Oprah, Mayweather, Magic Johsnon And Many More Billionaires Interested In Buying Clippers
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - The NBA owners advisory and finance committee will hold a conference call Thursday to discuss the steps in forcing Sterling to sell the Clippers after NBA commissioner Silver handed out one of the harshest punishments in the history of the NBA, handing him a lifetime ban from the NBA and fining him a max penalty of $2.5 million for his racist comments.
So, who could be the next owner of the Los Angeles Clippers now that Donald Sterling is out?
Oprah Winfrey leads the list of wealthy faces who are interested in buying the Clippers. Her team would be built around billionaire record-label mogul David Geffen and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, says Winfrey's spokesperson.
Another billionaire, real estate developer Rick Caruso has also been vocal in his interest to buying team. Caruso was one of the many bidders who attempted to buy the Dodgers in 2012.
"If [The Clippers] become available, I would absolutely be interested," said Caruso to TMZ "We have a group still together from when we looked at the Dodgers ... and if it makes sense, I'll take a shot at it."
Boxing champ Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr and former boxing champ Oscar De La Hoya have also expressed their interest in the club.
"We want to buy the Clippers and we can afford to buy the Clippers," Mayweather said. "I'm very, very interested in buying the Clippers."
Mayweather, who owns a condo across the street from STAPLES, is a regular at Lakers and Clippers games and owns season-long court side seats.
Mayweather, who is on his third fight of a six-fight deal with Showtime, is expected to make $40 million in his upcoming fight against the Marcos Maidana, Saturday. The whole deal from the CBS-owned company is reportedly worth $250 million. Nice down payment for six fights.
"I would not discount anyone from being a player at this point," said David Carter of USC's Sports Business Institute.
Carter believes there will be so many bidders for the Clippers, that it'll create a Dodger-like scenario - an auction.
In the end Magic's group, Guggenheim Partners, ended up winning the auction for a record-high of $2 billion.
After denying initial reports of buying the team, Magic Johnson said at the Miliken Global Conference in Beverly Hills that is willing to buy the team.
"I will be owning an NBA team sometime," Johnson said "Is the Clippers the right situation? Of course. It's one of the premiere franchises. I think the fans have already spoken. They would like us to own the team. But we have to wait and see.""
Other Potential Buyers:
Entertainment producer/artist Sean Combs (Puff Daddy)
Los Angeles surgeon Patrick Soon-Schoong
Actor Matt Damon