Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested nearly $10 million in Aspiration in March 2023 as the now-bankrupt company was bleeding cash, laying off employees, and struggling to raise funds, according to legal filings reviewed by The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov and corroborated by a former company executive.
Ballmer’s previously unreported financial commitment came three months after Clippers co-owner Dennis Wong reportedly wired Aspiration just under $2 million and 18 months after Ballmer’s initial $50 million investment into the financial technology and sustainability services firm.
Aspiration was months late on a $1.75-million payment to Kawhi Leonard as part of its four-year, $28-million “no-show” endorsement deal with the Clippers star, Pablo Torre reported earlier this week on his podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out.” The company apparently paid Leonard nine days after receiving the funds from Wong.
