Jerry Reinsdorf reaches deal to sell White Sox to Justin Ishbia -- but not until 2029 at the earliest

LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune on Jun 5, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

CHICAGO — Jerry Reinsdorf and Justin Ishbia reached a long-term investment agreement that establishes a framework for Ishbia to obtain a future controlling interest in the Chicago White Sox, the team announced Thursday.

Ishbia will make capital infusions into the Sox as a limited partner in 2025 and 2026 that will be used to pay down existing debt and support ongoing team operations, the Sox said.

Reinsdorf will have the option to sell his controlling interest to Ishbia from 2029 to 2033. After the 2034 season, Ishbia would have the option to acquire the controlling interest.

The Sox said that in the event of any such transaction, all limited partners would have the opportunity to sell to Ishbia at that time. Ishbia’s brother, Mat, and father, Jeff, also will be significant investors.

The Sox said there’s no assurance any such transaction will occur, and in no event would a transaction take place before 2029. The Reinsdorf family will continue to own the controlling interest in the team until then.

Reinsdorf has been the Sox chairman since he and Eddie Einhorn led a group that purchased the franchise from Bill Veeck in 1981. He remains the team’s sole day-to-day decision maker.

“Having the incredible opportunity to own the Chicago White Sox and be part of Major League Baseball for nearly 50 years has been a life-changing experience,” Reinsdorf said in a statement. “I have always expressed my intent to operate the White Sox as long as I am able and remain committed to returning this franchise to the level of on-field success we all expect and desire.”