Private equity billionaire Antony Ressler is prepping a bid for the Los Angeles Clippers, two sources told The Post.
Ressler is a co-founder of the Los Angeles investment firm Ares Management, named after the Greek god of war, which has $74 billion under management, and is said to be a huge sports fan.
While Ressler’s interest in bidding for the team was not previously known, he is “going to be aggressive” about making a bid, said a person familiar with the situation.
The NBA is trying to force the disgraced 80-year-old Donald Sterling to sell the team after tapes of him making racist remarks became public.
Sterling, who at first was thought to be ready to fight his ouster, this week indicated he will move to sell the team before NBA owners vote to toss him from the league.
The NBA board of governors is set to meet on June 3 to discuss what to do about the situation.
The sale of the Clippers has attracted the interest of several deep-pockets Hollywood and business types — punching some to think the team could sell for close to $1 billion, well above the $575 million value Forbes magazine place on the franchise in January.
Ressler is the brother-in-law of Leon Black, with whom he co-founded Apollo Global Management.
Ressler, 54, is married to actress Jami Gertz. He also made a bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to reports.
“He’s going to aggressively go after it,” said one source, referring to Ressler’s interest in the Clippers.
Other high-net-worth individuals said to be circling the asset include Larry Ellison, who could team up with David Geffen and Oprah Winfrey; former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer; and Magic Johnson and executives at Guggenheim Partners, who teamed up to buy the LA Dodgers.
A spokesman for Ares declined comment.