Clay Bennett

The businesses in detail

How the main business makes money. Bennett is a private investor, not a company builder. Dorchester Capital puts money into private businesses and publishes no figures. His standing also rests on his marriage into the Gaylord family, long-time Oklahoma City media owners. His largest known asset is his share of the Thunder.

Biggest deals.

• July 2006: led the $350M purchase of the Seattle SuperSonics and the WNBA's Seattle Storm from Howard Schultz's group.
• January 2008: sold the Storm to a group of Seattle businesswomen. Price not found.
• July 2008: paid Seattle $45M to leave its arena lease and moved the team to Oklahoma City.
• April 2014: brought in George Kaiser, who bought Tom Ward's interest and holds 19.23%. Bennett raised his own stake.
• Later: the remaining owners bought the late Aubrey McClendon's roughly 20% stake, per Sportico; date and price undisclosed.

Career path

1. 1981

   Marries Louise Gaylord, daughter of Oklahoma City media owner Edward L. Gaylord

2. 1989

   Executive director of the U.S. Olympic Festival, a multi-sport event in Oklahoma

3. Mid-1990s

   Part-owner of the San Antonio Spurs and their NBA board representative

4. 2005-06

   With three partners, backs the revenue guarantee that brings the displaced New Orleans Hornets to Oklahoma City

5. 2006

   Leads the $350M purchase of the SuperSonics and Storm

6. 2008

   Moves the team to Oklahoma City; named Oklahoman of the Year

7. 2011

   Named chairman of the NBA relocation committee; joins the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents

8. 2025

   Thunder win the NBA title

9. 2026

   Ground is broken on the new arena (26 March)

Teams and sports assets

Owns now 2

• teamOklahoma City Thunder (Seattle SuperSonics until 2008)NBA · basketball · USSince 2006 · chairman of the seven-member owning group; own percentage not published · $350M with the Seattle Storm
• teamOklahoma City Blue (bought as Tulsa 66ers)G League · basketball · USSince 2008 · owned by the same group · not found

Agreed, not yet closed 1

• arenaContinental ColiseumNBA · basketball · UScity-owned; the team will be tenant from 2028 · Owners pay $50M of the $900M budget

Owned before 2

• teamSeattle StormWNBA · basketball · USSince 2006 to 2008 · owned by the group; sold to Force 10 Hoops · Part of the $350M; sale price not found
• teamSan Antonio SpursNBA · basketball · USformer part-owner in the mid-1990s; percentage not found · not found

Other investments and assets

• Companies and funds: None documented beyond Dorchester Capital.
• Property: None documented. The team has first rights to redevelop the site of its current arena.
• Family in the business: His wife's family, the Gaylords, once held a minority share of baseball's Texas Rangers.

Giving and politics

• Republican, per Wikipedia.
• Appointed to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents in March 2011; later chairman; resigned January 2019.
• Former chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma State Fair and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
• Chairs an Oklahoma City task force on criminal-justice reform.

How they run their teams

• He keeps a low profile and rarely gives interviews.
• The team is profitable in a small market, with debt at 4% of value, per Forbes.
• General manager Sam Presti said in August 2026 that about $240M saved on future luxury tax would go to later rosters. That tax is the league's charge on high payrolls.
• He has chaired the NBA relocation committee since April 2011. In 2013 he voted with the 22-8 majority against moving the Sacramento Kings to Seattle.
• NBA owners approved the move from Seattle 28-2 in April 2008. See the Oklahoma City Thunder page.

What they have said

• He welcomed George Kaiser as a partner whose business success and community leadership fit the team's values.
• His stated position was that the group would try in good faith to stay in Seattle if an arena was funded.
• He argued for all 30 teams to join the 2020 pandemic restart, since more games mean more shared revenue.
• He asked for a new arena that breaks new ground, not one that only matches today's best, the architect recounted.
• He said the building should be inspired and attractive and should fit the wider development of downtown.

Little-known facts

• He sat on the NBA Board of Governors for the Spurs in the 1990s.
• The arena agreements carry penalties of more than $1B if the team leaves early.
• The richest of the group's seven members is minority partner George Kaiser, at $15.5B (Forbes, 28 Sept 2026).