Jeff Bezos reportedly not interested in purchasing Boston Celtics

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly not interested in purchasing the Boston Celtics, according to a report from tech outlet The Information. This revelation contradicts recent claims by media personality Bill Simmons, who suggested that Bezos might bid on the NBA franchise following Wyc Grousbeck's announcement that he plans to sell the team.

The Celtics, valued at $5.12 billion according to Sportico, are currently ranked fourth in the NBA and 21st among all U.S. professional sports teams. The franchise won its 18th NBA championship in June, further boosting its market value. Despite this, Bezos, whose net worth is approximately $197.3 billion, does not appear to be adding the Celtics to his extensive business empire.

On August 8, the Celtics retained JPMorgan Chase and BDT & MSD to manage the sale of the team. Grousbeck, who cited family estate planning as his reason for selling, intends to execute the sale in two phases, with 51% of the team being sold now and the remaining portion in 2028. He plans to maintain control until the second phase is completed.

This is not the first time Bezos has been linked to the potential purchase of a professional sports team. He previously considered buying the NFL’s Washington Commanders, but reports indicated that former owner Daniel Snyder excluded Bezos from the sale process, which ultimately led to Josh Harris acquiring the team in spring 2023.