The Boston Celtics of the NBA were sold for $6.1 billion this week. Mario Ho, a 30-year-old whose wealth was inherited from his father, Stanley Ho, the so-called "King of Gambling," was part of the investment group led by private equity tycoon Bill Chisholm that acquired the legendary company.
The Celtics' ownership transfer from Wyc Grousbeck to the Chisholm-led group was unanimously approved by the NBA. Until the Los Angeles Lakers sold a portion of the team for $10 billion, the $6.1 billion price tag was the highest NBA team sale.
One of Chisholm's late father's seventeen offspring, Mario Ho, is an investor in the Celtics. At the age of 98, Stanley Ho passed away in 2020.
"I’m proud to announce I’ve become a co-owner and board member of the Boston Celtics!” Ho announced on social media today. “Thank you, Bill, for letting me join the consortium and this record-breaking deal.”
Ho continued by declaring that he will devote "everything to the organization" and that he has been a "lifelong Celtics fan."
“Tears of joy cloud my eyes as I write this,” Ho continued. “This is undoubtedly one of the happiest moments of my life.”
Ho Fortune
How much Ho contributed to the $6.1 billion deal is unknown. However, Chisholm informed the league that he had at least 51% of the vote to ratify the agreement.
Although Ho's precise wealth is unknown, his family's estimated net worth is $17 billion.
In addition to the Celtics, Ho has pursued endeavors in esports and hospitality using his fortune, which came from his father's decades-long monopoly on casino gambling in Macau before Portugal ceded the enclave to China at the turn of the century.
Ho owns a majority share in Beijing Huanju Commercial Management, a business that creates immersive entertainment for casino resorts. In addition, he founded and owns NIP Group, a company that aims to increase the popularity of competitive video games in the US.
Lawrence Ho, the CEO, chair, and founder of Melco Resorts, one of Macau's six casino companies, is one of Ho's siblings. Additionally, Mario Ho is the younger brother of Pansy Ho, a significant shareholder in the Chinese business of MGM Resorts.
Another sibling, Daisy Ho, is still in charge of Stanley's corporate conglomerate and gaming empire, SJM Holdings and Shun Tak Holdings.
NBA's youngest owner
Mario Ho is the youngest co-owner in NBA history because he owns at least a portion of the Boston Celtics. Robert Pera, who bought the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012 at the age of 34, was the youngest NBA franchise owner before Ho.
Pera paid $377 million to fully acquire his NBA team. Pera founded and serves as CEO of Ubiquiti Inc., a multinational communications technology company that he went public with in 2011.
Pera's estimated net worth as of 2025 is close to $20 billion.
