Joe Tsai owns the Brooklyn Nets. The Alibaba cofounder and his family run the team through BSE Global, the holding company behind the Nets, the WNBA champion New York Liberty, and Barclays Center.
Tsai became full owner in 2019 after buying out Mikhail Prokhorov in a record setting deal. His wife, Clara Wu Tsai, has been a visible co owner and a driving force behind the organization as well.
Since then the Nets have gone through a dramatic superteam era built around Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, followed by a full roster rebuild once that group broke apart.
In 2026 new names entered the ownership picture, and a personal announcement from the Tsai family made headlines across the sports business world.
So who actually controls the Brooklyn Nets today, how much is the franchise worth now, and what does the Tsai family’s next move mean for the team? Here is everything worth knowing.
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Who Is Joe Tsai, The Brooklyn Nets Owner
Joseph Tsai is a Taiwanese Canadian billionaire best known as the cofounder of Alibaba Group, the Chinese ecommerce giant he built alongside Jack Ma. He serves as executive vice chairman of Alibaba and has used a portion of his personal fortune to build a sports empire in Brooklyn.
Tsai first bought a minority stake in the Nets in 2017, then exercised an option to take full control in 2019. Today he serves as governor of the Brooklyn Nets, the official title the NBA uses for a team’s controlling owner, and as chairman of BSE Global.
Brooklyn Nets Quick Facts
| Brooklyn Nets Quick Facts | |
| Team | Brooklyn Nets |
| Current Owner | Joseph Tsai, through BSE Global |
| Purchase Price | About $2.35 billion for the team and Barclays Center, 2019 |
| Valuation | Approximately $6 billion for BSE Global, 2026 |
| Founded | 1967, as the New Jersey Americans |
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Arena | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York |
| Former Owner | Mikhail Prokhorov, 2010 to 2019 |
Inside BSE Global: The Company That Owns The Nets
The Nets are not owned directly by one person on paper. Instead, ownership flows through BSE Global, formerly known as Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, which also controls the New York Liberty and Barclays Center.
Governor and Principal Owner
Co Owner and Vice Chair
Minority Investor, 15 percent stake
NBA Franchise
WNBA Franchise
Home Arena
How Joe Tsai Bought The Brooklyn Nets From Mikhail Prokhorov
Mikhail Prokhorov, a Russian billionaire, became principal owner of the Nets in 2010 and personally funded much of the loan behind Barclays Center. He oversaw the team’s move to Brooklyn in 2012, but the Nets struggled on the court and the arena project drew years of local criticism.
Tsai purchased a 49 percent stake in the Nets in late 2017, along with an option to buy the rest later. In August 2019 he exercised that option, paying an amount reported at roughly $2.35 billion for full control of the team and Barclays Center. The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale that September.
Brooklyn Nets Ownership Timeline
The team began as the New Jersey Americans of the ABA before becoming the New York Nets.
The Nets joined the NBA when the leagues merged, later relocating to New Jersey in 1977.
Ratner purchased the Nets for about $300 million and began planning a move to Brooklyn.
Mikhail Prokhorov became principal owner and financed the Barclays Center construction loan.
The team relocated and became the Brooklyn Nets, opening Barclays Center as its new home.
Tsai completed a deal worth about $2.35 billion for the Nets and Barclays Center, becoming sole owner.
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden formed a star studded roster under Tsai’s ownership.
The superteam broke apart through a series of trades, and the Nets pivoted toward developing young talent.
Julia Koch and her children agreed to buy a 15 percent stake in BSE Global at a $6 billion valuation.
What Is Joe Tsai’s Net Worth
Most of Joe Tsai’s fortune comes from his early stake in Alibaba, the company he cofounded with Jack Ma in 1999. Forbes has tracked his net worth in the double digit billions in recent years, moving up and down with Alibaba’s stock price and the value of his sports holdings.
The rising valuation of BSE Global, now estimated near $6 billion after the Koch family investment, adds significantly to Tsai’s overall net worth and shows how much value his sports bet has created since 2019.
The Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving Era And The Nets Rebuild
Under Tsai’s ownership the Nets assembled one of the most talented rosters in NBA history, pairing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving with James Harden. Injuries, off court controversies, and playoff disappointments prevented the group from winning a championship together.
By 2023 all three stars had been traded away, and the front office committed to a full rebuild centered on draft picks and younger players. The transition has tested fan patience, but it also reset the roster and the salary structure for the long run.
Is Joe Tsai A Good Owner: Is The Brooklyn Nets Ownership Really Worth It
Supporters point to real strengths. Tsai has been willing to spend on the roster, invested heavily in the New York Liberty, which won the WNBA championship in 2024, and has overseen a sharp rise in franchise value that has made BSE Global one of the most valuable club groups in sports.
Critics argue the Nets have little to show competitively for that spending since the superteam collapsed. The team has cycled through coaches and executives, missed the playoffs in multiple seasons, and some fans feel the on court product has lagged behind the business success. Both views are fair, and the rebuild’s outcome will likely define how history judges this ownership era.
Joe Tsai And Clara Wu Tsai, And The New York Liberty Connection
Clara Wu Tsai has been closely associated with the Liberty, championing the team’s move to Barclays Center and its rise into a WNBA powerhouse. Reports in 2026 confirmed that Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai filed for divorce after roughly three decades together, but multiple outlets, citing team sources, reported the split will not affect their ownership stakes in the Nets or the Liberty.
Both franchises remain under the BSE Global umbrella, and the family has indicated the business structure will stay intact regardless of their personal situation.
Are The Brooklyn Nets For Sale In 2026
No, the Brooklyn Nets are not for sale. Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai retain full operational control of BSE Global. The only recent change is the Koch family’s agreement to buy a 15 percent minority stake in the parent company, a deal that still needed final NBA approval as of mid 2026.
That investment values BSE Global at about $6 billion, one of the largest figures ever placed on an NBA adjacent ownership group, but it is structured as a minority buy in rather than a sale of control. For context on how other major sports organizations structure their ownership, see our breakdown of who owns the NFL and who owns FIFA.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brooklyn Nets Ownership
Who is the owner of the Brooklyn Nets?
Joseph Tsai is the governor and controlling owner of the Brooklyn Nets, holding his stake through BSE Global alongside his wife, Clara Wu Tsai. You can read more on the Brooklyn Nets Wikipedia page.
How much did Joe Tsai pay for the Brooklyn Nets?
Tsai paid approximately $2.35 billion in 2019 for full ownership of the Nets and Barclays Center, a figure detailed in his Forbes billionaire profile.
Does Joe Tsai also own the New York Liberty?
Yes. The Liberty are owned by the same BSE Global entity that controls the Nets, and Clara Wu Tsai has taken a lead role in growing the WNBA franchise.
What is the Brooklyn Nets current valuation?
Reporting in early 2026, including this CNBC valuation report, pegged BSE Global, which includes the Nets, the Liberty, and Barclays Center, at roughly $6 billion.
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.