This Sports Team Owner Is Giving Full-Time Employees Bonuses Up to $66,000 Each — Here's Why In a sport known for throwing punches, the owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning just threw a knockout.

By David James

Key Takeaways

  • Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik announced that the organization's 300-plus employees will all receive bonuses between $50,000 and $66,000.
  • The payday comes after Vinik sold a majority of his equity in a deal that valued the NHL team at $1.8 billion.
Scott Audette | Getty Images

The holiday season just got a whole lot merrier for full-time staffers of the Tampa Bay Lighting.

Sports Business Journal (SBJ) reports that Lighting owner Jeff Vinik announced that the organization's 300-plus employees will all receive bonuses between $50,000 and $66,000.

The payday comes after Vinik sold a majority of his equity in a deal that valued the NHL team at $1.8 billion.

Vinik made the announcement in a memo that SBJ reports read in part, "In recognition of the hard work and dedication that has made VSG a world-class+ organization, I'm pleased to announce that all full-time staff will be receiving a bonus on behalf of the Vinik Family. .. Thank you for the role you've played in making the Vinik Sports Group and the Tampa Bay Lightning an organization of which we can all be proud. Together, we have built something truly special."

Related: How NFL Star Quarterback Kyler Murray Shut Down Internet Trolls and Turned His Love of Gaming Into a 'Call of Duty' Partnership

Vinik will remain in control of the organization for three years before transferring control to Blue Owl Capital co-CEOs Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz, who reportedly bought 50% of the team.

In 2010, Vinik bought the Lightning for $93 million. Since then, the team has become a powerhouse on the ice, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. SBJ rates the Lightning as a top 10 revenue generator in the league and says that Vinik's vision has also revitalized the surrounding downtown Tampa area.

A sports business leader with a lot of money in his pockets and a track record of success? Hey, Jeff, any interest in buying the New York Jets?

David James

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff writer

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'Unprecedented in Our 53-Year History': Southwest Airlines Announces Its First Mass Layoffs Ever

The airline is eliminating 15% of its corporate workforce, including many in senior leadership positions.

Side Hustle

This 30-Year-Old's $6,000-a-Month Side Hustle Started Making Money 'Immediately' — But He's Not Quitting His Day Job

Derrick Mathy works in orthopedic surgical device sales and is on a mission to bring people together in real life.

Business News

Elon Musk's xAI Claims Its New Grok 3 AI Is Better Than ChatGPT and DeepSeek: 'Seeing the Beginnings of Creativity'

xAI debuted the new AI on Monday, claiming it has 10 times the computational power of Grok 2.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Franchise

Sam The Concrete Man is North America's #1 Residential Concrete Franchise

Sam The Concrete Man franchisees have the flexibility of working from home in the high demand residential concrete industry.

Thought Leaders

24 Signs You're Destined to Become a Millionaire

Start making money at a young age. Warren Buffett sold packets of gum to his neighbors at age six!