Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is reportedly one of the five serious bidders for the Los Angeles Clippers franchise, which is currently on sale after the infamous racism case involving team owner Donald Sterling.

According to Forbes, Ballmer is one of the strongest candidates to buy the Clippers franchise after submitting a bid worth $1.8 billion earlier this week.

"Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has offered $1.8 billion for the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a person familiar with Ballmer's interest in the NBA team. Ballmer, who retired as Microsoft's CEO four months ago has a net worth of $20 billion," Forbes said.

Sources indicated that Shelly Sterling, the wife of the banned Clippers owner, received strong offers ranging from $1 billion to $2 billion, which means that Ballmer's bid is one of the highest, if not the highest, offer.

"Another source, with intimate knowledge of the bids that Rochelle Sterling has thus far received for the basketball team, said offers have come in between $1 billion and $2 billion and that the Ballmer package is strong," Forbes said.

Ballmer has been involved in previous biddings for an NBA franchise. He was also one of the strongest bidders for the Sacramento Kings franchise, but his bid to move the team to Seattle did not succeed.

When asked if he is planning to move the franchise should he purchase the Clippers, Ballmer said that it is not a part of his plan, insisting that moving the franchise away from Los Angeles will hurt the franchise's value.

Aside from Ballmer, ESPN reported that the group led by Oprah Winfrey, music mogul David Geffen and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is also another strong bidder for the Clippers franchise.

According to reports, the group has also added Todd Boehly and Mark Walter of Guggenheim executives, Laurene Jobs, Elaine Wynn, Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Beats by Dre.

Former NBA superstar Grant Hill has also reportedly formed an ownership group, which includes billionaires Tony Ressler and Bruce Karsh, and has officially submitted a bid as well.

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