EA's $55B LBO Leaves Publisher With $20 Billion in Debt

Electronic Arts closed its $55 billion take-private on August 4, 2026 — the largest leveraged buyout on record, financed with $20 billion in debt. Saudi Arabia's PIF holds 93.4 percent. EA's annual sports releases and live-service revenue must now service that debt without public-market quarterly discipline. Whether the model sustains the load is the open question.