Ethe group of investors Josh Harris / Mitchell Raleswhich now includes former basketball player Magic Johnsonofficially submitted a fully funded offer to acquire the Washington Commanderswhich would cover the sale price requested by the current owner of the equipment, Dan Snyder, worth $6 billiona source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.
If accepted, the deal would break the previous record sale for a franchise of the NFL which was imposed in August 2022, when a group led by Walmart heir Rob Waltonacquired the Denver Broncos by $4.65 billion dollars.
The Canadian Billionaire Steve Apostolopoulosas well as the owner of the Houston Rockets from NBA, Tilman Fertittaare also among the other groups interested in the acquisition of the Commanders.
According to ESPNthere is still another group that has remained anonymous and has already visited the facilities of the NFL team.
Who are Harris and Rales?
The new group of investors who have at Magic among their partners, are also owners of the Philadelphia 76ers from NBAand of the New Jersey Devils from NHL.
The company Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainmentare also owners of a part of the Crystal Palace FC from Premier League.
Harris, who grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, was a co-founder of Apollo Management in 1990, an asset management firm, and currently owns a net worth estimated at $5.8 billion dollarsaccording to Forbes magazine.
While Rales, a DC-area billionaire, has a fortune estimated at almost $5.5 billion dollarsaccording to Forbes.
Magic Johnsonwho is a member of Basketball Hall of Fame and co-owner of Los Angeles Dodgers from MLBwas part of the group along with Harris that failed to acquire the Broncos last summer.
Johnson has also invested in other sports teams, including Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA y Los Angeles FC from MLS.
Snyder led a group that acquired the team in 1999 for $800 million. Snyder, and his wife and co-CEO, Tanya, announced their intention to sell the team last November. Forbes estimated the value of the franchise at $5.6 billion.
