In a dramatic turn of events that has stunned the NFL world, Elon Musk has been officially banned from all Green Bay Packers-related events following his unsolicited $5 billion bid to buy the team, as announced by the Packers organization on March 27, 2025. The decision, confirmed by team president Mark Murphy during a press conference at Lambeau Field, comes after Musk, the Tesla CEO and world’s richest man, reportedly attempted to purchase the iconic franchise, a move that clashed with the Packers’ unique fan-owned structure and sparked outrage among loyal supporters.
Musk’s bid, though substantial, was a non-starter for the Packers, who are the NFL’s only publicly owned team, with over 537,000 shareholders holding more than 5 million shares as of 2024. The team’s bylaws explicitly prohibit any individual from owning more than 200,000 shares, a safeguard designed to prevent a single entity—like Musk—from taking control. “The Packers are not for sale, and they never will be,” Murphy declared, his voice firm. “Elon Musk’s attempt to buy the team undermines our legacy and the trust of our fans. Effective immediately, he is barred from all team events, including games, practices, and shareholder meetings.”
The billionaire’s interest in the Packers emerged amid his growing influence in sports and politics, including his recent role in Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI. Sources suggest Musk saw the Packers as a “legacy investment,” aiming to rebrand Lambeau Field as “Tesla Stadium” and integrate SpaceX technology into fan experiences, such as VR broadcasts from Mars. However, the bid—far below the team’s $6.5 billion valuation per Forbes—drew immediate backlash. Fans on social media erupted: “Musk can’t buy our soul!” one wrote, echoing a 2021 sentiment that celebrated the team’s fan-owned model as a shield against such takeovers.
Musk, whose net worth sits at $442 billion, responded on X, calling the ban “a petty overreaction” and hinting at legal action. “I offered to elevate the Packers into the future—they chose the past,” he posted. The NFL, wary of Musk’s recent controversies, including his $1 million voter giveaways, has stayed silent, but the league’s history of protecting team autonomy suggests little support for Musk’s ambitions. As the Packers welcome back Brett Favre to assist Matt LaFleur, Musk’s ban marks a firm stand—Green Bay’s legacy remains in the hands of its fans, not a billionaire’s checkbook.
