Ballmer seeks dismissal of Aspiration investor fraud lawsuit in Los Angeles

Attorneys for LA Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer are asking a tribunal to propulsion retired an capitalist suit that ties him to an alleged fraud involving the now-bankrupt greenish banking institution Aspiration, calling the claims “sensational” and “patently false,” according to tribunal documents.

Why Ballmer is present successful the case

The suit was archetypal filed connected July 9, 2025, by 1 investors aft the institution filed for bankruptcy successful March. The investors accused Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg and others of defrauding them retired of millions. Steve was not primitively named.

That changed aft reports by writer and podcast big Pablo Torre suggested Ballmer’s concern successful Aspiration was connected to an effort to get wealth to prima Kawhi Leonard extracurricular the NBA wage cap. In an amended ailment filed Nov. 3, 2025, the investors added Steve arsenic a defendant, writing: “Plaintiffs would not person invested and/or kept their concern successful (Aspiration) if Steve and Sanberg had disclosed the existent quality of Ballmer’s investment.” The ailment adds, “Ballmer frankincense supported and participated successful Sanberg’s fraud.”

Ballmer and the Clippers person denied immoderate headdress circumvention and said they are cooperating with the NBA’s investigation.

Sponsorship deals and dueling accounts

In September 2021, the Clippers and Aspiration announced a $300 million, 23-year sponsorship woody tied to the team’s caller Inglewood arena, including signage and a jersey patch. That aforesaid month, Ballmer invested $50 cardinal successful the company, the Athletic reported. In April 2022, they signed a abstracted four-year, $28 cardinal sponsorship woody with Leonard.

An unnamed worker who purportedly worked for Aspiration told Torre the Leonard woody “was to circumvent the wage cap.”

In Monday’s filing, Ballmer’s attorneys reason helium was added “in (the investors’) zeal to retrieve assets swindled by Sanberg from anybody with the means to pay,” and accidental “there are nary facts demonstrating an statement betwixt Ballmer and Sanberg to prosecute successful wage headdress circumvention.” They besides write: “While conjecture and unsupported assumptions whitethorn beryllium due successful the satellite of Torre’s podcast, they person nary spot successful a sworn ineligible pleading.”

Sanberg pleaded blameworthy successful October 2025 to 2 counts of ligament fraud, with sentencing acceptable for Feb. 23, 2026. A proceeding successful the Ballmer substance is scheduled for March 9, 2026 successful Los Angeles County Superior Court.