Billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper has been the owner of the Carolina Panthers for just over five years. Around this time, the team has had six different head coaches, some team fans would like to see someone else atop the team pyramid. 

The dumping of a drink onto Jaguars fans was just the latest move by an owner who has had his share of questionable publicity lately. 

The firing of Frank Reich just 11 games into his tenure as head coach of the Panthers was a surprise for an owner that has preached patience at other times but been proactive – perhaps too proactive? – at others. 

A recent story in the Charlotte Observer lambasted Tepper’s approach to NFL ownership and called for him to move aside so someone else can have a crack at the Panthers. 

Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has used his resources of NFL contacts developed over 20 years covering the league to update his NFL futures odds on who could be next in the owner’s box if Tepper decides to move on. 

Carolina Panthers Next Owner Odds

These odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

There isn't any indication Tepper, worth just over $20 billion, is planning to sell the team. He wants to build a winner in Charlotte, he has said. But he certainly doesn't appear to be enjoying himself. 

The team is 31-67 since Tepper took over ownership, and they spent resources trading up for Bryce Young, who hasn't played like the No. 1 overall pick he was. Then again, one could argue the supporting cast wasn't built up enough to support such an inexperienced QB. 

The throwing of a cup at an opposing team's fan could have other NFL owners looking to make a chance, especially if they believe it could hurt their bottom lines. 

"(The cup throwing incident) was an illogical, rushed, emotional response that puts him and his decision-making under further scrutiny and gives partial context as to why the Panthers have been so dysfunctional the past few years," Yahoo's Charles McDonald wrote. 

Panthers' Potential Next Owners

If Tepper decides he doesn't need this headache anymore, there are other billionaires who could jump into the fray to own an NFL team. 

Jeff Bezos is worth nearly $200 billion, so purchasing anything is within his reach. He wants to own his own team. His dream, supposedly, was to own the Washington Commanders. But a private feud with owner Daniel Snyder may have kept Bezos out of the running. There will be no such drama for the founder of Amazon if the Panthers are for sale. 

Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano, billionaire co-founders of Clearlake Capital, want to own an NFL team. They reportedly made a bid on two separate occasions to acquire the Commanders but were thwarted each time. They also wanted to get the Broncos, but the Walton family won that round. If Tepper looks to sell, he can expect an offer from this tandem. 

Los Angeles Clippers owner and Microsoft co-founder Steve Ballmer is the richest team owner in American sports, worth nearly $100 billion. He examined possibly purchasing the Broncos, so his interest in joining the NFL ranks is there.

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Mark Rein is co-founder of Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, among others, and is co-owner of the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL. His net worth is just over $1 billion – well under what’s needed to own an NFL team – but his interest in sports and connection to the area make him a viable candidate who could attract strong investors. 

Equity and hedge fund executives Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall became majority owners of the Charlotte Hornets earlier in 2023. Plotkin was part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks prior to that. Neither of them has Charlotte connections, but if the Hornets' investment works, they could eventually lead a group into the crown jewel of American pro sports. 

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is a New Yorker through and through, but the Jets and the Giants aren’t for sale, and Charlotte is a quick direct flight from NYC. His proactive ownership approach could be welcomed, even if Tepper’s style has been similar.

Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner, has minority ownership in the Dallas Cowboys and once looked into purchasing the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs. He hasn’t been mentioned as a serious contender in recent NFL team purchases, but one never knows when the bug will hit. 

Golden State Warriors phenom Steph Curry, who went to high school in Charlotte and played collegiately at Davidson (N.C.), and pro wrestling mega-legend Ric Flair, who lives in Charlotte, would get huge fan reactions. Neither can afford the team on their own, but each can be the welcomed face of a local leadership group. 

Or perhaps the NFL has gotten to Taylor Swift, who has been attending Kansas City Chiefs games and, from the constant showing inside the suites, is having a fantastic time. The billionaire songstress could head an ownership squad – one that the NFL would surely greenlight immediately. 

The Field includes others who have been thwarted in previous NFL ownership attempts, including John Henry and Byron Allen.