At an original estimate of $6.1 billion, the most ever paid for a North American sports club, Chisholm, managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group, and his fellow investors decided to buy the Celtics franchise.
“The sale of the Boston Celtics’ controlling interests to an investor group led by Bill Chisholm has been unanimously approved by the NBA Board of Governors,” the league stated in a statement.
The announcement further said that “the transaction is expected to close shortly.”
The Los Angeles Lakers, which the Buss family sold to billionaire Mark Walter in June for $10 billion, have now broken the record.
According to the announcement of the Celtics’ sale, Wyc Grousbeck would remain in his positions as governor and CEO, managing club operations through the 2027–2028 campaign. In 2002, Steve Pagliuca and the Grousbeck family paid $360 million to acquire the Celtics.
However, US media reported this week that Chisholm, a Massachusetts native who describes himself as a “die-hard Celtics fan,” will assume the role of governor because, under the terms of the deal, Grousbeck will no longer have the required 15% ownership stake that the league mandates for that position.
According to rumors, Chisholm and Grousbeck still aim to manage the club together as planned.
With a record 18 titles—the most recent coming in 2024—the Celtics are among the most illustrious teams in NBA history.
