The Trump era is proving that political power and private wealth go hand-in-hand. Case in point: Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and former White House adviser, is leading a staggering $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts (EA), one of America’s most iconic video game makers.
Through his Miami-based firm Affinity Partners, Kushner struck the deal alongside Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and U.S. investment giant Silver Lake. The purchase instantly set records, becoming the largest leveraged buyout in Wall Street history, with $20 billion in debt financing arranged by JPMorgan. For comparison, the previous record was the $45 billion TXU deal in 2007—widely remembered as the height of pre-crash financial excess.
EA shareholders will walk away with $210 per share in cash, a 25% premium over the stock’s prior trading value. But the company itself will be taken private, handing full control to a small circle of investors and foreign partners.
On the surface, Kushner is selling the deal as a passion project. He praised EA’s “iconic, lasting experiences” and even invoked his kids: “I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead,” he said.
But the financial structure of the deal tells a different story. With debt making up more than a third of the buyout, EA could find itself under immense pressure to prioritize short-term profits over long-term creativity. Fans already wary of microtransactions and recycled content may soon face a company even more beholden to Wall Street math than gaming innovation.
The Saudi angle is also impossible to ignore. PIF has been quietly buying into global gaming—snapping up stakes in Nintendo, Niantic, and now EA—as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s push to diversify away from oil. This means that one of America’s most influential entertainment companies will now be shaped in part by Saudi state money, raising concerns about cultural influence, censorship, and labor practices.
The broader political backdrop makes this deal even more troubling. Trump continues to rail about “America First” while his closest family allies lean on foreign partnerships to expand their power and wealth. A president’s son-in-law leading a record-setting buyout with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is not just a financial story—it’s a political one.
Kushner may no longer be an official White House adviser, but he is deeply tied to Trump’s political machine and Middle East diplomacy efforts. This deal underscores how blurred the line remains between Trump’s political empire and the family’s financial pursuits.
Kushner’s takeover of EA isn’t just the biggest private equity deal ever—it’s a reminder of how Trump’s circle continues to cash in on access and influence. With billions in debt, billions in Saudi cash, and one of America’s most beloved game studios on the line, the question is simple: who will really benefit—gamers, workers, or just the insiders at the top?
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