John J. Fisher has run the Athletics since 2005 and took full control in November 2016 when he bought out Lew Wolff’s remaining stake. He’s an heir to the Gap Inc. fortune, and his stewardship of the club ranks among the most unpopular in American professional sports — defined by the departure from Oakland and, now, by building a stadium in Las Vegas while the team plays in a Triple-A ballpark.
Ownership at a Glance
- Principal owner: John J. Fisher
- Controlling group: Fisher family
- In control since: 2005
- Purchase price: $180 million
- Current franchise valuation: $2.5 billion
- Owner’s estimated net worth: $3.5 billion
- Value increase (nominal): 13.9× the original purchase price
Who Is John Fisher?
Fisher was born June 1, 1961, in San Francisco — the youngest son of Donald and Doris Fisher, the founders of Gap Inc. His wealth is entirely inherited: Forbes gives him a 2 out of 10 on its self-made scale. He studied history at Princeton, writing his thesis on Holocaust survivors, then earned an MBA from Stanford. He stepped off Gap’s board in May 2022. As of August 2026, Forbes estimates his personal fortune at $3.5 billion, placing him at No. 1,229 in the world.
Beyond baseball, Fisher is a founding partner of Sansome Partners, a private investment firm, and chairs the board of the KIPP Foundation, a national charter school network.
How He Got the Team
Fisher and Lew Wolff purchased the Athletics on April 1, 2005, from Stephen Schott and Ken Hofmann for $180 million. Fisher put up roughly 80% of the investment; Wolff contributed around 10%. In November 2016, Fisher bought out Wolff’s remaining 10% — at a point when Forbes valued the franchise at $725 million — and became the club’s managing partner with MLB, consolidating full control.
What Else Does Fisher Own?
Fisher’s sports and business portfolio stretches well beyond baseball:
- San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
- Celtic FC (minority stake, Scottish Premiership)
- Texas Rattlers (Professional Bull Riders, since 2022 — PBR Team Series champions in 2023)
- Sansome Partners (founding partner)
- KIPP Foundation (board chair)
The Las Vegas Stadium
Fisher’s biggest bet is a new ballpark in Las Vegas. The project has ballooned from an initial $1.5 billion estimate in 2023 to more than $2 billion. The financing breakdown: Fisher is contributing more than $1 billion out of pocket, Nevada is providing up to $380 million in public funds through Senate Bill 1, and the club secured $300 million in construction credits through Goldman Sachs and U.S. Bank. By mid-2026, more than $400 million had been spent and the steel structure was 75% complete, with roof truss installation running through October 2026. The target completion date is February 29, 2028.
Where to Watch the Games
The Athletics did not move to MLB Local Media production in 2026 and continue to carry NBC Sports California as their linear TV partner. In-market streaming runs through ATHLETICS.TV, integrated into MLB.TV, at $19.99/month or approximately $119.99 for the full season. A package of games also airs on over-the-air television in the Las Vegas market as the club works to build its fanbase ahead of the permanent move.
Fast Facts Worth Knowing
- The team’s official name in 2026 is simply «Athletics» — they dropped «Oakland» and chose not to add «Sacramento,» making them the only MLB franchise without a city in the name.
- In their second displaced season, they play 75 home games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento — a Triple-A facility shared with the River Cats — plus a six-game home series at Las Vegas Ballpark in June.
- Fisher’s net worth is $3.5 billion, yet the A’s faced the threat of a formal MLBPA grievance over insufficient revenue-sharing spending.
- On September 26, 2024, fans staged a protest against Fisher inside the Oakland Coliseum during the franchise’s final game there.
- In August 2026, the club parted ways with general manager David Forst, closing a chapter spanning more than two decades of the Billy Beane era.
Where Fisher Ranks Among MLB’s 30 Owners
- By franchise value: #15 of 30
- By original purchase price: #19 of 27
- By personal net worth: #14 of 21
- By years in charge: #16 of 30
Note: purchase prices are nominal and not adjusted for inflation — comparing a decades-old price to today’s valuation overstates the real gain.
The franchise is worth 13.9 times what Fisher paid for it 21 years ago in nominal terms. His tenure has been one of the most polarizing in the sport, and the Las Vegas gamble is both his most ambitious move and his most divisive.
