Melinda French Gates is joining the Seattle Kraken as a minority investor, pending NHL approval, One Roof Sports and Entertainment announced Monday, adding one of Seattle’s most prominent philanthropists and businesswomen to an ownership group that already includes Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and film producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
French Gates, who has a net worth of $30 billion and ranked 74th on Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires list, said the fit felt natural after meeting Kraken majority owner Samantha Holloway. “I see this incredible opportunity that sports plays for a community to bring people together,” French Gates told ESPN. “When I met Samantha and learned about her leadership, her background in tech and the innovative way she approaches challenges, it felt like a natural fit for me.” This is her first ownership stake in a major professional sports franchise.
French Gates spent the early part of her career developing multimedia products at Microsoft before leaving to focus on her family and philanthropic work. She co-founded and co-chaired the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation before departing in June 2024. She has since founded Pivotal, an organisation focused on accelerating social progress for women and young people in the United States and globally. She lives in Seattle.
Holloway welcomed the addition warmly. “Melinda is an impressive business leader, philanthropist and importantly, a Seattle sports fan,” Holloway said. “We share many of the same values, including a deep commitment to Seattle and a belief in building organizations that create lasting impact.”
The investment arrives at a pivotal moment for the franchise, which is navigating significant change after a difficult fifth season. The Kraken finished 34-37-11, sixth in the Pacific Division, and parted ways with founding general manager Ron Francis following the season. The organisation has brought in consulting firm Sportsology to conduct an independent review of hockey operations as it searches for a new direction.
Off the ice, the Kraken’s parent organisation has been expanding aggressively. One Roof Sports and Entertainment recently entered into an agreement to acquire majority ownership of Climate Pledge Arena from Oak View Group, adding to a portfolio that includes the One Roof Foundation, Kraken Community Iceplex, the new Memorial Stadium at Seattle Centre in partnership with the city and Seattle Public Schools, and an interest in the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the building they play in. Holloway earlier this year also announced that One Roof would pursue an NBA franchise in Seattle if the league moves forward with expansion.
