According to a report from Forbes, Walmart heir Rob Walton, son of founder Sam Walton, is the frontrunner to buy the Denver Broncos for an expected $4.5 billion.
If true, this would be a record for a purchase of any sports team, with the highest purchase happening when the Nets sold for $2.35 billion in August 2019. The winning bid for the Broncos has yet to be finalized, with the second round of bids expected to be turned in on Monday (June 6). The winning bid is expected to be announced as “early as this month,” according to Forbes, and many believe that Walton will be unmatched with his vast wealth.Â
Forbes points out that Walton is worth an estimated $59.6 billion, which is more than the six wealthiest NFL owners combined. The current richest NFL owner is Panthers owner David Tepper, who has an estimated net worth of $16.7 billion. The Broncos have been run by the trust of Pat Bowlen, who purchased the team in 1984 for $78 million. Under his ownership, the Broncos went to the Super Bowl seven times, winning three times.