The Carolina Panthers are reportedly about to be up for sale. And, unless further details contradict this, the purchasing group so far doesn't appear to include Diddy, Stephen Curry, or anybody else you've ever heard of (probably).
ESPN is reporting that the buyer will be Pittsburgh Steelers minority owner David Tepper. Tepper is expected to put his signature on the deal on Tuesday, and the price for the team is said to be $2.2 billion. That exorbitant cost will set the mark for the highest sale price for an NFL team, beating 2014's record of $1.4 billion for the Buffalo Bills by a considerable margin. It's also equal to the price the Houston Rockets sold for last year.
The sale is expected to be approved in Atlanta on May 22 at the owners meetings. In order to make it official, three-quarters of the league's 32 owners have to give their approval. League rules also stipulate that Tepper needs to put up at least 30 percent of the sale price.
Forbes reports that Tepper has a net worth of $11 billion. Tepper, the founder of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, will have to relinquish the 5 percent of the Steelers he owns in order to take over the Panthers.
Carolina went up for sale at the conclusion of this past season after a number of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct allegations were made against soon-to-be-former team owner Jerry Richardson. Those allegations were published in December in Sports Illustrated and included reports that Richardson sexually harassed multiple women, at least four of whom received settlements. He also allegedly used a racial slur toward one of the team's scouts, who also received a settlement.
