Cai Chongxin: From 24.5 billion to now, the Nets have become a "money printing machine"

In the business world, there are always some people who write legendary stories in the field of sports with their precise vision and bold decisions, and Cai Chongxin is one of them. His operations for the Nets are simply textbook-level, which amazed countless people. Today, let’s walk into the wealth story of Tsai Chongxin and the Nets together.

In 2017, Tsai Chongxin acquired 49% of the Nets' shares for $1 billion, and then spent another $1.35 billion to acquire the remaining 51% of the shares in 2018, with a total price of $2.35 billion and becoming the only boss of the Nets. But that's not over yet. Cai Chongxin's ambition is not limited. He also wants to win the team's home court, Barclays Center, spend $700 million, while bearing $325 million in debt, totaling about $3.38 billion, equivalent to about RMB 24.5 billion. At that time, the Nets were in the "bottom" level in the league, with mediocre results, and seemed to be a "hot potato", but Cai Chongxin took over without fear.

After he took office, he began to make drastic reforms, cleared up premium contracts, and freed up the team's salary space. Then he started to sign up heavily. He was recruited by stars such as Durant and Irving, and even traded Harden, which made the Nets a favorite to win the championship. This move was quite generous. In those years, the Nets' topic and attention soared, and the excitement of the game also made everyone's eyes shine. Although the results were a little ups and downs, at least they made fans see hope.

Coming to 2025, things have changed dramatically. The market value of NBA teams has generally increased, and the Nets are no exception. According to Forbes, the Nets' valuation has reached $4.8 billion in the 2024-25 season, ranking eighth in the league. This number is shocking. In just a few years, the team's market value has risen by nearly $2 billion. Considering the Nets' superior geographical location in New York, as well as the team's market influence and star effect, if Tsai Chongxin now sells the Nets, coupled with assets such as Barclays Center, the total transaction price is expected to reach US$5 billion to US$6 billion.

In fact, Tsai Chongxin had already tried his best last summer and sold part of the Nets' equity to the Koch family, with a total valuation of about $6 billion at that time. This operation not only allowed his assets to exceed $10 billion, but also allowed us to see the Nets' current commercial value.

From the acquisition that year to the present, Cai Chongxin's investment can be said to have made a lot of money. With his keen business insight and decisive decision-making, he has achieved huge wealth appreciation in the Nets. Although the Nets have not won the championship yet, the team's performance and popularity are gradually increasing, and their commercial value is also rising. And if the Nets really win the championship in the future, their market value and influence will continue to rise.

Tae Chongxin's gamble ultimately proved to be a successful investment. Not only does he have a deep love for basketball, he also showed extraordinary talent in business operations. In his hands, the Nets gradually transformed from a "bottom" into a strong team in the league, becoming a shining pearl on his personal investment map. I believe that in the days ahead, the Nets will bring us more surprises, and Cai Chongxin’s business legend will continue to be written. Are you as excited as I am about the story of Tsai Chongxin and the Nets?