September 29, 2025 · Corruption, Ethics & Self-Dealing
· conflict of interest
Well supported
Kushner-Saudi Consortium Takes Electronic Arts Private in $55 Billion Deal
On September 29, 2025, Electronic Arts announced it would go private in a $55 billion deal backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, the investment fund run by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. Shareholders will receive $210 per share, a 25 percent premium, in what is described as the largest all-cash take-private deal on record; the transaction requires shareholder, board, and CFIUS approval and is expected to close by 2027.
Kushner's central role in brokering the Saudi connection to EA drew scrutiny because of his history as a architect of Middle East policy during Trump's first term and his continued business dealings with Saudi Arabia since leaving government. Critics say the deal shows how political insiders can convert diplomatic relationships into lucrative private business, even when the transaction itself is legal and openly disclosed.
Supporters note Saudi Arabia has long pursued gaming and esports investment as part of its economic diversification strategy, and that Kushner's fund operates independently of the Trump administration. The deal nonetheless renews longstanding concerns about the concentration of political-family influence, foreign capital, and consumer-facing media ownership.
Kushner's central role in brokering the Saudi connection to EA drew scrutiny because of his history as a architect of Middle East policy during Trump's first term and his continued business dealings with Saudi Arabia since leaving government. Critics say the deal shows how political insiders can convert diplomatic relationships into lucrative private business, even when the transaction itself is legal and openly disclosed.
Supporters note Saudi Arabia has long pursued gaming and esports investment as part of its economic diversification strategy, and that Kushner's fund operates independently of the Trump administration. The deal nonetheless renews longstanding concerns about the concentration of political-family influence, foreign capital, and consumer-facing media ownership.