Madoff could have been Mets part-owner February, 5, 2011 By Adam Rubin When Fred Wilpon and family bought out Nelson Doubleday's half of Mets ownership in 2002, Wilpon offered Bernard Madoff a chance to buy into the Mets. Madoff, who otherwise invested $12 million in alleged funny money with Sterling businesses, declined. Here's the exact passage in the lawsuit: The only time Sterling offered Madoff an opportunity to invest that he declined was in the Mets, when in 2002, Doubleday sold its 50% ownership of the Mets and Sterling offered Madoff partial ownership interests in the franchise.