According to a report by Yahoo Sports, Sean "Diddy" Combs is "moving to set meetings with potential investors in hopes of shaping a prospective ownership group" with the intent of potentially buying the Carolina Panthers. Those efforts are expected to include the involvement of Colin Kaepernick.
Sunday, Diddy announced to the world that he was interested in purchasing the team. Both Kaepernick and NBA star Steph Curry expressed interest in being a part of it. Sources close to Kaepernick say that he has already started reaching out to a handful of business leaders, venture capitalists and sports icons to discuss an ownership group. The source also said the quarterback had a “shared vision” with Diddy about creating an ownership group that more closely represents the racial makeup of the league’s players, which is about 70 percent African American.
“The interest is real and it’s moving forward,” the source said of Diddy and Kaepernick working together. “They want to make this a reality. It’s serious.”
Diddy's interest comes after owner Jerry Richardson said he was putting his share of ownership up for sale amongst sexual misconduct allegations. While Richardson has full control of the Panthers, his family owns only 48 percent of the franchise. However, the sale of Richardson’s percentage is expected to constitute a controlling share, based on the power structure established by the founding partnership, according to Yahoo Sports.
Because Diddy's net worth is clocked at $820 million, him acquiring the Panthers alone is out of reach. Richardson's 48 percent share of the Panthers is likely worth approximately $1.2 billion. However, the possibility of Combs headlining an ownership group is certainly feasible.
It looks like they're working hard to bring this to fruition. If they can do it, this is history.