Maccabi Tel Aviv Ownership Changes as Jason Levine Buys 29% Stake from Recanati Family

The Recanati family, previously holding 58 percent of Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club, has sold half of its shares to Jewish-American businessman Jason Levine, as first reported by ynet. Levine, a former CEO of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, now owns 29 percent of the club after paying $50 million for the stake. This share was originally held by the Federman family through their company "Fedenco Sport" but was transferred to the Recanati family after they exercised their right to prevent dilution and brought in fintech founder Eric Stillman as an additional owner.

Other shareholders include Shimon Mizrahi with 14.5 percent, Richard Deitsch with 17.5 percent, and Ben Ashkenazi with 10 percent. With the deal now official, the remaining owners have 30 days to exercise their right of first refusal to buy the 29 percent stake themselves. If none object, Levine will become a full partner in the club.

Jason Levine, 52, is a sports executive and investor specializing in basketball and football teams. He began as a player agent before moving into senior management roles in American sports. In 2008, he left his agency to become assistant general manager and deputy CEO of the NBA's Sacramento Kings, famously selecting Israeli player Omri Casspi in the 2009 draft. Levine later served as CEO of the Memphis Grizzlies but was abruptly dismissed in 2014 following a fallout with owner Robert Pera.

Since 2012, Levine has been co-chairman and CEO of D.C. United in Major League Soccer, leading an investor group that acquired control of the club. He also chairs the Australian basketball team Brisbane Bullets. In 2016, Levine and partner Steve Kaplan took control of English football club Swansea City, appointing Bob Bradley as coach without consulting fan representatives, which caused tension amid existing fan dissatisfaction. Levine sold his stake in Swansea City in 2024.