Xiaomi Cofounder Lin Bin Acquires Stake in Miami Dolphins at $12.5 Billion Valuation
Lin Bin, the cofounder of Chinese technology giant Xiaomi, has purchased a 1% stake in the Miami Dolphins’ holding company, valuing the franchise at $12.5 billion. This marks a record valuation for a publicly known minority transaction in the NFL. The deal, announced on March 4, 2026, has already received approval from the NFL’s finance committee and is pending a vote by the league’s owners.
Details of the Investment
The investment encompasses not only the Miami Dolphins football team but also related assets including Hard Rock Stadium, the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, and a portion of the Miami Open tennis tournament Yardbarker. The $12.5 million investment for the 1% stake sets a new benchmark, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 when the Koch family acquired a 10% stake in the New York Giants at a valuation exceeding $10 billion Forbes.
Who is Lin Bin?
Lin Bin, a Chinese-American entrepreneur, co-founded Xiaomi in 2010 with Lei Jun. He served as president of Xiaomi Corporation until 2019 and currently holds the position of vice chairman Bleacher Report. Prior to Xiaomi, Bin held engineering roles at Microsoft and Google, where he served as an engineering director and Vice President of Google China’s Engineering Research Institute. As of 2025, his estimated net worth was $18.1 billion, ranking him as the 115th richest person globally Yardbarker.
NFL Franchise Valuations
The average value of the NFL’s 32 franchises currently stands at $7.13 billion, representing a 20% increase from 2024, indicating a strong trend of revaluation within the league Forbes.
Recent Dolphins Ownership Changes
This investment follows previous ownership adjustments by Stephen Ross, the Dolphins’ controlling owner, who previously sold a 3% stake to Joe Tsai and Oliver Weisberg, and a 10% stake to Ares Management. Those prior transactions were valued at $8.1 billion Bleacher Report.
Dolphins’ Recent Performance and Changes
The Dolphins concluded the 2025 season with a 7-10 record, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. In response, the team appointed Jeff Hafley as its new head coach and Jon-Eric Sullivan as the new general manager Bleacher Report.