Who Owns Sports Illustrated?

Henry Luce, founder of Time Inc., launched Sports Illustrated on August 16, 1954. The first issue cost 25 cents and featured Milwaukee Braves third baseman Eddie Mathews on the cover. At the time, no major national magazine covered sports comprehensively. Luce saw an opportunity to bring the same journalistic standards that Time, Life, and Fortune applied to news, politics, and business to the world of sports.

The early years were financially difficult. Time Inc. subsidized the magazine for nearly a decade as it built an audience. The publication found its footing in the 1960s with the launch of the Swimsuit Issue in 1964, which became a cultural phenomenon and a reliable revenue driver. The magazine also became known for its photography, publishing iconic images from sports events around the world.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, Sports Illustrated became the dominant sports magazine in the United States. Circulation peaked at approximately 3 million in 2010. The brand built a reputation for long-form sports journalism, investigative reporting, and athlete profiles. Writers like Frank Deford, Rick Reilly, and Peter King became household names in sports media. The Sportsperson of the Year award, established in 1954, became one of the most recognized honors in American sports.

Time Inc. remained the owner until 2018, when Meredith Corporation acquired Time Inc. in a deal valued at approximately $2.8 billion. Meredith, primarily a lifestyle and home magazine publisher, quickly sought to divest Time Inc. properties that did not fit its core business. Sports Illustrated was sold to Authentic Brands Group in 2019 for $110 million.

ABG's ownership model differed from previous owners. Rather than operating the magazine directly, ABG licensed the publishing rights to Arena Group (then known as Maven) for approximately $15 million per year. Arena Group was responsible for editorial operations, digital content, and the print magazine.

The Arena Group partnership collapsed in late 2023 and early 2024. In November 2023, reports revealed that Sports Illustrated had published AI-generated product reviews with fake author bylines on its website. Arena Group acknowledged hiring a third-party firm to create the content. The scandal led to the dismissal of Arena Group CEO Ross Levinsohn.

Manoj Bhargava, founder of 5-Hour Energy and Arena Group's majority shareholder, took over as interim CEO. Bhargava attempted to fire the unionized editorial staff and used the magazine to promote his energy drink business. Arena Group missed a licensing payment to ABG in March 2024. ABG terminated the licensing agreement, and Arena Group announced it was shutting down the print edition.

ABG sued Arena Group for breach of contract. The dispute was settled, and Minute Media took over as the publishing partner. Many of the laid-off journalists were rehired. The print magazine resumed publication.

As of April 2026, ABG reports that Sports Illustrated is "highly profitable." The brand has diversified beyond media. Sports Illustrated Tickets, launched in partnership with Lunatix in 2021, expects to generate $500 million in revenue in 2026. Sports Illustrated Resorts, operated in partnership with Travel + Leisure Co., has locations announced in Tuscaloosa, Nashville, Chicago, and Baton Rouge. SITV, a free ad-supported streaming TV channel, launched in January 2026. International magazine editions have launched in Germany, China, and Mexico, with plans for France and the United Kingdom.