Harris, who grew up in Chevy Chase, Md., and attended the Subject Faculty in northwest Washington, cobbled collectively a giant funding group. Per week earlier than the preliminary bids had been due in February, he toured the staff’s coaching facility and stadium, as each certified bidder is allowed to do, in line with an individual acquainted with the Commanders’ sale course of.
The bid course of was difficult as a result of rates of interest had shot up previously yr, elevating the price of borrowing cash. Previously a high-profile staff proprietor, Snyder has remained largely out of public view and away from the staff.
Based on N.F.L. guidelines, each membership should have a principal proprietor who owns at the very least 30 p.c of the staff, which implies Harris might want to elevate at the very least $1.8 billion on his personal. He has an estimated internet value of $6 billion, in line with Forbes.
In March, Harris recruited Rales, a co-founder of the Maryland-based Danaher Company, to affix his funding group, an individual with data of the deliberations mentioned. Rales has an estimated internet value of $5.6 billion, in line with Forbes, and provides sturdy native ties to the possession group.
Harris additionally recruited Magic Johnson, which is able to assist fulfill different N.F.L. homeowners, who final March mentioned in an announcement that they’d “regard it as a optimistic and significant issue” if potential possession teams “embody numerous people who would have a major fairness stake in and involvement with the membership.”
Harris beat out Tilman J. Fertitta, the proprietor of the Houston Rockets of the N.B.A., who reportedly bid $5.6 billion for the Commanders. Jeff Bezos, the founding father of Amazon, was regarded as concerned about shopping for the membership, however doesn’t seem to have made a bid for the staff.
Jenny Vrentas contributed reporting.