Trump’s Son-In-Law Buys Electronic Arts For $55bn

The inventor of the phrase “EA Sports: It’s in the game”, Electronic Arts, is going private for a cool $55bn.

Coughing up the money is Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake (of course) and Affinity Partners from Trump-in-law Jared Kushner. And for all you number fans out there, the consortium paid $210 per share, a premium of 25%. 

This is the most valuable gaming purchase in history, second only to Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard for $69bn (nice), and that one time I spent $200 on a Wario Amiibo.

It is also the largest leveraged buyout in history, with $19bn coming from loans, a potentially worryingly large debt for the company. All is now riding on the upcoming release of Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted.

This also marks another big step for Saudi Arabia’s moves into the gaming scene after they bought Pokémon Go creators Niantic for $3.5bn and Monopoly Go creators Scopely Inc for $4.9bn. Pretty embarrassing though because both those games are free on the App Store.

For those unaware, Electronic Arts (AKAEA) is perhaps best known as the studio behind The Sims, Mass Effect, FIFA (now called EA FC), 007 Racing, 007: Agent Under Fire, 007: Everything or Nothing, 007: From Russia with Love, 007: Nightfire, Jane’s Combat Simulations: F/A-18 Simulator, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000, Mobil 1 British Rally Championship, NASCAR Rumble, Nox, The Sims, Road Rash: Jailbreak, SimMania Pack, Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack, Championship Bass, Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, NASCAR 2000, CyberTiger, Superbike 2000, Mobil 1 British Rally Championship, Triple Play 2001, NHL Rock the Rink, Theme Park World, Ultimate Hunt Challenge, Cricket 2000, F1 2000, Ultima Online: Renaissance, UEFA Euro 2000, WCW Mayhem, SimCity 3000 Unlimited, Shogun: Total War, that one game with the bugs what was it called, Buick PGA Tour Courses, NCAA Football 2001, X-Squad, Madden NFL 2001, The F.A. Premier League Football Manager 2000, The Sims: Livin’ Large, Rugby, The F.A. Premier League Football Manager 2001, The F.A. Premier League Stars 2001, Racing Mania, NHL 2001, Play the Games Vol. 3, F1 Championship Season 2000, Knockout Kings 2001, Superbike 2001, F1 Manager, NBA Live 2001, 007: The World is Not Enough, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Medal of Honor: Underground, Kessen, FIFA Football 2001, NASCAR 2001, SSX, WCW Backstage Assault, Front Office Football 2001, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001, Delta Force: Land Warrior, 007: The World is Not Enough, American McGee’s Alice, Supercross 2001, Theme Aquarium, The Biggest Names the Best Games 3, EA Sports Mania Pack, Jane’s Combat Simulations: Air Superiority Collection, Jane’s Combat Simulations: Naval Warfare Collection, Street Sk8er 2, Ultimate Motorcycle Series, Ultimate Sci-Fi Series, Ultima World Edition, Theme Park Inc., Electronic Arts Top Ten Pak, Clive Barker’s Undying, Triple Play Baseball, Electronic Arts Top Ten Family Fun Pack, Elitserien 2001, Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island, Ultima Online: Third Dawn, Black & White, The Sims: House Party, Rumble Racing, Emperor: Battle for Dune, NBA Street, Torrente, NCAA Football 2002, Majestic, Madden NFL 2002, Shogun: Total War: Warlord Edition, Shogun: Total War – The Mongol Invasion, Sub Command, The F.A. Premier League Football Manager 2002, NHL 2002, F1 2001, NASCAR Thunder 2002, Command & Conquer: Theater of War, Command & Conquer: Yuri’s Revenge, Dark Age of Camelot, FIFA Football 2002, Motor City Online, NBA Live 2002, Majestic: Special Edition, Play the Games Vol. 4, Racing Mania 2, SSX Tricky, Comanche 4, Cel Damage, The Sims: Hot Date, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, The Simpsons: Road Rage, Moto Racer 3, Outdoorsman Mania, Electronic Arts Top Ten Blue, Electronic Arts Top Ten Red, Black & White: Creature Isle, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Sid Meier’s SimGolf, Cricket 2002, Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002, Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge, Command & Conquer: Renegade, Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf, Knockout Kings 2002, Sled Storm, Triple Play 2002, Command & Conquer: Red Strike, Matt Hayes Fishing, Global Operations, Freedom Force, SimMania for Kids, The Sims: Vacation, F1 2002, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Sid Meier’s Civil War Collection, Medal of Honor: Frontline, Freekstyle, Delta Force: Task Force Dagger, NCAA Football 2003, Madden NFL 2003, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlefield 1942, NASCAR Thunder 2003, Total Club Manager 2003, Shox, Earth & Beyond, NHL 2003, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, NBA Live 2003, Knockout Kings 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, 1503 A.D.: The New World, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003, Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension, Bionicle: Matoran Adventures, FIFA Football 2003, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Sims: Unleashed, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault – Spearhead, Tetris probably at some point right, Island Xtreme Stunts, Drome Racers, Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, The Sims Online, V8 Challenge, SimCity 4, Battlefield 1942: The Road to Rome, Command & Conquer: Generals, Ultima Online: Age of Shadows, Best of EA Sports, MVP Baseball 2003, Gamers Pack, SimMania 2, Disney’s Stitch: Experiment 626, Def Jam Vendetta, NBA Street Vol. 2, The Sims: Superstar, F1 Career Challenge, F1 Challenge ’99-’02, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, NCAA Football 2004, Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction, Madden NFL 2004, Bionicle, The Movie Collection, Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII, Disney’s Party, NASCAR Thunder 2004, Rugby 2004, Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault – Breakthrough, NHL 2004, SimCity 4: Rush Hour, Freedom Fighters, The Command & Conquer Collection, The Laptop Collection, NBA Live 2004, The Need for Speed Collection, Battlefield 1942: Deluxe Edition, SSX 3, FIFA Football 2004, Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup, The Sims: Makin’ Magic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, Medal of Honor: Infiltrator, Need for Speed: Underground, The Sim Collection, Total Club Manager 2004, Ghosthunter, The Sims Bustin’ Out, NFL Street, Anno 1503: Treasures, Monsters and Pirates, Cricket 2004, MVP Baseball 2004, Battlefield Vietnam, Fight Night 2004, UEFA Euro 2004, The Vault of Darkness, Battlefield 1942: World War II Anthology, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Sims: Mega Deluxe, The Sims: Triple Deluxe, NCAA Football 2005, Catwoman, Madden NFL 2005, Madden NFL 2005 (Collector’s Edition), NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup, EA Games Collection, Burnout 3: Takedown, NHL 2005, The Sims 2, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005, not Mario, Def Jam: Fight for NY, NBA Live 2005, Knights of Honor, FIFA Football 2005, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue, Total Club Manager 2005, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (Game Boy Advance), Ultima Online: Samurai Empire, Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault, Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault (Director’s Edition DVD), Need for Speed: Underground 2, The Urbz: Sims in the City, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, Armies of Exigo, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth, NFL Street 2, Black & White Deluxe, SSX: Out of Bounds, Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath, UEFA Champions League 2004–2005, FIFA Street, NBA Street V3, NASCAR SimRacing, MVP Baseball 2005, Fight Night Round 2, The Sims 2: University, Rugby 2005, Need for Speed: Underground Rivals, The Sims Expansion Collection: Volume One, The Sims Expansion Collection: Volume Three, The Sims Expansion Collection: Volume Two, NFL Street 2 Unleashed, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, NBA Street Showdown, Surviving High School, Medal of Honor: European Assault, Batman Begins, Battlefield 2, SimMania 3, Cricket 2005, NCAA Football 06, Madden NFL 06, NASCAR 06: Total Team Control, Ultima Online: Mondain’s Legacy, NHL 06, Burnout Legends, Burnout Revenge, The Sims 2: Nightlife, Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, FIFA 06, Black & White 2, FIFA Manager 06, NBA Live 06, SSX on Tour, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, The Sims: Expansion Three-Pack Volume 1, The Sims: Expansion Three-Pack Volume 2, The Sims: Complete Collection, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Lord of the Rings: Tactics, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Black Edition), Need for Speed: Most Wanted: 5-1-0, The Sims 2: Holiday Edition, The Sims 2 Stuff packs, Battlefield 2: Special Forces, FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup, MVP 06: NCAA Baseball, We Love Katamari, Arena Football, Command & Conquer: The First Decade, Rugby 06, Fight Night Round 3, Black, FIFA Street 2, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Sims 2: Open for Business, The Godfather: The Game, Namco Museum 50th Anniversary, Me & My Katamari, Madden NFL 07, 2006 FIFA World Cup, Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods, SiN Episodes, NFL Head Coach, NCAA Football 07, Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover, NASCAR 07, NHL 07, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, FIFA 07, NBA Live 07, Battlefield 2142, The Sims 2: Pets, Medal of Honor: Heroes, Need for Speed: Carbon, Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City, FIFA Manager 07, Cricket 07, EA Replay, Need for Speed Collector’s Series, NFL Street 3, Superman Returns: Fortress of Solitude, Superman Returns, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king, FIFA Online 2, PGA Tour Golf Team Challenge, MVP 07: NCAA Baseball, The Sims Life Stories, NBA Street Homecourt, Arena Football: Road to Glory, SSX Blur, Dogbo Unleashed, The Sims 2: Seasons, Burnout Dominator, Def Jam: Icon, Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike, Theme Park, UEFA Champions League 2006–2007, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Medal of Honor: Vanguard, a bunch of COD knockoffs, Pogo Island, Boom Boom Rocket, The Sims Pet Stories, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, NCAA Football 08, Rugby 08, NASCAR 08, Wing Commander Arena, EA Sports NASCAR Racing, Boogie, Madden NFL 08, Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn, Medal of Honor: Airborne, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, The Sims 2: Bon Voyage, NHL 08, Skate, MySims, FIFA 08, NBA Live 08, The Orange Box, Rail Simulator, The Sims 2: Castaway, EA Playground, EA Sports GameShow, Command & Conquer: Saga, The Simpsons Game, Hellgate: London, FIFA Manager 08, Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, SimCity Societies, Crysis, Need for Speed: ProStreet, Rock Band, Boulder Dash: Rocks!, Skate or Die!, NFL Tour, Battlefield 2142 Deluxe Edition, Burnout Paradise, The Sims Castaway Stories, Yahtzee, FIFA Street 3, The Sims 2: FreeTime, Ninja Reflex, Army of Two, Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, Yahtzee Adventures, Command & Conquer 3: Deluxe Edition, UEFA Euro 2008, Boom Blox, Spore, NASCAR 09, Spore Creature Creator, Battlefield: Bad Company, SimCity Societies: Destinations, Scrabble, Tetris, NCAA Football 09, Sudoku, Brain Training for Dummies, Pet Society, Madden NFL 09, The Sims 2: Apartment Life, Spore Origins, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, NFL Head Coach 09, FaceBreaker, Spore Creatures, NHL 09, Rock Band 2, Crysis Warhead, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, Medal of Honor: 10th Anniversary Bundle, Trivial Pursuit Daily 20, Zubo, NBA Live 09, FIFA 09, Dead Space, Boogie Superstar, Celebrity Sports Showdown, Monopoly, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, MySims Kingdom, Nerf N-Strike, Operation Mania, FIFA Manager 09, Hasbro Family Game Night, Mirror’s Edge, Left 4 Dead, Need for Speed: Undercover, Skate It, SimCity, NBA Street Online, The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, Skate 2, SimAnimals, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade, Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, MySims Party, Trivial Pursuit, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – Uprising, Hi-Octane, Battleship, Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, BattleForge, The Godfather II, Lemonade Tycoon, Mystery Mania, Pandemonium!, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, Star Trek, SNOOD, Wolfenstein RPG, Boom Blox Bash Party, EA Sports Active, Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition, CLUE: Unravel the Clues and Crack the Case, The Sims 3, Grand Slam Tennis, Rock Band Unplugged, American Idol, The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition, MySims Racing, Fight Night Round 4, Mass Effect Galaxy, Spore Galactic Adventures, Nose Picking Simulator 1999, Battlefield Heroes, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, NCAA Football 10, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Creeby Deebies and the Deeble Creebus, The Game of Life, Madden NFL 10, The Beatles: Rock Band, Need for Speed: Shift, NHL 10, Boggle, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3: Commander’s Challenge, Dead Space: Extraction, MySims Agents, FIFA 10, Nuclear Strike, NBA Live 10, Spore Hero, Spore Hero Arena, Brütal Legend, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Rock Band, Hasbro Family Game Night 2, Nerf N-Strike Elite, SimAnimals Africa, FIFA Manager 10, Dragon Age: Origins, Need for Speed: Nitro, Jewel Quest Mysteries, Soviet Strike, EA Sports Active More Workouts, Left 4 Dead 2, Connect 4, The Sims 3: World Adventures, Madden NFL Arcade, Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes, Auditorium, The Saboteur, Flips and The Simpsons Arcade, making them one of the most successful and well known brands in the industry.

In the past EA has been consistently ranked the worst company in the world due to its continued critique from impassioned gamers.

This business change will likely do little to improve its reputation with gamers famously critical of anything that’s slightly new or different. As a wise man once said, “EA Games: Challenge Everything.”

It’s unclear if Jared Kushner himself will become a playable character in the next Battlefield game.

For more gaming news, click here: New Study Finds Violence Causes Video Games