Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder worth $197bn, still waiting to buy NBA, NFL team (2024)

Jeff Bezos will have to keep waiting.

Despite being linked to the potential purchase of the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics, Bezos reportedly will pass on the opportunity to land one of the league's most storied teams.

Bezos - whose fortune came in at $204bn in Forbes most recent rich list - has no plans to bid on the Celtics, the Information reported.

As of Wednesday morning, the 60-year-old business magnate has a net worth of $197 billion and recently gained $612 million.

Bezos is listed by Forbes as the second-richest person in the world, ahead of Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison and Warren Buffett, and only trailing Elon Musk.

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“In the last few days there’s been some I think legitimate buzz about Jeff Bezos buying theCeltics, and I think it’s real," former ESPN personality Bill Simmons said on his podcast. "I think he’s gonna be one of the suitors."

It took around 36 hours for that reporting to be shot down although what is clear is that the second-richest person in the world has serious interest in purchasing a sports team.

He's been linked to multiple NFL franchises, including the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders - and last year was reportedly outbid by Josh Harris when attempting to strike a deal to buy the Commanders, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Bezos has never commented on the reported interest in the Commanders, and has remained quiet after being publicly associated with the NBA's all-time leader in Finals victories (18).

The smoothest path forward for Bezos could be the one that makes the most sense.

Buying an NBA expansion franchise.

Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged in February that Las Vegas was a definite expansion possibility for The Association.

But Seattle would be a full-circle sports win for Bezos, who founded Amazon out of his Seattle garage in 1994.

While everyone else was blasting grunge music, Bezos was harboring bigger plans and on the verge of changing everything from bookstores and record shops to the internet, online shopping and how fast daily household goods can be delivered across the globe.

Seattle lost the SuperSonics in 2008 to Oklahoma City in a cross-country move that is still a sore spot for the NBA.

When the 30-team NBA does expand, Seattle tops the list of potential cities and is viewed as a near lock to receiver another franchise.

Mexico City, Vancouver, Nashville and Montreal have also been floated as possible expansion cities.

The Grousbeck family, the Celtics' current owners, announced in July they planned to sell their majority stake in the franchise following an NBA Finals win that left Jayson Tatum in tears.

The managing board of the ownership group expects to sell a majority interest in 2024 or early 2025, with the balance closing in 2028.

Wyc Grousbeck plans to remain as the Governor of the team until the second closing in 2028.

A new NBA franchise could be valued at $6 billion, which Bezos could easily afford.

John Henry's Fenway Sports Group -- which also ownsLiverpoolFootball Club, theBoston Red Sox, and the Pittsburgh Penguins -- could also enter the mix for the Celtics.

Forbes recently valued the Celtics at $4.7 billion, making them the fourth-most valuable team in the league, behind theGolden State Warriors($7.7b), New York Knicks ($6.6b) andLos Angeles Lakers($6.4b).

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Bezos has now been linked with the NFL and NBA.

He also has the financial flexibility to change course and leap across the pond, joining LeBron James, Tom Brady, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Durant and J.J. Watt in the rapidly expanding international football market.