Steve Ballmer bids 2 billions for LA Clippers

It's not yet official, but it could soon be. Rumors say Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's former Chief Executive Officer won the bidding war for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers franchise with a 2 billion dollar offer.

If the figure is correct, it will set a new all time record for a professional basketball team. Unconfirmed sources claim Ballmer outbid two groups. Allegedly a group of investors from Los Angeles were the first to make a 1.2 billion dollar bid for the franchise, while the second one, a 1.6 billion dollar bid came from a group led by business magnate David Geffen. Sources say in the second group was also implicated Oracle boss Larry Ellison and TV show star Oprah Winfrey.

The 2 billion dollar bid is eclipsing the 550 million dollars payed for the Milwaukee Bucks a few years back. This is also the second highest figure payed for a sports team. In 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers (Major League Baseball) was sold for 2.1 billion dollars.

The bid will need to receive green light from both Donald Sterling former owner and his wife co-owner, Shelly Sterling to become official. It will also need approval from all the other 29 NBA franchise owners.

Ballmer retired as Microsoft CEO two months ago, but he still remains in the board and owns four percent of the software giant. His net worth is estimated somewhere near 13.5 billion dollars.