A few months ago, Wes Edens offered a contract ultimatum to star Giannis Antetokounmpo, as his future remains uncertain. This is all legal and part and parcel of the NBA. But behind the scenes, the billionaire owner of the Milwaukee Bucks was allegedly blackmailed for his short fling. It had an initial settlement, which was later changed, involvement of the police, and currently it has led to a house arrest.

Prosecutors stated that Edens had a relationship with Changli “Sophia” Luo. The founder of One World Initiative Advocacy, who lived in New York City. They became a pair after she apparently slid into his LinkedIn DMs in 2022. During one of their interactions, Edens even stated that it was fun to own a sports team. He saw a rise after he invested in subprime loans after the 2008-09 financial crisis, and spent billions to build a private passenger railway in Florida. For just $550 million, the 64-year-old acquired the Bucks in 2014 and used a similar strategy to co-own the English Premier League Club Aston Villa. The communication eventually led to a meetup.

Lou even sent a passionate love letter. “I never told you I love you, and tonight I want to tell you that, I have been restraining my feeling [sic] for you, as I do love you from the bottom of my heart!” Luo wrote to Edens. But the Bucks owner never reciprocated similar feelings, nor did he send a reply to that letter, and it led to trouble between the two.

Reports reveal that she threatened him for months and allegedly blackmailed him to publicize their NSFW videos and photos. Wes Edens even agreed to pay Luo $6.5 million, including $1 million upfront, following a Zoom mediation overseen by a former judge. But things spiraled, and Luo apparently threatened to inform the family and investors to further humiliate Edens. “I am sure your family and business partners will learn about you and your misdeeds from these interviews and will provide exposure that will taint your record forever,” she wrote.

She even made demands of $1.2 billion, half of Edens’ estimated $2.5 billion fortune, according to the criminal complaint. In fact, in November 2023, the reports claim that Luo used a fake name to gain access to the doctor’s office where Edens’s then-girlfriend worked. During their interaction, Luo described the Bucks owner as a terrible person. She did the same and apparently visited Eden’s ex-wife as well. Because of the safety of his own and his loved ones, the Bucks owner approached the police.

 

“Last May, FBI agents searched Luo’s apartment and found a phone hidden in a laundry basket and another in a box of sanitary pads, according to prosecutors.” They arrested Luo on June 14 at JFK International Airport as she tried to board a flight to China. She is charged with four counts, including blackmail and destruction of records, and has pleaded not guilty. The Chinese native was released on a $500K bond and is currently on house arrest. There is no official statement from Wes Edens, but a spokesperson provided an update.

“Mr. Edens will be making no comment on the case as the indictment speaks for itself with respect to the charges against the defendant.” They said Edens is expected to testify at Luo’s trial later this year.

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