Neil Hughes
Billionaire philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, who is still a significant stakeholder in both Apple and Disney, will enter into the professional sports business, taking a 20 percent share of the company that owns Washington D.C.'s Wizards basketball team and Capitals hockey team.
An entrepreneur and president of the Emerson Collective, Powell Jobs has taken a significant stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Powell Jobs will reportedly invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the pending deal, which was confirmed to The Washington Post.
"The process is underway and is pending league approvals," the company said, citing acceptance from the National Basketball League, the National Hockey League and others.
Powell Jobs is the widow of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs. At 53 years old, she is one of the wealthiest women in the world, with an estimated worth of $20 billion.
In addition to being a major shareholder in Apple, she also holds a powerful stake in Disney.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment also owns the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association. The company was founded by chairman, majority owner and Chief Executive Ted Leonsis.
Powell Jobs has been active in recent months with her fortune, as the Emerson Collective that she heads also bought a majority stake in The Atlantic in July. She has also taken a more public role on philanthropic efforts, including her stance hot button issues like immigration and education.
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18 Comments
Go DC!
Seems like an odd choice, unless she's a big sports fan (which of course is possible). I don't expect to see her court side screaming across the floor from Steve Ballmer (Clippers) or Mark Cuban (Mavs).
This is how she spend Steve money, wonder if she still have his ship.