Who Owns Coachella
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is owned by AEG Presents, a subsidiary of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is controlled by the Anschutz Corporation. AEG Presents operates Coachella through its music and live entertainment division, managing production, ticketing, and venue partnerships for the event. For more details on AEG Presents and its role in live music, see this overview from Forbes: AEG Presents company profile.
The Anschutz Corporation, led by Philip Anschutz, is one of the largest private companies in the United States, with interests spanning energy, real estate, sports, and entertainment. Anschutz Entertainment Group was founded in the early 2000s and quickly became a major force in live events, acquiring and launching festivals, venues, and sports properties worldwide. The corporate structure keeps ownership concentrated within the Anschutz family and its affiliated investment entities.
History of Coachella Ownership
Coachella was first held in 1999 and was founded by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen, who later built Goldenvoice into a leading promotions company. Goldenvoice was acquired by AEG Presents in 2001, bringing Coachella under the AEG umbrella and enabling rapid expansion of the festival's scale and production value. This acquisition is documented in industry reports on major festival operators and corporate deals.
Since the Goldenvoice acquisition, AEG Presents has maintained operational control of Coachella while integrating it with other festival brands and venue assets. The festival has grown into one of the highest-grossing music events in the world, consistently ranking among the top global festivals by revenue and attendance. Ownership has remained within the Anschutz corporate family, with no public listing or external sale of the festival or its parent entities.
Corporate Structure and Key Figures
AEG Presents operates as a private subsidiary of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which in turn is part of the broader Anschutz Corporation portfolio. Philip Anschutz remains the controlling figure, with day-to-day operations managed by experienced executives in the live entertainment sector. The structure allows Coachella to function as a premium brand within a larger network of venues, festivals, and sports properties.
Paul Tollett, a co-founder of Coachella, has served as President and CEO of AEG Presents, overseeing the festival and other major events. The leadership team combines long-standing festival veterans with corporate executives from the Anschutz organization, ensuring continuity in both creative direction and business operations. This governance model supports Coachella's position as a top-tier global music festival under stable private ownership.