-Salon Media Group (SLNM.PK) and The Well Group,Â
Inc. today jointly announced that The WELL is now under the ownership of The Well Group,Â
Inc., a private investment group composed of long-time WELL members.
The Well Group, Inc. consists entirely of long-time WELL users with an average tenure  exceeding 20 years.
The purchase marks the first major online business taken private by users of  the business itself.Â
via Diigo http://www.well.com/p-release/pr_20120920.pdf
Update:Just wondering, and totally speculative. Just like the WELL, Second Life is almost entirely user generated. Suppose, just suppose, that the new strategy does not work out, that growth remains flat while the new projects work out really well. Suppose Linden Lab would consider selling Second Life – would (a group of) residents be able to buy the place? Or would everybody just flock to alternatives such as OpenSim?