You might think a massive metropolitan newspaper is owned by some faceless hedge fund or a giant media conglomerate like Gannett. Usually, you'd be right. But the story of who owns The Boston Globe is actually way more personal—and, honestly, a bit of a financial head-scratcher if you look at the history.
Since 2013, the primary owner of The Boston Globe has been John W. Henry.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you follow sports. He’s the same guy who serves as the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool F.C. He bought the paper through his company, Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. But here’s the kicker: while John is the name on the masthead, his wife, Linda Pizzuti Henry, is just as central to the operation. She took over as CEO in 2020 and basically runs the day-to-day business side of things now.
The $1 Billion Collapse
To understand why a billionaire sports mogul owns a newspaper, you have to look at the absolute fire sale that happened a decade ago.
In 1993, The New York Times Company bought The Boston Globe for a staggering $1.1 billion. At the time, it was one of the most expensive purchases in the history of American journalism. Fast forward twenty years. The internet had decimated print advertising, and the Times was desperate to get the Globe off its books.
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John Henry stepped in and bought it for $70 million.
Think about that for a second. The paper lost over 90% of its value in two decades. Henry basically bought a legendary American institution for the price of a mid-tier relief pitcher’s contract.
Is it Part of the Red Sox?
Common misconception alert: No, the Red Sox do not own the Globe.
While John Henry is the "link" between the team and the paper, they are technically separate entities. The Red Sox are part of Fenway Sports Group (FSG). The Globe is owned by Boston Globe Media Partners, which is Henry’s private venture.
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This creates a weird dynamic in Boston. You have the city's biggest sports owner also owning the city’s biggest newspaper. Critics often worry about "conflict of interest"—like, will the Globe sports writers go easy on the Red Sox because the boss owns both?
Honestly, the Globe’s sports desk has remained pretty notoriously cranky. They’ve broken plenty of stories that made the Red Sox front office look bad, which suggests there’s a real "church and state" wall between the newspaper’s newsroom and Henry’s other business interests.
Why the Henrys Stay Invested
It’s 2026, and print is still a tough business. So why do they keep it?
Linda Pizzuti Henry has been the driving force behind the "digital-first" pivot. Under her leadership, the Globe became one of the first regional papers in the U.S. to actually make a profit on digital subscriptions. They stopped trying to be a "paper for everyone" and leaned into being a premium product for people who care about deep investigative reporting—the kind of stuff you saw in the movie Spotlight.
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- STAT News: They launched this biotech and health sister site, which has become a massive powerhouse in the industry.
- Boston.com: They kept this as the free, "snackable" news site while the Globe stayed behind a paywall.
- Events: They do a lot of live events now, trying to turn the "Globe brand" into a community hub rather than just a product delivered to your driveway.
What This Means for You
If you live in New England, the ownership of the Globe matters because it’s one of the few remaining "independent" big-city papers not owned by a cost-cutting chain like Alden Global Capital. When hedge funds buy papers, they usually fire half the staff and sell the real estate. Henry has actually invested in the newsroom.
However, it also means the city's narrative is heavily influenced by one power couple. Whether you love them or hate them, the Henrys are the gatekeepers of Boston’s information.
Your Next Steps
If you’re trying to keep tabs on how local power works in Boston, keep an eye on the Boston Globe Media Partners filings. Ownership isn't just about who has the keys to the building; it's about which projects get funded.
- Check the Bylines: Next time you read a Red Sox or Liverpool story in the Globe, look for the "Disclosure" at the bottom. The paper is usually pretty good about reminding readers that John Henry owns the team.
- Follow STAT News: If you’re interested in the business side, STAT is actually the more "modern" part of their portfolio. It shows where the Henrys think the real money is in the future.
- Watch the CEO: Linda Henry’s moves are often a better indicator of the paper's future than John’s. He provides the capital, but she provides the strategy.
The era of the "Civic-Minded Billionaire Owner" is the only reason the Globe still looks like a major newspaper today. Without the $70 million "bargain" purchase in 2013, the Boston media landscape would look a whole lot emptier.