Forbes says Broncos new owner has been determined, others deny

As we told you last week, second-round bids to buy the Denver Broncos are due today, but one major publication is reporting the race is already over.

On Monday morning, Forbes declared Walmart heir Rob Walton the winner, saying his bid of $4.5 billion will be enough to secure the team.

Rob Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, will win the bidding for the Denver Broncos at about $4.5 billion, several sports bankers told Forbes. The winning bid is expected to be announced as early as this month. https://t.co/S7VZq83h3T

— Forbes (@Forbes) June 6, 2022

Walton would be by far the richest owner in the NFL with a net worth of $59.1 billion according to Forbes. That number has been pinned even higher by other publications.

But two regulars on 104.3 The Fan in ESPN’s Adam Schefter and 9NEWS Broncos insider Mike Klis both said not so fast on this report. Walton may very well be the favorite, but no decision has been reached.

Second-round bids to buy the Denver Broncos are due later today as the process continues to move along, per league sources. One source maintained today that, despite any speculation, no favorite has emerged at this time.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 6, 2022

While reports Rob Walton has already won Broncos bid at $4.5B are interesting, and may eventually be true, the current situation is 2nd-rd bids among 4 groups won’t be made till later today (by 3 pm MDT). Process moving along but I’ve been told no owner has been picked. #9sports https://t.co/DwKDikLY9N

— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) June 6, 2022

Here’s more information about the four group vying for the Broncos, per Klis.

• A group led by Josh Harris, who holds controlling interest in the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and Crystal Palace F.C. of the Premier League. One member of his partnership is Fanatics owner Michael Rubin. Another is ex-NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a minority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers of MLB.
• S. Robson Walton and Greg Penner, the former and current chairmen of Walmart. Walton is the son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. With a net worth of at least $70 billion per various estimates, Walton would become the wealthiest owner in the NFL if he and Penner are successful.
• A group led by Clearlake Capital co-founder Jose Feliciano. Also involved is another Clearlake co-founder, Behdad Eghbali. Eldridge Industries co-founder and chairman Todd Boehly joins them. Boehly is the point person of this consortium’s recent purchase of Premier League club Chelsea F.C. According to Klis, Feliciano would be the managing partner if this group’s bid is successful.
• Mat and Justin Ishbia. Mat Ishbia Is the chairman of United Wholesale Mortgage. The net worth of the siblings is estimated at between $6 and $12.4 billion.

Regardless of what is and isn’t true, this whole saga looks to be coming to an end shortly, with the next owner of the Broncos revealed some point early this summer.
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