On September 4, 2025, the New York Giants—a franchise steeped in nearly a century of football lore—agreed to sell a 10% minority stake to Julia Koch and members of the billionaire Koch family. This move, which values the Giants at over $10 billion, marks a new era for the team and sets a fresh benchmark for sports franchise valuations in North America, according to reporting from Bloomberg and The Associated Press.
The deal is not yet a done deal, though. Sources familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicate that the agreement remains subject to final terms and must be approved by the other NFL owners at their upcoming October meeting. Representatives for both the Koch family and the Giants have declined to comment publicly, leaving fans and analysts speculating about the implications for the franchise's future.
The Mara and Tisch families, who have owned the Giants since its founding in 1925 and since 1991, respectively, initiated the process back in February. They announced they were exploring the sale of a minority, non-controlling stake and brought on banking firm Moelis & Co. to oversee the process, as reported by The Associated Press. The two families, previously holding 50% each, will now retain 45% ownership apiece under the new arrangement, ensuring they remain the majority decision-makers within the organization.
John Mara, the team’s president and CEO, and Steve Tisch, co-owner, will continue to lead the Giants. Despite the high-profile nature of the new investors, day-to-day operations and strategic direction will stay firmly in the hands of the Mara and Tisch families. As Darryl Slater noted in the Newark Star-Ledger, Julia Koch’s new stake is "just a non-controlling stake," and the "job will continue to belong to co-owner John Mara." For many, this underscores that while the Koch family's involvement is significant financially, it won’t alter the Giants’ football DNA.
So, why would Julia Koch, whose net worth stands at a staggering $81.25 billion according to Forbes, invest over $1 billion for a sliver of a team she won’t control? Slater offers a simple answer: NFL teams "do not lose money and never will." The Giants, now the third-most valuable NFL team at $10.5 billion according to a September 4 valuation by CNBC, represent an asset whose value is expected to climb steadily. As Slater put it, "If you can afford to drop $1B plus for 10% of the Giants, there is no telling how much that piece will be worth in, say, 20 years." For those with the resources, it’s a "no-brainer investment."
Julia Koch’s interest in New York sports is not new. In 2024, she and her family purchased a 15% stake in BSE Global, the holding company that owns the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, the WNBA’s New York Liberty, and the Barclays Center, as reported by multiple outlets. This latest acquisition further cements her family’s presence in the city’s sports scene.
Julia Koch, 63, is the widow of David Koch, the billionaire businessman and political activist who passed away in 2019 at the age of 79. She and her three children inherited a 42% stake in Koch Industries, one of America’s largest privately held companies. Julia’s journey to the heights of the business world began in the 1980s when she moved to New York City to pursue modeling and fashion design. She met David Koch in 1991, and the two married five years later. Beyond her business acumen, Julia is known for her philanthropy, having donated $75 million in 2024 to NYU’s Langone West Palm Beach for the creation of the Julia Koch Family Ambulatory Care Center.
David Koch, for his part, was a towering figure in both business and politics. Along with his brother Charles, he took over Koch Industries in 1983 and expanded it into a powerhouse. While lauded by some for their business achievements and charitable giving, the Koch brothers were also at the center of heated political debates. Their support for libertarian and conservative causes, including opposition to President Barack Obama’s health care initiatives and funding groups skeptical of climate change, made them polarizing figures. NBC News once described them as the "symbol of the corrupting force of corporate money in American politics."
The Giants deal, valued at $10 billion according to Bloomberg, surpasses the previous North American sports record of $6.05 billion paid by Josh Harris’ group for the Washington Commanders in 2023. Only Mark Walter’s $10 billion acquisition of the LA Lakers earlier this summer comes close, highlighting the surging value of elite sports franchises. As the Newark Star-Ledger pointed out, "these numbers are getting very big." Even Eli Manning, the Giants’ beloved former quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion, considered investing but ultimately balked at the price tag. "Basically, it’s too expensive for me," Manning told CNBC Sport in July. "A 1% stake in something valued at $10 billion, it turns into a very big number."
The Mara family’s stewardship of the Giants dates back to the team’s founding in 1925, making them one of the NFL’s original franchises. In 1991, the Tisch family entered the picture when Tim Mara sold his 50% interest to the late Bob Tisch, then co-owner of Loews Corporation, for around $80 million. Since then, John Mara and Steve Tisch have led the franchise, guiding it through Super Bowl victories and turbulent seasons alike.
For now, the Giants’ leadership and fans await the final green light from NFL owners, expected in October. If approved, the sale will not only solidify the Koch family’s status as major players in New York sports but also signal the ever-growing financial might of the NFL and its franchises. The league’s appeal as a rock-solid investment continues to attract some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, even as the core traditions and personalities at the heart of the teams remain unchanged.
As the Giants prepare for another season, the infusion of new capital and high-profile investors is sure to spark conversation. Yet for those who bleed blue, the focus remains on the field, where the Mara and Tisch families’ legacy—and now, the Koch family’s investment—will shape the next chapter of one of football’s most iconic teams.
