The former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has reportedly won the bidding war for the ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise, offering more than $2 billion.
The LA Times is reporting Ballmer out-bid a group led by media-mogul David Geffen, and including the television icon, Oprah Winfrey and the Oracle chief executive, Larry Ellison that offered $1.6 billion.
The Clippers came up for sale after the owner, Donald Sterling, came under fire for racist remarks and he still needs to sign off on the sale which has been run by his estranged wife and co-owner, Shelly Sterling.
The sale price is almost four times the highest previous NBA franchise sale price - the $550 million paid earlier this month for the Milwaukee Bucks.
It is second only to the Dodgers' 2012 sale for $2.1 billion as the highest price for any sports team in North America.
