With the process of putting the Seattle Seahawks up for sale now officially underway, speculation of who could buy the defending world champions has engulfed the entire Pacific Northwest.
Among names being mentioned is Elon Musk, the richest man in the world as of February 2026, with a net worth of nearly $850 billion. Musk is best known for leading several companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and xAI.
REPORT: Elon Musk says he is interested in purchasing the Seattle Seahawks from the Estate of Paul G. Allen.
Musk has a net worth of $850 billion and the Seahawks are looking to sell for over $10 billion. pic.twitter.com/mB2ICUT5XO
— NFL Drop (@TheNFLDrop) February 20, 2026
Despite the rumors swirling on social media, Musk’s interest in buying the Seahawks is not supported by credible reporting.
But even the rumors have some local political commentators excited.
Please god @elonmusk do this. The absolute meltdown would be something for the history books. https://t.co/luRYIiDWgS
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) February 21, 2026
However, Musk is no stranger to Seattle or the Puget Sound region. xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence (AI) company, announced it is moving to make Bellevue its latest home earlier this month.
According to city permit filings, xAI has leased a full floor at Lincoln Square South — approximately 25,000 square feet in the heart of downtown Bellevue.
The AI company was originally founded in Palo Alto, Calif. Musk initially announced in September that xAI would be opening an office in the Puget Sound region.
Who could buy the Seattle Seahawks?
In addition to Musk, several high-profile billionaires could be in the mix to own the Seattle Seahawks.
The last NFL franchise sold was the maligned Washington Commanders in 2023, costing $6.05 billion. The Seattle Seahawks’ price tag is expected to clear $8 billion, and could reach as much as $10 billion, according to multiple NFL insiders.
Jeff Bezos, Mackenzie Scott (Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife), and Steve Ballmer are just a few names being thrown in rumors. Ballmer would be quite the surprise, as he previously told CBS’ “60 Minutes,” “we’ve got enough sports, one pro sports team is enough,” back in 2024.
Tilman Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Italy and owner of the Houston Rockets, previously tried to make a bid to own the Commanders and could wantto take another swing at owning an NFL franchise.
Samantha Holloway, the current lead owner of the Seattle Kraken, could further her stake and expand her empire of local sports teams. She is the daughter of the late billionaire David Bonderman.
Robert Smith, the founder of Vista Equity Partners, would become the first Black majority owner in NFL history if he were to make a successful bid for the Seahawks. He was heavily recruited to make a bid on the Denver Broncos when the team was up for sale in 2022.
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