It seems the race for the Seattle Seahawks may involve some heavy hitters: Mark Zuckerberg from Facebook/Meta and Tim Cook from Apple.
They are reportedly among four groups showing interest in purchasing the reigning Super Bowl champions, as noted by Front Office Sports.
The two tech leaders are in what sources refer to as the bidding stage, but the specifics of their involvement remain vague.
Interestingly, it’s uncertain if any political entities have entered into the bidding mix.
Some reports suggest that Zuckerberg and Cook may not be directly leading the charge. Instead, they could potentially be part of a consortium that is considering a bid for the team.
Neither Zuckerberg nor Cook currently owns a sports franchise, which makes this a notable opportunity to fill the shoes of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen.
After the Seahawks clinched their second Super Bowl win with a 29-13 victory over the Patriots, Allen’s estate announced that the official sale process was underway. This move aligns with Allen’s wishes to sell his sports holdings to fund philanthropic efforts.
According to team announcements, investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins are overseeing the sale process.
Given the recent trends in NFL team sales, the Seahawks are poised to fetch a hefty price once a sale is finalized.
For context, Allen acquired the team in 1997 for around $194 million.
Most recently, Josh Harris bought the Commanders for a staggering $6.05 billion in 2023, setting a record.
Sources have indicated that the Seahawks’ sale could break records, with projections estimating a price tag between $8 billion and $10 billion.
Last year, billionaire Julia Koch and her family purchased a 10% stake in the Giants at a record valuation of $10 billion.
Both Zuckerberg and Cook are billionaires, though there’s quite a gap: Zuckerberg’s worth is around $222 billion, while Cook’s is about $2.8 billion.
However, it’s worth noting that for this NFL ownership transfer to go through, at least three-quarters of the league’s teams would need to approve the deal.
