WASHINGTON — Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder is taking the first steps toward selling the team. The Snyder family announced it had hired Bank of America Securities to explore "potential transactions" on Wednesday, but did not say whether that means they plan to sell the team.
If the Snyders do end up selling, the franchise is valued at nearly $6 billion, so the purchase is going to take serious money. For the team's part, they told WUSA9 they are not commenting on who has or has not expressed interest in buying the team. Here are a few people with DMV ties and enough capital to make a bid.
First and foremost is Jeff Bezos. Our partners at the Washington Post report that the Amazon founder is interested in bidding on the commanders and may team up with hip-hop mogul Jay-Z to do it. Bezos is worth $200 billion, so paying $6 billion is small potatoes. Is there a Prime Stadium in the future for the DMV?
But what about Jacqueline Mars and the Mars family? The Mars candy company owner is worth $38 billion according to Forbes, and she's from Northern Virginia. Her family has been successful at making M&Ms, Skittles, Snickers and Milky Ways. Unfortunately for anyone on board with that sweet partnership, a spokesperson for the Mars family told WUSA9 Friday, that "Jacqueline Mars is absolutely not going to buy the Commanders."
Nationals owner Ted Lerner and his family are also on the shortlist of folks with the bankroll to buy the team. But the family has expressed interest in selling the Nationals, so it's not likely they'll want to buy another team.
Then there's Ted Leonsis. He already owns the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics. But Washington's NFL team might not be on his radar right now. He's already rumored to be in the process of purchasing the Nationals from the Lerners.
Here's what Vegas thinks. According to odds-makers, Dan Snyder has the best odds (33.3%) to remain the owner at the start of the 2023-24 season, followed by Bezos.
One more possibility is Byron Allen. Bloomberg reports the businessman is preparing a bid for the Commanders. The NFL wants more minority ownership, and Allen would be the first Black NFL owner.