For the first time since 1984, the Denver Broncos will have a new owner.
According to Forbes, Rob Walton will likely buy the equipment with a winning bid that is expected to reach about $ 4.5 billion. Forbes noted that the winning bid has not yet materialized, but is expected to be announced as soon as “this month.” There is always the possibility that an agreement of this magnitude may fall, but it seems very unlikely at this time, given Walton’s wealth and great resources.
From an official point of view, the second round of bids will not be delivered until Monday, confirmed a source to CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson, whose source said “any idea that a favorite has emerged or that a figure has been specified, it is categorically false ”.
The Broncos have been approaching a sale in recent weeks with potential buyers visiting the team’s facilities in May. While there were four more finalists looking to buy the team, none of those finalists were able to match Walton’s wealth. Rob, who is the son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is valued at $ 59.6 billion, according to Forbes.
Once the purchase is completed, Walton will not only instantly become the richest owner in the NFL, but will have a higher net worth than the six richest owners in the NFL COMBINED. Panthers owner David Tepper currently has the highest net worth in the NFL at $ 16.7 billion.
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If the final purchase price ends up being $ 4.5 billion, that would break the U.S. record for most money ever paid by a sports team. The record is currently held by the Nets, who sold for $ 2.35 billion in August 2019. The $ 4.5 billion price tag would also nearly double the price of the most expensive NFL team ever sold, which went arrive in 2018 when Tepper bought the Carolina Panthers for $ 2,275. billion.
Recently, in early April, the Broncos were expected to sell for about $ 4 billion, but NFL teams are a hot commodity that is not sold as often, which has probably helped increase the price.
Walton, 77, will buy the team from Pat Bowlen’s board. Bowlen originally bought the equipment in 1984 for only $ 78 million. From 1984 until his death in 2019, Bowlen oversaw one of the most successful franchises in the NFL, as the Broncos went to seven Super Bowls, winning three, under his control. Bowlen died in 2019 and his confidence has been running the organization ever since. After his death three years ago, it was constantly speculated that the equipment would go on sale, but this did not officially happen until February of this year.
As for Walton, while he will be the first Walmart heir to own a team, he will not be the first to have ties to NFL ownership. Rob Walton’s cousin, Ann Walton Kroenke, is the husband of Rams owner Stan Kroenke. If you’re wondering about the family tree, Sam Walton is Ann’s uncle. Ann’s father, Bud, was Sam’s brother and co-founder of Walmart.