In 2020, a survey conducted by ‘The Athletic’ ranked Steve Ballmer as the best owner of an NBA franchise.
He is certainly everything the competition asks of an owner: someone who is very committed to his franchise, the Clippers; with a touch of histrionics that makes him recognizable among fans; who invests a lot of money even to the point of building a 22nd century arena, the Intuit Dome; and who has a lot of money. He is the eighth richest person in the world with more than $150 billion. The combined fortunes of the next 10 richest NBA owners do not match Ballmer’s.
But that image of the ideal owner is now being tarnished. Ballmer is being investigated for circumventing the salary cap, the cornerstone on which the NBA’s supposed equality is maintained. Throughout September, journalist Pablo Torre has been reporting on payments to Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers star, through the company Aspiration, with which the forward had a contract, although he never did any work in return. It is said to have been $28 million, which could be joined by another $20 million, according to ‘Boston Sports Journal’.
The current owner of the Clippers, 69, faces what could be a very tough punishment from the NBA. He already came to the franchise thanks to another scandalous exit, that of Donald Sterling in 2014, who had to leave after making racist comments. Ballmer had been part of a group of businessmen who wanted to acquire the Sonics in 2008. He also tried with the Kings in 2013 with the intention of taking them to Seattle. Third time lucky: in 2014 he outbid everyone else to buy the Los Angeles team for around $2 billion.
CEO at Microsoft
Ballmer’s money came to him through Microsoft. After studying at Harvard, he was hired by the computer company in 1980. A close friend of founder Bill Gates, he eventually became president in 1998 and two years later took over from his colleague as chief executive officer, a position he held until 2014. During that time, he tripled the company’s sales and doubled its profits despite erroneous forecasts such as the one he made about the iPhone: “There is no chance that it will gain any significant market share”. Years later, he banned his family from using any Apple devices.
When he left Microsoft, the Clippers owner took a large number of shares in the company with him, which continues to generate enormous profits and has led him to the Top 10 of the Forbes list. Part of his fortune is dedicated to donations, while another part goes to the Clippers. The construction of the ultra-modern Intuit Dome, where next season’s All-Star Game will be held, cost around $2 billion. He is often seen there as just another fan. He has such an exaggerated personality, he shouts so much and not only during games that he has even had to undergo surgery on his vocal cords.
The richest owner in American sport
The richest owner in American professional sports, the perfect owner is now in trouble with an NBA investigation. Every time Leonard received one of those under-the-table payments that are now being scrutinized, there was previously an income into Aspiration from someone close to Ballmer. He defends himself by saying he was scammed. It is hard to believe that someone with his profile and surrounded by economists and lawyers would fall for a scam.
The question now is whether the NBA, if the Clippers’ guilt is proven, will go against the eighth richest person in the world. If there is a financial penalty, it should be huge so that his loaded pocket would notice. Some owners are upset at the prospect of him getting away with it or with a simple reprimand. If commissioner Adam Silver, who says he is unaware of the details of the case, does nothing, it would be an invitation for the rest of the League’s owners to try to circumvent the salary cap in the same way or with other even more imaginative formulas.
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