Almost anything is for sale given enough money.
I assume that's why Washington DC isn't a state?
Washington DC isn't a state because it was decided that it would work best to have the national capital in a special non-state enclave, so as not to make any one state more important than the others.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Purchase
(And yes, the Louisiana Purchase, at 828,000 square miles, is larger than Alaska, at 663,268. Though the nominal price was higher -- $15 million vs. $7.2).
Ellison was robbed blind.
One of the things I quickly learned after leaving the US is that American historical events are viewed very differently in different sides of the world. Maybe some of the french HNers can give the french perspective.
My understanding is just the interpretation of US history books and one grumpy, old frenchman.