EA is now owned by Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump’s son-in-law
Electronic Arts has officially become a private company after completing a $55 billion acquisition by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), with additional investment from equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners—the latter founded by Jared Kushner, the current U.S. president’s son-in-law.
The deal, which was first announced in September 2025, officially closed on August 4, 2026, following regulatory approval. The transaction marks the largest leveraged buyout in commercial history, with $20 billion in debt financing provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank. The PIF will own 93.4 percent of the company.
This marks EA’s first time as a private entity since 1990, ending its tenure as a publicly traded company. The acquisition concluded just as EA published its final quarterly report as a public company, showing strong performance with net revenue increasing 19 percent year-over-year to $1.98 billion in Q1 2026. Live service revenue, which has become a major focus for the company, jumped 7 percent to $1.47 billion.
The deal has prompted concerns from some observers about potential cost-cutting measures, given the substantial debt load. There are fears this could lead to layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations, though nothing has been officially confirmed. CEO Andrew Wilson stated in the announcement that the company is “entering this next chapter from a position of strength” with partners who share their vision.
The consortium’s involvement with major franchises including Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age makes EA one of gaming’s most significant ownership changes in recent history.
Sources
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