If billionaires like Phil Knight (Oregon) and Dennis Albaugh (Iowa State) can bankroll the NIL of schools they have a passion for or connection to, how long until billionaires without connections to a particular school start throwing their money around? These guys tend to be competitive, and professional sports has shown us they sometimes like to throw their money around in order to associate with a winner. College NIL could become analogous to buying a professional sports franchise for the ego kick (winning championships) but without some of the other revenue payoffs or tax breaks. Would it be worth it?
And would this support be limited to U.S. billionaires? Is there any legal or practical reason (other than a school turning up their nose at the impropriety of it all), for example, that a Saudi or Emirati prince couldn't decide to fund a school's NIL?
And would this support be limited to U.S. billionaires? Is there any legal or practical reason (other than a school turning up their nose at the impropriety of it all), for example, that a Saudi or Emirati prince couldn't decide to fund a school's NIL?