Bashful Billionaires Battle to Own NFL Team

  • Alan Kestenbaum, Ben Navarro among those bidding for Panthers
  • Hedge fund titan David Tepper still in running to buy team

Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers

Photographer: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images North America
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Sky-high bidding for the Carolina Panthers has pushed two of America’s more private billionaires into the spotlight.

Offers have topped $2.5 billion as at least three tycoons tussle for the National Football League team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Two relative unknowns -- industrialist Alan Kestenbaum and Ben Navarro, founder of Sherman Financial Group LLC -- have each proposed more than that amount, while hedge fund titan David Tepper submitted a bid that is reportedly lower.