Electronic Arts, the video game giant behind titles such as Madden NFL and The Sims, is set to go private in a blockbuster $55 billion acquisition, the largest leveraged buyout ever recorded.

The deal, announced Monday, brings together private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Affinity Partners, the private equity firm founded by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Under the agreement, the consortium will acquire 100% of EA at $210 per share in cash, a figure that represents a 25% premium to EA’s unaffected share price of $168.32 at market close on September 25, 2025. It also stands above EA’s unaffected all-time high of $179.01, reached on August 14, 2025. The price values the company far beyond any prior gaming transaction, eclipsing even Microsoft’s $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard.

The transaction, which will end EA’s 36-year run as a publicly traded company, underscores the scale of global capital now flowing into the gaming industry.

Founded in 1982 by former Apple employee William “Trip” Hawkins, EA went public in 1989, with its shares ending their first day at a split-adjusted 52 cents. Since then, the company has become a pillar of the global gaming economy, with a library of titles that shaped generations of players.

The $55 billion price tag makes this the most expensive leveraged buyout in history, surpassing the $32 billion take-private of Texas utility TXU in 2007. Financing will be structured as a mix of equity and debt: approximately $36 billion in equity from the consortium, alongside $20 billion in debt financing fully committed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., with $18 billion expected to be funded at close. PIF, which already holds a 9.9% stake in EA, will roll over its shares into the new ownership structure.

If approved by shareholders and regulators, the deal is expected to close in Q1 FY27. Once finalized, EA’s common stock will be delisted from public markets. The company will remain headquartered in Redwood City, California, with Andrew Wilson continuing as Chairman and CEO.

What The Buyers Are Saying

For the investors, the transaction is being framed as both financial and strategic.

• Andrew Wilson, EA CEO: “Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work. Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come.”
• Turqi Alnowaiser, PIF Deputy Governor: “PIF is uniquely positioned in the global gaming and esports sectors, building and supporting ecosystems that connect fans, developers, and IP creators. This partnership will help further drive EA’s long-term growth, while fueling innovation within the industry on a global scale.”
• Egon Durban, Co-CEO of Silver Lake: “EA is a special company: a global leader in interactive entertainment, anchored by its premier sports franchise, with accelerating revenue growth and strong and scaling free cash flow. We are honored to invest and partner with Andrew – an extraordinary CEO who has doubled revenue, nearly tripled EBITDA, and driven a fivefold increase in market cap during his tenure. We are going to invest heavily to grow the business and accelerate innovation.”
• Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners: “Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future. I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games – and now enjoys them with his kids – I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”
• Luis A. Ubiñas, EA Lead Independent Director: “The Board carefully evaluated this opportunity and concluded it delivers compelling value for stockholders and is in the best interests of all stakeholders. We are pleased this transaction delivers immediate and certain cash value while strengthening EA’s ability to continue building the communities and experiences that define the future of entertainment.”

The Implications

The consortium — blending Silver Lake’s private equity firepower, PIF’s sovereign wealth clout, and Kushner’s Affinity Partners — is betting on gaming’s continued convergence with entertainment, sports, and global media. With Saudi Arabia already making aggressive moves into esports and digital content, and Silver Lake known for technology and sports investments, the deal positions EA at the nexus of physical and digital fan engagement.

Industry analysts say the size of the transaction reflects both the enduring profitability of EA’s franchises, like FIFA (now EA Sports FC), Battlefield, and The Sims, and the belief that future growth will come from blending immersive gaming, live services, and global fan communities.

The deal also puts EA in a stronger position to compete with rivals that are increasingly backed by big capital, including Microsoft’s gaming division, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Tencent, and NetEase.

With regulatory review pending, the buyout, if approved, could serve as a template for how sovereign wealth funds and private equity consortia reshape the entertainment and gaming sector — using massive cash reserves to pry iconic companies off public markets and scale them in new directions.

A new chapter has begun for EA. The company is no longer a Wall Street stock but a privately held powerhouse, with some of the world’s deepest-pocketed investors betting billions on its future.