When you walk down Broad Street or stand in the freezing wind at Lincoln Financial Field, you aren't just looking at a football team. You're looking at a multi-billion dollar empire. But if you ask a die-hard fan, "Who is the owner of Philadelphia Eagles?" they won’t just give you a name. They’ll give you a story about a guy who bet the house on a team that, frankly, a lot of people thought was a lost cause back in the nineties.
Honestly, the answer is simple but also kinda complex. Jeffrey Lurie is the man at the top. He’s the Chairman and CEO, and he has been since 1994. But in the last couple of years, the structure of who owns what has shifted just enough to make things interesting for anyone tracking the business side of the NFL.
The Man Who Mortgaged Everything: Jeffrey Lurie
Most people know Jeff Lurie as the guy holding the Lombardi Trophy (twice now, thanks to that 2025 Super Bowl win over the Chiefs). But before he was the king of Philly sports, he was basically a film professor with a dream. He grew up a Boston sports fan—don't hold that against him—and even tried to buy the New England Patriots first. When that didn't work out, he pivoted to Philadelphia.
In 1994, Lurie bought the Eagles for $185 million.
That sounds like a bargain now, right? At the time, people thought he was absolutely out of his mind. He had to take out massive loans and mortgage his family's stake in the General Cinema movie theater empire to make the numbers work. The team was playing in a crumbling Veterans Stadium that was literally infested with rats. Relationships with the city were trashed. The fans were beyond frustrated.
Lurie didn't just buy a team; he bought a massive headache. But he saw something others didn't: the explosion of TV deals and the power of a "model franchise" built on stability rather than ego.
📖 Related: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
Why the Ownership Just Changed (Slightly)
While Jeffrey Lurie still holds the keys to the kingdom with an 85% controlling stake, the circle of "who is the owner of Philadelphia Eagles" grew a little wider recently. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, the NFL approved the sale of minority stakes in the team.
This wasn't because Lurie was "getting out." It was more about setting a new market value. By selling off 8% of the team, the Eagles were officially valued at a staggering $8.3 billion.
The new faces in the owner’s box include:
- The Peskowitz Family: Led by Zachary Peskowitz and Olivia Peskowitz Suter (their father, Ed, co-founded United Communications Group), they picked up a 4.75% stake.
- Susan Kim: She’s the board chair of Amkor Technology and now owns about 3.25% of the team.
- Richard Green and Mike Michaelson: These names have been around for a while as minority partners, though they trimmed their stakes a bit during the 2025 shuffle.
It's a smart move. Lurie stays in total control, but he gets to pull some serious cash off the table while the team's value is at an all-time high.
From $185 Million to $8 Billion: The ROI is Wild
If you want to understand why Jeffrey Lurie is considered one of the best owners in sports, just look at the math. That initial $185 million investment has grown by about 45 times. That's not just "good luck." It's the result of building Lincoln Financial Field, creating the NovaCare Complex, and consistently hiring the right people—even when those hires felt like gambles at the time.
👉 See also: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
Think about the coaching transitions. Moving from Andy Reid to Chip Kelly was a disaster, sure. But then moving to Doug Pederson brought the city its first Super Bowl. Then came Nick Sirianni. Lurie has a knack for finding "the next guy" before the rest of the league even knows who they are.
What It's Like Having a "Film Guy" Run a Football Team
Lurie’s background in film—he actually has two Oscars for producing documentaries—definitely bleeds into how he runs the Eagles. He isn't the type of owner who sits in the locker room and yells at players. He's much more methodical. He treats the franchise like a high-end production.
He cares about the aesthetics. You've probably noticed the obsession with the Kelly Green jerseys. That wasn't just a marketing ploy; it was a years-long battle Lurie fought with the NFL to allow alternate helmets and jerseys just because he knew it's what the fans wanted. He also focuses heavily on social policy, a carryover from his doctorate at Brandeis. The Eagles Autism Foundation isn't just a tax write-off; it’s a massive part of the team's identity.
Common Misconceptions About the Eagles Ownership
People often get confused about who actually calls the shots. You might hear names like Howie Roseman (the General Manager) mentioned constantly. While Howie has incredible power over the roster, every single cent spent and every major organizational shift goes through Lurie.
Another common myth is that the city owns a piece of the team because of the stadium funding. Nope. While public money helped build "The Linc," the team is entirely private.
✨ Don't miss: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
There were also rumors in late 2025 that Lurie was looking to buy the Boston Celtics. While that made for great sports talk radio, Lurie has remained focused on the Birds. He's 74 years old now, but he doesn't seem like a guy ready to retire to a beach in Florida just yet. His son, Julian Lurie, has been taking on more responsibility within the organization, which signals that the team will likely stay in the family for the next generation.
The Future of the Franchise
So, what does this mean for you, the fan or the observer?
Basically, the Eagles are in a position of extreme financial strength. Heading into the 2026 season, they are sitting on a top-6 valuation in the entire NFL. They have the resources to pay guys like Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown because the ownership structure is stable and the revenue is through the roof.
Actionable Insights for Following Eagles Ownership:
- Watch the Succession: Keep an eye on Julian Lurie. He’s been working in the front office and learning the ropes of the business side. If you want to know who will own the team in 2040, he's the answer.
- Follow the Valuation: NFL team values are skyrocketing because of private equity. While Lurie opted for family office investors instead of big PE firms in 2025, that could change as the league rules evolve.
- Stadium Updates: The lease at Lincoln Financial Field is creeping toward its 2032 expiration. Expect the ownership to start talking about "major renovations" or even a new stadium project within the next three to four years.
Understanding who is the owner of Philadelphia Eagles gives you a better look at why the team operates the way it does. It’s a mix of Hollywood storytelling, cold-blooded business math, and a genuine obsession with winning.
If you're looking to track the team's financial health, keep an eye on the annual Forbes NFL valuation reports released every August. These provide the most accurate breakdown of revenue, debt-to-value ratios, and how the Eagles compare to the rest of the NFC East.