Overview
On 15 July 2026, Stripe and private‑equity firm Advent International announced a joint takeover proposal for PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) valued at approximately $53 billion. The offer price of $60.50 per share translates to a 28% premium over PayPal’s closing price of $47.37 on the preceding Tuesday.
Michael Burry’s Reaction
Michael Burry, noted for his deep‑value investment approach and who has recently identified PayPal as one of his top convictions, publicly rejected the proposal. In a comment, he described the bid as "1.21x IV15 and simply too low", indicating that the offer falls short of his intrinsic‑value calculations.
Intrinsic‑Value Estimates
Burry provided his own valuation ranges:
- IV10 valuation places PayPal’s baseline value between $75 and $80 per share.
- IV8 valuation pushes the baseline higher, to between $110 and $115 per share.
He further argued that applying a standard control premium to his IV10 estimate yields a realistic winning bid of roughly $100 per share. Consequently, he labeled the $53 billion figure as merely a conversation starter and affirmed his intention not to sell.
Implications for the Bidder
If Burry’s assessment gains traction among shareholders, Stripe and Advent would likely need to substantially increase their offer price to meet a valuation closer to the $100‑per‑share level before a successful acquisition could be completed.
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