Jeff Bezos reportedly hires firm to help with potential Commanders bid

Billionaire Jeff Bezos looks like he's inching closer to placing a bid for the Washington Commanders after he reportedly hired investment firm Allen & Company, according to ESPN's Jeff Keim. Allen & Company also helped the Walton-Penner group buy the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion in 2022 and David Tepper buy the Carolina Panthers in 2018.

Bezos, 59, is the former CEO of Amazon and the current owner of The Washington Post. He's also worth a reported $116.4 billion, per Forbes, which makes him the third-richest person in the world. If he bought the Commanders, Bezos would be the richest owner in the NFL and in all of sports. Los Angeles Clippers team owner Steve Ballmer is currently the richest owner in sports with a reported net worth of $80.8 billion, per Forbes.

Bezos hasn't officially submitted a bid for the team and reportedly missed the first-round deadline of Dec. 23, according to Front Office Sports. Reports of Bezos' interest in the Commanders first surfaced in November, days after current owner Dan Snyder hired Bank of America Securities to "consider potential transactions." Rapper and Roc Nation founder Jay-Z is rumored to be involved in Bezos' ownership group as well.

The only known suitor for the Commanders is private equity investor Josh Harris, who owns the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Crystal Palace. He reportedly toured the team facility in early February, according to the Athletic. Harris reportedly would offer $5 billion for the team, per Pro Football Talk, slightly more than the record $4.65 billion it took to buy the Broncos this past year. But Snyder reportedly wants no less than $6 billion for the Commanders, according to Fox Business' Charles Gasparino.

Businessman Todd Boehly, who became the co-owner of the English Premier League's Chelsea Football Club in 2022, reportedly pulled out of contention for ownership of the Commanders in January, according to NBC Sports' J.P. Finlay.