Electronic Arts acquired for $55 billion in largest leveraged buyout in Wall Street history

Electronic Arts is set to go private in a record-breaking $55 billion deal. According to an exclusive report from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the gaming giant behind hits like Battlefield, The Sims, and the Madden NFL series has agreed to be acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.

The all-cash transaction values EA shareholders at $210 per share. Trading in EA stock was halted after the announcement, with shares already climbing about 6% premarket. The stock had jumped 15% on Friday to close at $193.35, following a report from The Wall Street Journal that a buyout was near.

“Electronic Arts is going private for $52.5 billion in what the company billed as the largest private-equity backed buyout in history. The videogame maker on Monday confirmed the deal to be sold to an investment group that includes the private-equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners,” WSJ reported.

Electronic Arts Going Private in $55 Billion Deal Backed by Saudi PIF, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity

Affinity CEO Jared Kushner called the deal a bet on EA’s ability to keep producing experiences that span generations. “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,” he said.

The buyout is already being marked as historic. At $55 billion, it’s the largest leveraged buyout Wall Street has ever seen, surpassing past mega-deals that reshaped entire industries. For Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the move expands its footprint in the gaming sector, building on its existing 9.9% stake in EA.

The transaction puts a spotlight on the growing role of Middle Eastern capital in shaping global entertainment and tech. For EA, it signals a new chapter—shifting from public markets to private hands at a valuation that cements its status as one of the most valuable gaming companies in history.

Electronic Arts, based in Redwood City, Calif., says it has strong fundamentals. Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg