The Many Worlds of Phil Anschutz

13 August 2011 |permalink | email article

One interesting sidebar in Thursday night’s Republican presidential primary debate on the campus of Iowa State University was the surprise identity of the event’s co-sponsor, in addition to right-leaning Fox News. Turns out that The Washington Examiner’s chief political correspondent, Byron York, was one of the panelists and asked the key “raise your hand” question of the candidates on taxes in the debate. The Examiner is part of the Denver-based Publishing Group owned by ultraconservative Republican Philip Anschutz, who Forbes ranks as the 34th richest person in the U.S. with an estimated net worth of $7 billion as of October 2010. He also owns the conservative Weekly Standard, purchased in 2009. 

Anschutz owns stakes in the LA Lakers, LA Kings and venues including Staples Center. His deal to return NFL football to heavily Democratic LA after a 16-year absence, and build a super stadium downtown, hinges on the ability of his AEG group to secure a long-term agreement with a team, possibly the San Diego Chargers. But other obstacles, including a rival stadium bid by billionaire developer Ed Roski 16 miles east in City of Industry, remain. 

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