Five Washington Billionaires Eyed as Potential Seahawks Buyers

Tech titans and former Microsoft executives among top contenders to purchase NFL franchise

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly up for sale, with the franchise potentially fetching between $6-10 billion. Several prominent Washington state billionaires have been linked as potential buyers, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Why it matters

Keeping the Seahawks in the Pacific Northwest is a priority for many fans, and having a local owner with deep ties to the region could help ensure the team remains in Seattle long-term. The sale of the franchise also represents a rare opportunity for a wealthy individual to acquire a major professional sports team.

The details

The article highlights five Washington state billionaires who could potentially purchase the Seahawks: Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mackenzie Scott (Bezos' ex-wife), Steve Ballmer, and Larry Ellison. Gates and Bezos have existing ties to the Seattle area, while Ballmer is the current owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. Ellison, a tech billionaire, has previously expressed interest in sports team ownership but does not have strong connections to Washington state.

  • The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly going up for sale in 2026.

The players

Bill Gates

Co-founder of Microsoft and longtime Seahawks fan, with existing business ties to the team's former owner Paul Allen.

Jeff Bezos

Founder of Amazon, with deep Seattle ties, who has been frequently cited as a top contender to purchase the Seahawks.

Mackenzie Scott

Ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, who is worth billions and could potentially follow the philanthropic model of former Seahawks owner Paul Allen.

Steve Ballmer

Former Microsoft CEO and current owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, who has expressed interest in sports team ownership.

Larry Ellison

Tech billionaire with a history of interest in sports ownership, but without strong ties to Washington state.

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What’s next

The Seahawks organization has not yet announced a timeline for the sale of the franchise, but the potential ownership change is expected to be a major storyline in the coming years.

The takeaway

The sale of the Seattle Seahawks represents a rare opportunity for a wealthy individual to acquire a high-profile professional sports team. With several prominent Washington state billionaires identified as potential buyers, there is hope among fans that the team will remain in the Pacific Northwest under local ownership.