HERE’S THE SCOOP ON THE HASLAMS
By STEVE KING
Sportsillustrated.com has some great articles, especially about football, and that’s certainly the case with an interesting piece recently that details all the pertinent info on the owners of NFL teams.
That includes, of course, Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.
Here’s what the SI writers had to say about the Haslams:
*Education: Jimmy and Dee: University of Tennessee.
*How They Acquired the Franchise: The Haslams purchased the Browns from Randy Lerner for $1.05 billion in 2012. At the time, he received a 70% share of the team, with the remaining 30% coming in ’16.
*Net Worth: $3.7 billion (per Forbes in 2018).
*Franchise Valuation: $1.95 billion (per Forbes in 2017).
*How They Made Their Money: Jimmy Haslam (III) is the son of Jim Haslam, Jr., who founded Pilot Corp (the largest diesel fuel retailer in America) in 1958. The elder Haslam initiated his soon-to-be-famous truck stop company by buying one Virginia gas station for $6,000. Jimmy joined the company in ’76 and became vice president in ’80. Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway bought a 38.6% stake of Pilot Corp in October 2017, and by ’23, the Haslams will own only 20% of the company.
Pilot Corp became embroiled in a fraud scandal in early 2013, just six months after Haslams’ purchase of the Browns was approved. “No prosecuting authority has found reason to bring charges against Mr. Haslam … so that’s where we leave it,” an NFL official told CBS’s Jason La Canfora.
*In the Owner’s Words: “The fact that this franchise has not done better … the blame lies squarely with me,” Jimmy said after the 2015 season. “Because ultimately it’s the head person who’s responsible for everything.” The team has gone 1-31 in the two seasons since.
*Political Donations: Jimmy’s brother Bill, a Republican, is the current governor of Tennessee. Jimmy, his father and his brother teamed up to give $112.5K to the American Crossroads super PAC, a conservative group that spent nearly $85 million campaigning against Barack Obama in 2012. Jim, Jimmy and Dee also gave $100K in total to the Jeb Bush super PAC Right to Rise in ’16. Jim and Jimmy have also given $41K combined to the conservative Volunteer PAC from ’01 to ’06.
*NFL Committees: Jimmy: Investment Committee (Chairman); Media Committee, Business Ventures Committee, Hall of Fame Committee; Dee:Legislative Committee, Conduct Committee.
