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Who is Vinod Khosla, the Indian-origin billionaire buying the NFL team Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion?
Indian-origin billionaire Vinod Khosla is set to become the new owner of the Seattle Seahawks. Here's everything to know
Indian-born billionaire Vinod Khosla is set to become the controlling owner of the Seattle Seahawks at age 71 after a Khosla family-led group agreed to buy the NFL franchise for a record $9.612 billion. The deal, pending NFL owners’ approval, would mark the most expensive franchise sale in league history. As part of the transaction, the Khosla family will sell its minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers before taking control of the Seahawks..
Who is Vinod Khosla?
Born in India, 71-year-old Vinod Khosla studied electrical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology before moving to the US. He earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and later completed an MBA at Stanford University after being rejected twice.
Khosla is the founder of Khosla Ventures, one of Silicon Valley’s best-known venture capital firms, and the co-founder of Sun Microsystems. According to Forbes, he has an estimated net worth of $13.8 billion. His venture firm has backed several major technology companies, including OpenAI, DoorDash and Instacart, and was the first venture capital firm to invest in OpenAI.
Growing footprint in the NFL
Khosla joined the San Francisco 49ers ownership group in 2025 after purchasing a 3.1% stake in the franchise at a valuation exceeding $8.5 billion. Under NFL rules, that stake will now be sold as the family takes control of the Seahawks. The ownership group includes Vinod Khosla, his wife Neeru Khosla and their son Neal Khosla.
Family and philanthropy
Vinod Khosla has been married to his wife, Neeru, for more than five decades. Also born in India, Neeru holds master’s degrees in molecular biology from San Jose State University and education from Stanford University. She is the co-founder and executive director of the CK-12 Foundation, a non-profit organisation that develops free educational resources and technology tools for students. The couple has four children, including Neal Khosla, who is part of the Seahawks ownership group.
