John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images
If Dan Snyder is going to sell the Washington Commanders, he doesn’t want Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to be the buyer.
Per Josh Kosman of the New York Post“prevented” Snyder from Bezos participating in the private auction for the commanders.
Kosman reported in January that Snyder is “still in pain” because of the Washington Postwhich Bezos has owned since 2013, published a series of investigative reports on allegations of toxic treatment and Snyder enabling sexual harassment within the Commanders organization.
Earlier this week, Mark Maske, Nicki Jhabvala and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post reported that Bezos hired an investment firm to help him evaluate a possible bid for the NFL franchise.
Dan and Ask Snyder announced in November, they retained Bank of America Securities and considered “potential transactions” involving the franchise.
The announcement came amid an investigation by the United States House Committee on Oversight into the commanders’ history of alleged workplace misconduct and sexual harassment.
In December, the House Oversight Committee released a 79-page report that found “sexual harassment, bullying, and other toxic behaviors” had been workplace problems for decades. Snyder established a “culture of fear” within the organization.
The House Oversight Committee’s review came about after the NFL conducted its own investigation into the allegations about the commanders’ workplace. The league determined that the franchise promoted a work environment that tolerated sexual harassment, bullying and verbal abuse, but a full report was never made public.
Kasman noted that other NFL owners could “yet pressure” Snyder to sell the Commanders to Bezos, as doing so would increase the value of the other franchises.
According to Forbes.com, Bezos is the third richest person in the world with a net worth of $116.7 billion. Denver Broncos main owner Rob Walton is currently the richest NFL owner with a net worth of $59.8 billion.
NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay reported in January that a sale of the Commanders is imminent, possibly in March around the time of the NFL’s annual league meetings.
Josh Harris, owner of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, is considered a “top candidate” to buy the Commanders, according to Finlay.
Kosman noted that an unidentified bidder made an offer this week of about $5.5 billion, which is about the same amount Harris bid.
Snyder has owned the Washington franchise since May 1999. He spent a then-record $800 million to buy the club after the death of previous owner Jack Kent Cooke.
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