Who is Jed York? What to know about the San Francisco 49ers' owner

Before his arrest in East Palestine, Ohio, over the weekend, many outside the San Francisco 49ers fan base likely would not recognize the team's owner, Jed York, who has led the franchise since 2010.

However, on Aug. 24, York's name reached national headlines after he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges in a Columbiana County court. York was initially charged with engaging in prostitution, but the charges were reduced to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools, according to court records.

York was ordered to serve one day in jail for each charge, concurrently, but was given one day of credit for time served. He also paid two fines totaling $1,150.

But who exactly is York?

York is the 15th CEO and principal owner of the San Francisco 49ers and has been part of the NFL franchise for nearly 20 years. York is also the oldest son of the 49ers' co-chairs Denise DeBartolo York and John York, and the nephew of former 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., who led the franchise to five Super Bowl titles from 1981 to 1994.

He joined the family business in the mid-2000s as the 49ers' Director of Strategic Planning, after spending a few years in the private sector. He began his career as a financial analyst at Guggenheim Partners in New York City, after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2003, where he majored in Finance and History.

But in 2008, the 49ers organization announced it would elevate a 27-year-old York to team president, formally giving him day-to-day responsibilities for running the team. Both John and Denise York would transition in their roles as co-chairmen for the franchise

As president, the 49ers finished 2nd in the NFC West in 2008 and 2009, with 7-9 and 8-8 records, respectively.

In 2010, the San Francisco 49ers announced that they would elevate York to the team's new chief executive officer, expanding his role to include business and front-office operations.

During his tenure, the 49ers experienced a resurgence, winning five NFC West Division titles, competing in seven NFC Championship Games, and playing in three Super Bowls. But throughout the team's over-decade-long success, the team has never brought home the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

York also led the franchise during some of the team's biggest non-championship moments, including the opening of Levi's Stadium in 2014, Jim Harbaugh parting ways with the 49ers after leading the team to three straight NFC Championship Games, and Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.

In 2024, York became the Principal Owner of the San Francisco 49ers franchise after he purchased his mother's equity in the team.

Under York's leadership, he helped elevate Levi's Stadium as a premier venue for some of the world's largest events, including the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football's Gold Cup, the Super Bowl in 2016 and 2026, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

York served as the 49ers' CEO from 2010 to 2026, before stepping down and transitioning the role to Al Guido, who served as the franchise's president from 2016 to 2026.

"Al has been an exceptional leader for this organization for more than a decade," said York in a press release. "His vision, partnership, and steady leadership have positioned the 49ers for success today and well into the future. The evolution of his role reflects how essential he has been to this organization and our confidence about what's ahead."

Although York would be stepping away from the front office, he planned on leading the organization as the owner.

Although it is unclear how much York's personal wealth is worth, the San Francisco 49ers are considered one of the NFL's elite franchises.

Forbes ranked the 49ers as the fifth-most valuable NFL team in 2025, with an estimated value of $8.5 billion.

York was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended Cardinal Mooney High School, where he served as the senior class president and captain of the school's baseball team, according to the Mercury News.

After graduating, he moved to Indiana to attend the University of Notre Dame, where he double majored in Finance and History. While at Notre Dame, he was a member of the National History Honor Society of Phi Alpha Theta before ultimately graduating from the university in 2003.

Jed York was born on March 9, 1980, and is 46 years old.

In July 2023, the English soccer club Leeds United announced that the San Francisco 49ers owners had purchased the club through 49ers Enterprises.

The 49ers Enterprises Partnership is a corporate investment and global sports venture owned by the NFL franchise and led by York and venture president Paraag Marathe, according to the Leeds United website.

Marathe currently serves as the chairman of Leeds United and exercises 49ers Enterprises’ voting rights as a Director on the Leeds United Board, according to the Leeds United website.

In May 2025, the Scottish soccer club Rangers announced that 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh, the health insurance entrepreneur, had purchased a majority ownership stake in the club.

Cavenagh was appointed as chairman, and Marathe would serve as the team's vice chairman, according to ESPN.

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.

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