Ten years ago, Ballmer acquired the Clippers for 2 billion yuan. How much is the market value now? You may not believe it if you say it.

If you want to talk about the craziest and most willing boss in the NBA, Clippers boss Ballmer is definitely on the list. This former Microsoft CEO and super rich man with a net worth of $100 billion was acquired by the team for a record $2 billion in 2014. Now seven years have passed, is this investment losing or making a profit? In 2014, former Clippers boss Donald Sterling caused an uproar due to his racial discrimination. The NBA quickly banned Sterling and forced the team to sell it. Faced with the league's ultimatum, Sterling offered almost harsh conditions: the team costs $2 billion and requires cash payment. This price far exceeded the team's valuation at that time. You should know that when the Brooklyn Nets sold it in 2010, the transaction price was only $200 million.

When many wealthy people retreated, Ballmer's appearance changed the situation. This business giant not only has strong financial resources, but also an unyielding basketball enthusiast. He decisively took over the Clippers at a sky-high price of $2 billion, which not only set a new record for NBA team trading, but also marked the official entry of the Clippers into a new era. After the acquisition was completed, Ballmer immediately began to carry out drastic reforms. He knows that in order to gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive NBA, he must build a team with championship competitiveness. To this end, he paid high luxury taxes and introduced superstars such as Leonard, George, and Harden to form a lineup with the strength to compete for the championship.

At the management level, Ballmer appointed Lakers celebrity Jerry West as an advisor, a basketball operation master known as the "Logo man" and has formulated a long-term strategic plan for the Clippers. With their joint efforts, the Clippers quickly transformed from a playoff margin team to a strong contender in the Western Conference Finals, and the team's market value also rose.

At the same time, Ballmer spent $1.25 billion to start the construction of a new stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles in 2020, which will be officially put into use in 2024. This stadium, called "Integrity Arena", will not only become the new home court of the Clippers, but will also integrate multi-functional facilities such as music, entertainment, and catering to become a new city business card for Los Angeles. In addition, after owning a new arena, it also means that the Clippers no longer have to "stay" under the Lakers.

According to Forbes' 2025 NBA team value rankings, the Clippers' market value is as high as US$5.5 billion, ranking fifth in the league, an increase of US$3.5 billion compared to Ballmer's acquisition. If the Clippers can win the championship in the future, their market value will further increase.

In fact, for Ballmer, who has a net worth of more than 100 billion US dollars, the significance of the Clippers has long exceeded the scope of business. He once publicly stated: "Owning the Clippers is one of the best decisions in my life." This business giant proved with practical actions that real investment lies not only in business returns, but also in the persistent pursuit of love.