal was later surpassed as the biggest sports sale in North America when a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers was valued at close to 10 billion dollars later in 2025, per Wikipedia. The Celtics sale still stands as one of the largest in NBA history.
Boston Celtics Ownership Structure Explained
The Boston Celtics ownership group is a layered structure with one controlling Governor, a small circle of Alternate Governors, and a wider pool of minority investors. Here is how the group breaks down.
Alternate Governor, CEO
Alternate Governor, second largest stakeholder
Institutional investor, third largest stake
Longtime minority investor since 2012
Minority investor, real estate executive
Legacy shareholder, transition interest through 2028
Additional minority investors joining the Chisholm group include Andrew Bialecki, Dom Ferrante, and Mario Ho, rounding out one of the largest single ownership groups ever assembled for an NBA franchise.
Who Is Bill Chisholm, The Boston Celtics New Governor
William Chisholm grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts and built his fortune as the managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, a private equity firm focused on software and technology companies. He is a lifelong Celtics fan, and multiple outlets, including the Boston Globe, described buying the team as a personal milestone rather than just a business deal.
Forbes and Sportico have estimated Chisholm’s personal net worth in the low single digit billions, meaning the Celtics purchase required him to assemble a large group of co investors rather than fund the deal alone. That is a common pattern in modern NBA ownership, where franchise prices have grown far beyond what most individuals can pay solo.
Since taking over, Chisholm has publicly committed to keeping the team in Boston and investing in the roster, telling reporters he would do whatever it takes to keep the Celtics competitive for championships.
What Role Does Wyc Grousbeck Play Now
Wyc Grousbeck did not fully exit after selling. He remains an Alternate Governor and continues on as CEO, overseeing basketball and business operations alongside Chisholm.
Grousbeck led the Celtics for 23 years after his family group purchased the team in 2002. During that run the franchise won championships in 2008 and 2024, and made repeated deep playoff appearances. His continued presence was part of the sale agreement, meant to preserve institutional knowledge during the ownership change.
Grousbeck has said publicly that he is fired up to keep working alongside Chisholm, describing the arrangement as a continuation of the Celtics journey rather than an ending.
Who Are The Other Boston Celtics Investors And Minority Owners
Beyond Chisholm, Mittal, and Grousbeck, the ownership group includes Rob Hale, founder of Granite Telecommunications, who has been a Celtics investor since 2012 and increased his stake as part of the 2025 sale.
Sixth Street Partners, a large global investment firm that also holds a stake in the San Antonio Spurs, joined as an institutional investor. Under NBA rules, no single private equity fund can own more than 20 percent of a team, which caps Sixth Street’s position.
Other named investors include Bruce Beal, president of Related Companies, along with Andrew Bialecki, Dom Ferrante, Ian Loring, and Mario Ho. Longtime shareholder Steve Pagliuca, a former Celtics co owner and Bain Capital executive, retained an interest that is expected to wind down by around 2028.
Boston Celtics Ownership History Timeline
The Celtics have only changed controlling owners a handful of times since being founded in 1946. Here is how the modern era of ownership played out.
Wyc Grousbeck leads a group that purchases the Celtics for 360 million dollars.
The Grousbeck led Celtics win the NBA title, their first since 1986.
Granite Telecommunications founder Rob Hale buys into the ownership group.
The Celtics win another title, then announce the team is for sale months later.
Bill Chisholm agrees to buy the Celtics for a record 6.1 billion dollar valuation.
The NBA Board of Governors approves the sale and Chisholm takes over as Governor.
Is Bill Chisholm A Good Owner: Is The Boston Celtics Ownership Really Worth It
It is early, since Chisholm has only held control since August 2025, but early signs and his public commitments give fans something to evaluate.
Reasons for optimism: Chisholm is a Massachusetts native and self described lifelong fan, which fans hope means genuine emotional investment rather than a purely financial play. He has publicly pledged to spend on the roster and keep the team competitive, and he kept Grousbeck and the basketball operations staff largely in place, which reduces the risk of a disruptive front office shakeup, according to NBA.com.
Reasons for caution: A 6.1 billion dollar purchase price, financed with the help of institutional investors like Sixth Street Partners, creates significant debt and return pressure on the new ownership group. Some fans and analysts have raised concerns that a large, private equity backed investor group could eventually prioritize cost control or a future resale over long term stability, a tension common across recent NBA and NFL ownership changes.
On balance, most beat writers covering the team, including at the Boston Globe, have described the transition so far as smooth, largely because Grousbeck’s continued presence has limited the disruption. Whether the purchase price proves worth it financially will not be clear for years.
What Is The Boston Celtics Franchise Worth Today
Forbes and CNBC placed the Celtics among the top tier of NBA franchise valuations heading into the 2026 season, with figures in the same range as the 6.1 billion dollar sale price. The exact number moves each year as Forbes updates its annual team value rankings, factoring in local media deals, arena revenue, and league wide television contracts.
The Celtics play home games at TD Garden in Boston, an arena the team does not fully own outright but operates under a long standing partnership tied to Delaware North, the Jacobs family business that also controls the building. Arena economics like ticket revenue, suites, and concessions are a major piece of what makes the franchise valuable beyond the on court product.
For a deeper look at the club’s full background, see the Boston Celtics entry on Wikipedia, which tracks the franchise from its 1946 founding through the 2025 ownership change.
Curious how Celtics ownership compares with other pro sports franchises? See our breakdowns of who owns the Kansas City Royals and who owns the Colorado Rockies for more on how MLB ownership groups compare to the NBA.
Are The Boston Celtics For Sale In 2026
No, the Boston Celtics are not for sale in 2026. The franchise just went through a lengthy, closely watched sale process that concluded in August 2025, and Bill Chisholm now controls the team as Governor.
There is a structural detail worth knowing. Because the deal closed in stages, a second stage payment tied to the remaining ownership stake is expected to finalize by around 2028. That is a scheduled completion of the existing agreement, not a new sale, and reporting from Sportico indicates it will not change who runs the franchise.
Barring an unexpected development, Celtics fans should not expect another ownership shakeup any time soon. The team has a controlling owner in Chisholm, a stable operating structure with Grousbeck still involved, and no public indication from the NBA or the ownership group of any intent to sell again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston Celtics Ownership
Who Is The Owner Of The Boston Celtics Right Now
William Chisholm is the controlling owner and Governor of the Boston Celtics. He leads an investor group that also includes Wyc Grousbeck, Aditya Mittal, Sixth Street Partners, and several other minority owners.
What Was The Boston Celtics Sale Price In 2025
The Celtics sold at a valuation of approximately 6.1 billion dollars, making it one of the largest sports franchise sales in North American history at the time the deal closed.
Does Wyc Grousbeck Still Own Part Of The Celtics
Yes. Grousbeck sold his controlling stake but remains an Alternate Governor and CEO, and he retains a minority ownership interest as the sale completes in stages through roughly 2028.
Where Do The Boston Celtics Play Home Games
The Celtics play at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, an arena they share with the NHL’s Boston Bruins.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.