Melinda Gates, ex-wife of Bill Gates, officially joins the NHL as a minority owner

Melinda French Gates is set to become a minority investor in the Seattle Kraken, marking her first ownership stake in a major professional sports franchise. The deal, which still requires NHL approval, will see one of the world's most prominent philanthropists and business figures team up with Kraken majority owner Samantha Holloway, who stands as one of a very small number of women serving as principal owners in the league.

French Gates shared that she was attracted to both the chance to deepen her ties to Seattle and Holloway's forward-thinking approach to running the franchise. She described the pairing as a natural one, pointing to Holloway's technology background and her creative problem-solving style as key factors that drew her in.

"I see this incredible opportunity that sports plays for a community to bring people together," French Gates said. She grew up in Dallas and has long identified as a devoted sports fan, but until now had never taken an ownership position in a professional team.

A New Era of Women in Sports Leadership

The investment arrives at a moment when women are stepping into increasingly prominent leadership roles across the professional sports landscape. French Gates spoke candidly about what this shift means, framing it as part of a broader generational movement.

"It's just time," she said. "What you're seeing is a generation of women coming into their full power. I've walked into tough rooms, and being one of the few is very hard. Once we can create enough that we're one of many, it just gets easier."

Holloway took over ownership of the Kraken following the passing of her father, David Bonderman, the franchise's original owner, in 2024. She has since established One Roof Sports and Entertainment as the parent organization overseeing the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena. French Gates is officially joining One Roof as its newest minority investor.

Both women share a commitment to community engagement, particularly when it comes to expanding youth access to sports. The Kraken's One Roof Foundation has already been working to grow the game of hockey at the grassroots level, and Holloway emphasized that broadening the sport's reach over the next two decades requires laying the groundwork now by developing new fans and new players.

French Gates, widely recognized for her philanthropic career focused on creating opportunities for women and families, said she sees strong alignment between her values and the organization's community-oriented mission.

Big Ambitions On and Off the Ice

Holloway's plans extend well beyond hockey. She confirmed that she is building an ownership group with the intention of bidding for an NBA expansion franchise, keeping alive Seattle's long-held dream of bringing the SuperSonics back to the city. She noted that the ownership group's recent acquisition of a majority stake in Climate Pledge Arena bolsters their position in any potential bid.

"The City of Seattle certainly could use an NBA team, and the fans here are ready for it," Holloway said, adding that Kraken supporters deserve credit for making the arena viable enough to attract additional professional sports. "If that happens, they will all buy their Kraken friends beers because it wouldn't happen without them."

Still, Holloway was clear that improving the Kraken's performance on the ice remains the organization's most pressing concern. The franchise has made the playoffs only once in its five seasons of existence and has already cycled through three head coaches. After finishing sixth in the Pacific Division this past season with a 34-37-11 record, the team brought in consulting firm Sportsology to conduct a thorough independent review of its hockey operations.

"It's no secret that we're not thrilled with where we ended the season, and we take that really seriously," Holloway said. "We are looking into every part of our hockey operations team right now, understanding what's working and what's not working, and everything is on the table."

French Gates, for her part, expressed confidence that brighter days are ahead for the franchise. She said she envisions a future where the Kraken are lifting the Stanley Cup, pointing to Seattle's broader sports culture and the recent success of the Mariners and Seahawks as evidence that the city can sustain championship-caliber teams. She predicted the Kraken could reach that level within the next decade, "if not a whole lot sooner."