New Billionaire Emerges in Commanders Sale Mix

Another billionaire has entered the hunt to acquire the Washington Commanders. 

Mitchell Rales, a lifelong resident of the Washington, D.C., area, has teamed with Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris in the latter’s effort to purchase the Commanders, a source with knowledge of the process told Front Office Sports on Thursday. 

FOS previously reported that Harris toured the team’s headquarters earlier this year, and sources said he’s been among the top contenders since owner Dan Snyder announced the potential sale of the franchise in November. 

The Commanders sales process appears to be inching along, as Snyder has been reluctant to sell to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The pace of the sale has frustrated some owners around the NFL and renewed talk about the potential removal of Snyder as the team faces multiple investigations. 

Worth an estimated $6.77 billion, Rales co-founded the D.C.-based industrial conglomerate Danaher with older brother Steve in 1994. Mitch Rales, 66, is among the most private billionaires in the region, typically only granting interviews for his art endeavors. 

Last month, it was reported that Rales donated $1.9 billion to the Glenstone Foundation, the museum and sculpture park founded by Rales and his wife, Emily, in 2006. It’s located in Potomac, Maryland — the same swanky town where the couple live, and where Snyder has a house listed on the market for $49 million. 

The Commanders declined comment when reached by FOS. ESPN was the first outlet to report Rales’ interest in the Commanders.