Saudi-Led Consortium Acquires Electronic Arts Inc. in $55 Billion Buyout

A consortium led by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) completed the $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) on August 4, 2026, taking the gaming giant private. The transaction, the largest leveraged buyout of its kind in history, saw PIF take a 93.4% controlling stake, with Silver Lake holding 5.5% and Affinity Partners holding 1.1%. Shareholders received $210 per share as the company was delisted from the NASDAQ. The deal was financed through $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt from JPMorgan Chase Bank.

CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in his leadership role, stating the company is entering this chapter from a "position of strength." However, the buyout triggered backlash from employees and organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch over Saudi Arabia's human rights record and potential censorship of LGBTQ+ themes in titles like The Sims.

To manage the $20 billion debt load and annual interest payments of roughly $1.8 billion, EA plans to reduce annual costs by $700 million. This includes $170 million for "organizational efficiencies," which analysts expect will lead to mass layoffs and studio closures. The new ownership intends to aggressively integrate artificial intelligence to reduce operating costs and enhance game development. Additionally, Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners, is under investigation by the House Judiciary Committee for alleged conflicts of interest regarding PIF funding for his firm.