Why Eli Manning Walked Away from Giants Ownership: The Shocking Price Tag Revealed

When the Giants decided to put 10 percent of the team up for sale, the buzz was immediate—especially since the number 10 jersey, retired in honor of Eli Manning, seemed to suggest he might jump at the chance to buy in. But guess what? That excitement fizzled out quicker than you’d expect. Eli himself admitted the price tag was just too steep to swallow. I mean, a tiny slice—even just one percent—of something pegged at a mind-blowing billion suddenly becomes a monstrous figure. Beyond the cash, Eli pointed out how ownership could clash with his other ventures, like his role with ESPN. Now, talk about a twist—the rivalry with Tom Brady could’ve made for a fascinating plotline here. Yet, Brady, ever the maverick, doesn’t let those conflicts phase him. And the kicker? The Giants weren’t about to roll out any special treatment for a two-time Super Bowl champ. That’s a stark contrast to the ludicrously sweet deal Brady scored when buying into the Raiders at a valuation way below what Eli was facing. It’s a tale of price tags, power moves, and maybe a dash of rivalry turning business—and sports—into an intriguing drama. LEARN MORE

“Basically, it’s too expensive for me,” Eli Manning told CNBC Sport. “These numbers are getting very big. . . . A one-percent stake of something valued at billion — it turns into a very big number.”Speaking of Brady, the fact that the Giants wouldn’t give a two-time Super Bowl winner a sweetheart deal underscores the cool-friend discount Brady got from Raiders owner Mark Davis. Brady bought his piece of a team he never played for at an embarrassingly low .5 billion valuation — roughly a third of the number Eli floated.Eli also pointed out that the purchase would create “a lot of conflicts” with other things he does, including his broadcasting gig at ESPN.Now? Not.The Giants are selling 10 percent of the team. The player for whom the number 10 had been retired was interested in making a purchase.His nemesis, Tom Brady, could have helped Eli navigate those conflicts. (Of course, Brady just ignores them.)