By Brooks Welch

Sad news for those rooting for billionaire Robert F. Smith’s bid for the Denver Broncos, the entrepreneur’s plans have been thwarted by Walmart Heir Rob Walton.

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reported that Walton, the former chairperson of Walmart Inc. and the oldest of Sam Walton, the founder of the Walmart chain stores, is ranked as the 17th wealthiest individual globally, with a net worth of $69.1 billion.

As reported by the NY Post, Walton is expected to submit a Broncos bid on Friday worth more than $4 billion — the highest price ever paid for a professional sports team, according to sources close to the situation.

The Broncos have set Friday as the deadline for opening bids and are only accepting offers that are for more than $4 billion, a source closely following the situation said.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, have earnestly been courting Smith, 59, owner of Vista Equity Partners, a private-equity firm, to become the first African-American to own an NFL team, the NY Post reports.

the New York Post also reported that if  Smith still decides to go forward with his bid. In that case, he will be tasked with raising a $20 billion acquisition, and even with his net worth of $6.7 billion, the league requires owners to pay $1 billion in debt and 33 percent of equity on a team.