Andrew Pace
Jeff Bezos is an American businessman and founder of Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce and cloud computing company. With a net worth of over $220 billion, he is one of the richest people in the world. While it is unclear whether he is a basketball fan, he has been linked to the sport in several ways. Notably, he has been rumoured to be interested in purchasing various professional sports teams, including the Washington Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks. In 2021, he also invested in Overtime, a sports startup geared towards fans who prefer watching game highlights on social media rather than traditional broadcasting. Additionally, NBA star LeBron James sparked controversy for partying with Bezos, causing outrage among fans who perceived it as a symbol of wealth and oppression.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Interest in buying an NBA franchise | Not interested in buying the Boston Celtics; considered buying the Washington Commanders or the Seattle Seahawks |
| Association with NBA stars | Partied with LeBron James; invested in a startup behind a teen basketball league with Drake |
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What You'll Learn
Jeff Bezos and Drake invest in teen basketball league Overtime
While it is unclear whether Jeff Bezos is a basketball fan, the Amazon founder and billionaire has shown interest in basketball-related investments. In 2021, Jeff Bezos and musician Drake invested $80 million in Overtime, a startup behind a teen basketball league. This investment is part of a new funding round for the sports media company, which publishes original sports content on social media platforms like Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook.
Overtime, founded in 2016, aims to create a prep sports media giant with ESPN-like credibility. The company's video content has a vast reach, with over 45 million followers and 1.7 billion monthly views across various social media platforms. The recent $80 million funding will support several initiatives, including player and staff salaries, league startup costs, and investments in the NFT sector.
Overtime Elite (OTE), the teen basketball league, will offer a $100,000 salary to 30 players between the ages of 16 and 18. This initiative addresses the long-standing criticism of the NCAA business model, which generates wealth while prohibiting athletes from earning an income. OTE players are currently ineligible for collegiate-level play, but Overtime has committed to providing an additional $100,000 for their college tuition if they choose not to pursue a professional basketball career.
Bezos and Drake join a notable group of investors in Overtime, including current and former NBA players such as Devin Booker, Trae Young, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. This investment in Overtime's youth basketball league demonstrates Bezos' continued interest in sports-related ventures, although he has previously shown reluctance in purchasing professional sports teams like the Boston Celtics or the Washington Commanders.
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Rumours of Bezos buying an NFL team
Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, has been rumoured to be interested in buying an NFL team for some time now. While he has not publicly commented on his intentions, his immense wealth means he could afford to buy any NFL team. In fact, according to Forbes, his estimated net worth of $221.4 billion would allow him to buy every single NFL team and still have money left over.
Bezos has been linked with several NFL franchises over the years. In 2019, it was rumoured that he was interested in buying the Seattle Seahawks, and he was also reportedly interested in purchasing the Washington Commanders when their previous owner, Daniel Snyder, was facing pressure to sell the team due to controversies surrounding sexual harassment allegations within the team's offices. However, Snyder refused to include Bezos in the sale process, and the Commanders were ultimately bought by Josh Harris.
More recently, there has been speculation that Bezos could turn his attention to the New York Jets. The Jets have long struggled to find success on the field, and their owner, Woody Johnson, has faced criticism for his handling of the team. Johnson could consider selling the organization, and with Bezos' resources and business acumen, he could be well-positioned to overhaul the Jets' operations and bring a renewed sense of purpose to the franchise.
While the idea of Bezos as the next owner of the Jets is still speculative, it has sparked significant interest among fans and analysts alike. Bezos has yet to officially declare his intention to buy the Jets, and Johnson has not explicitly stated a desire to sell. However, given Bezos' history of exploring NFL ownership and his ability to outbid almost anyone, his involvement remains a plausible scenario.
In addition to his interest in NFL teams, Bezos has also been connected with the sale of other professional sports teams. In 2024, there were rumours that he would bid on the Boston Celtics of the NBA, but these rumours were later dismissed.
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LeBron James sparks outrage for partying with Jeff Bezos
LeBron James, the 40-year-old NBA icon, is facing a backlash from fans for partying with Jeff Bezos in France. Videos from Cannes show James and his wife, Savannah, enjoying themselves with Bezos and his newly wed wife, Lauren Sanchez.
The viral video shows James dancing to Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" at La Guérite, a luxury beachside restaurant in Cannes, France. Also seen in the video are Savannah, his wife, and Maverick Carter, his business partner.
James has been criticised for his close association with the billionaire. Some fans accuse him of being out of touch with ordinary people, with one fan posting, "Eat the rich includes LeBron James... Partying with Bezos? GTFOH". Another fan commented, "F*ck all these wealthy people who collude to keep us oppressed".
James has also been criticised for dancing to a diss track against Drake. At one point, James and Drake were considered close friends, so many fans have termed James' recent actions as "betrayal".
Amid all the chatter and speculation about his relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers, James is currently enjoying the offseason in France. It was recently reported that four teams had expressed interest in trading with the Lakers for the NBA icon. However, according to The Athletic, both the Lakers and those close to the player expect that he will be with the organisation for training camp once the season begins this fall.
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Jeff Bezos not interested in buying the Boston Celtics
Jeff Bezos is an American businessman, best known as the founder, executive chairman, and former president and CEO of Amazon. As of May 2025, his net worth is estimated to be over $220 billion, making him the third richest person in the world.
Bezos has been linked as a potential sports owner in the past. In 2023, he considered buying the NFL's Washington Commanders when the now-former owner, Daniel Snyder, was facing controversies around sexual harassment within the team’s offices. However, Bezos was reportedly outbid by Josh Harris and his ownership group.
In 2024, media personality and longtime basketball scribe, Bill Simmons, claimed on his podcast that there was "legitimate buzz" about Bezos buying the Boston Celtics. The Celtics, valued at $5.12 billion, are the NBA's winningest franchise, having won their 18th NBA championship in June 2024.
However, according to Nick Wingfield of The Information, a tech outlet, Bezos has "no plans" to bid on the Boston Celtics. A person close to Bezos relayed that there is "zero truth" to Simmons' report. This throws cold water on the idea that Bezos will be adding an NBA franchise to his empire.
While Bezos certainly has the spending power to purchase the Celtics, it appears that he is not interested in doing so at this time.
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MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, could buy the Blazers
MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is one of several potential buyers of the NBA franchise, the Portland Trail Blazers. Scott, a billionaire philanthropist, has a net worth of around $30 billion, according to Forbes, and could potentially become the first female owner of an NBA team.
Scott, a novelist and former administrative worker, was one of Amazon's early key contributors, and was involved in the company's name, business plan, accounts, shipping, and first freight contract. She and Bezos divorced in 2019 after 26 years together, and she has since spent time as a philanthropist, signing the Giving Pledge in 2019 and donating billions to non-profit organisations.
While Scott has been rumoured to be interested in the team, there is no public evidence that she is a huge NBA fan or that she seeks the limelight. However, as a low-key, ultra-wealthy individual, her purchase of the team would be unique, and it would be in keeping with Portland's reputation.
Bezos himself has been connected with the sale of sports teams in the past, including the NFL's Washington Commanders and the Boston Celtics. He is reportedly interested in sports ownership, although he has denied interest in the Celtics. With a net worth of $197.3 billion, Bezos is the second richest person in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Jeff Bezos has been known to associate with basketball players and has shown interest in investing in basketball teams. However, it is unclear whether he is a fan of the sport.
Yes, Jeff Bezos has been linked with buying the Boston Celtics and the Washington Commanders. However, he was reportedly not interested in purchasing either team.
Yes, Jeff Bezos and Drake invested in Overtime, a startup behind a teen basketball league, as part of an $80 million funding round.
Yes, NBA star LeBron James faced backlash from his fans for partying with Jeff Bezos in France.
No, Jeff Bezos has never owned a sports team. However, he has been rumoured to be interested in purchasing an NFL team, such as the Washington Commanders or the Seattle Seahawks.
