American talk show host Oprah Winfrey has added her name to the list of stars looking to buy the Los Angeles Clippers.

After Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned for life by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, a number of people have expressed an interest in the franchise including Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Magic Johnson.

But now Oprah has joined David Geffen and Larry Ellison and formed a consortium to take over the NBA team.

 

Interested party: Oracle CEO Larry Ellison watches the Los Angeles Clippers face the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena on April 24, 2014 in Oakland, California

 

 

Competition: Floyd Mayweather, who is preparing to fight Marcos Maidana, wants to buy the Clippers

The three billionaires have a combined wealth of $60 billion (£35.54b).

Television entrepreneur Winfrey, is joining forces with the world's fifth richest man, Ellison and entertainment mogul Geffen to pry the franchise from Sterling's grip - after he revealed he would not sell the team he bought for $12 million (£7.1m) in 1982.

Mayweather, meanwhile, wants to put the $40 million which is his guaranteed minimum for Saturday night’s fight towards cost to purchase the Clippers.

However, despite the celebrity billionaire interest, Sterling is refusing to sell his team - signaling a lengthy and costly legal battle with the NBA.

 

On the court: The Clippers lead Golden State 3-2 in their first round play-off series

 

 

+12

Adamant: Despite the high level of interest in buying the franchise he has owned for 32-years, Donald Sterling has declared he has zero intention of selling the LA Clippers

Friends: Lary Ellison (left) with his son David and his wife Melody and David Geffen (right) at a screening of the 'Flyboys' in September 2006

NBA commissioner Silver has told Sterling that he wants him to sell the Clippers as part of the extreme sanctions brought against the owner in response to racist comments he was recorded making by a former girlfriend.

'I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him,' Silver said.

The NBA on Tuesday banned Sterling from the game for life and fined him $2.5 million for racist comments that drew a storm of outrage from players, fans and commercial sponsors.

Laying down the law: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Donald Sterling will be banned from the sport of professional basketball for life and will not allowed to be involved in the business of the LA Clippers