Billionaire Justin Ishbia, co-owner of the Phoenix Suns and brother to Mat Ishbia, has struck a landmark agreement with longtime Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, setting up a possible shift in team ownership as early as 2029.
Under the deal, Ishbia will make significant capital infusions into the White Sox in 2025 and 2026 to help pay down existing debt and support ongoing operations. The agreement grants Reinsdorf, who has led the franchise since 1981, the option to sell his controlling interest to Ishbia between 2029 and 2033. If that window passes, Ishbia will have his own option to acquire control after the 2034 season. Other minority owners would also have the opportunity to sell their shares to Ishbia at that time.
Until any potential transfer, Reinsdorf remains the sole day-to-day decision-maker for the club. The Ishbia family—including Justin’s brother Mat and their father Jeff—will be significant investors in the new arrangement. The White Sox emphasized that there is no guarantee a sale will occur and that no transaction can take place before 2029.
This development comes as the White Sox look to stabilize finances and consider their long-term stadium situation, with the team’s lease at Guaranteed Rate Field set to expire after the 2029 season The agreement signals a possible new era for the franchise, but for now, all eyes remain on Reinsdorf as the team’s leader.
