Ex-Microsoft CEO to buy Clippers for $2B

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has won a bid for ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers, with a $2 billion offer that stands to be the most paid for an NBA franchise, according to multiple reports.

Donald Sterling’s wife, Shelly, negotiated a deal Thursday evening with Ballmer that has been sent to the NBA for approval, USA TODAY reported. Ballmer’s offer would need three-fourths approval by the league’s 29 owners to complete the sale.

{mosads}The deal may also have to be approved by Sterling, according to earlier comments by his attorney.

Shelly pushed to finalize the sale ahead of Tuesday’s NBA Board of Governors meeting, where league owners are expected to vote on stripping the family’s ownership.

Sterling came under fire in April for making racist remarks about African-Americans in a secretly taped audio recording that was leaked to the public and sparked national outrage.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million and encouraged the NBA board of governors to force him to sell the team, which he’s owned for 33 years.

If Ballmer’s deal is approved, it will eclipse the previous record paid for an NBA franchise of $550 million for the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month.

Ballmer beat out a $1.6 billion bid by a group that included media moguls David Geffen and Oprah Winfrey, according to CNN.