​Two frontrunners have emerged in the pursuit to purchase the Seahawks, according to Front Office Sports. At the forefront is a group led by Aditya Mittal, the current minority owner of the Celtics, and Wyc Grousbeck, a former Celtics governor. The other leading bid is headed by Vinod Khosla, a minority investor in the 49ers, sources familiar with the matter say. One of these two groups reportedly includes at least one former Seahawks player, though the identity of that player was not disclosed and it remains unclear which bid they are part of.
One insider indicates the field may have narrowed to these two coalitions. Yet another source cautions that even if the selection has narrowed, a new bidder could still enter the process—echoing what happened with the Clippers in 2014 when Steve Ballmer, a Seattle-area resident and former Microsoft CEO, entered late and submitted a $2 billion offer that the owners accepted. Ballmer has previously sought to purchase the Sacramento Kings in 2013 with designs to move them to Seattle, but he has not been named as a suitor for the Seahawks.
Opinions vary on the level of interest in acquiring the 2026 Super Bowl champion. Some sources say enthusiasm has fallen short of expectations, while others contend there remains substantial interest. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell disputed in May that buyer interest had softened. Regardless, the pool of bidders has shrunk following a recent deadline to submit proposals, and sources expect additional developments in the sale process next month.
Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos, who had been weighing a bid, has withdrawn from consideration, according to one source. Another source says Todd Boehly— who has been connected to bids and is known to co-own the Dodgers, Lakers, and Chelsea FC— is no longer part of the process. ESPN initially reported Apostolopoulos as a potential suitor, though he denied interest. Semafor first reported Boehly’s potential interest, and Sportico was the first to name Grousbeck and Mittal as preparing a bid as well as Khosla’s involvement. At least one additional undisclosed bidder reportedly submitted an offer and has since been ruled out of contention, a source told FOS.
Representatives for the Paul G. Allen Estate, the listing party handling the sale, declined to comment, stating there is “no news to share about the sale process.” The Khosla family acquired a minority stake in the 49ers last spring and would need to divest that stake if Khosla’s bid for the Seahawks succeeds. Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, has an estimated net worth near $14 billion, according to Forbes. Wyc Grousbeck’s individual net worth isn’t publicly specified, but Forbes estimates the Grousbeck family’s net worth around $2.2 billion. Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, is commonly cited with a family net worth surpassing $17 billion, though the precise figure for Mittal personally isn’t publicly disclosed. The second bid’s backing and the players involved remain a focal point as the process unfolds.
This ongoing bidding landscape comes as interest and potential leverage points around the Seahawks’ sale continue to be analyzed by observers, with updates anticipated in the near term.