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REPORT: Billionaire Republican Donor Family Could Be Acquiring A Piece Of The Nets

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Robert McGreevy Contributor
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The billionaire Republican donor Koch family is in talks to acquire a minority stake in BSE Global, the parent company of the Brooklyn Nets, Bloomberg reported Thursday afternoon.

Julia Koch, the widow of David Koch, the brother of the family’s patriarch Charles Koch, is reportedly trying to acquire 10% of the company to share with her three children, according to Sportico.

Charles Koch has a listed net worth of $64.8 billion, making him the 22nd richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Nets owner and chairman Joe Tsai acquired 49% of the Nets for $1 billion in 2018 and acquired the remaining portion, along with the Nets’ home arena, the Barclays Center, for $1.35 billion in 2019.

The Alibaba founder has recently been looking for a minority investor to take a piece of the franchise, according to Bloomberg.

The Koch family has a finger in virtually every pie, as their vast network of holding companies is involved in industries including oil, resin, glass, cattle, fertilizers, minerals and robotics, according to Investopedia. (RELATED: Team Haley Outspent Team Trump Two-To-One In New Hampshire. She Still Lost.)

Republicans have criticized the Kochs for targeting certain Republicans by funding their opponents in elections and taking notable positions against former President Trump’s policies.

Most recently AFP Action, an outbranch of the sprawling Koch Network’s political apparatus, endorsed Nikki Haley in November.

 

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Julia Koch is the widow of David Koch, Charles Koch’s brother.