Los Angeles Lakers Set to Transfer Majority Interest to Mark Walter in $10 Billion Historical Deal
Core Point Perspective:
- Sale worth record $10 billion
- Buss family holds 15% minority stake and leadership role
- Walter owned 20% since 2021
- Sale surpasses all other U.S. sports franchise transactions
- Heritage of Lakers under Buss family redefined U.S. basketball culture
- According to Forbes wealth history of Mark Walter
Lakers Undertake Historic Shift with $10B Transaction
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to undergo a monumental shift in ownership. The Buss family has agreed to sell the controlling stake of the storied franchise to billionaire Mark Walter, pegging the team at approximately $10 billion. It is the most expensive sale in U.S. professional sports franchise history.
The Buss family, who have owned the Lakers since 1979, will retain a minority ownership of a little over 15% and be in control of team business for many years to come. Jeanie Buss will continue to be the governor of the Lakers, so while it will be a changing of the ownership group, at least, with her at the helm, there will be some stability of ownership.
Buss Family Legacy Since 1979
In 1979, Jerry Buss bought the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings and The Forum arena from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million. Under the Buss family:
- The Lakers have won 11 NBA Championships
- The Lakers have reached 17 NBA Finals
- The Lakers have attained a symbol of excellence, celebrity status, and sports history
After Jerry Buss’s passing in 2013, control of the club fell to his six children. In 2017, Jeanie Buss was named team governor and proved to be a sharp and shrewd decision-maker.
Mark Walter: The New Face of Lakers Ownership
Mark Walter, TWG Global CEO and Chairman, becomes the Lakers’ majority owner as part of this historic deal. Previously a minority owner since 2021, Walter had previously acquired a 26% stake from Philip Anschutz. The acquisition also included first refusal rights on any subsequent sale of the majority interest.
Walter’s influence reaches many sports enterprises:
- Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, majority owner
- Investor, Chelsea FC, Premier League
- Sponsor of Cadillac Formula 1 team, entering in 2026
- Active interest in eco-tourism, wildlife conservation, and renewable energy
- Co-founder of Guggenheim Capital, managing assets in excess of $340 billion, and leads TWG Global in finance, sport, media, and sustainable agriculture
Unmatched Sports Valuations
The Lakers’ $10 Billion sale value places the Lakers above any prior US franchise sale price:
| Year | Franchise | Price (USD) |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Lakers | $10 Billion |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | $6.1 Billion |
| 2023 | Washington Commanders | $6.05 Billion |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $2.15 Billion |
This $10B valuation is even larger than recent high-profile transactions, including the sale of the Boston Celtics and Washington Commanders, to establish new precedent on valuations in professional sports.
Why Jeanie Buss Chose Walter
Despite being underappreciated for years, Jeanie Buss has navigated the Lakers through ownership challenges tactically. As one of the two female majority owners in the NBA, she:
- Fired her brother Jim Buss in 2017 to reassert leadership
- Hired Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka to reorganize management
- Oversee’s the most significant acquisitions: LeBron James, Anthony Davis
- Won 2020 NBA Championship
Having Walter, a respected individual with a winning history, buy the team is guaranteed to keep the Lakers stable for the long haul and on the competitive forefront.
Jeanie Buss: “The Right Move”
In a style mirroring her father’s fearless legacy, Jeanie Buss oversaw the $10B sale. Her dedication to the franchise ensures its future through an alliance with a vision-minded buyer.
Walter’s stint with the Dodgers, which captured the World Series in 2020 and 2024 while he was at the helm, gives confidence in his ability to maintain the Lakers’ elite class.
NBA Reaction: Magic Johnson and League Insiders Approve
Magic Johnson, an LA Lakers legend and ex-co-owner, backed the deal saying that Walter is a “perfect fit” to maintain the franchise’s image. On Twitter, he tweeted:
“Mark Walter is going to do the right things for the Lakers, the franchise and their fans. For sure, he’s a winner and a visionary.“
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, stated it was a “thrilling day for Los Angeles.”
Mark Walter’s Personal Life and Conservation
Aside from sports, Walter’s wife, Kimbra Walter, and he are highly engaged in wildlife conservation. They run White Oak, a Florida facility with the aim of:
- Preservation of threatened species like cheetahs, rhinos, okapis
- Animal rehabilitation that cannot be released into the wild
- Conservationist training and scientific research
Walter’s philanthropic interest is aligned with development that is sustainable and conservation-oriented.
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A Larger Trend: NBA’s Change of Ownership
The Lakers sale falls under a trend of billion-dollar deals in the NBA that showcases the enormous value and popularity of the league to buyers across the globe. The recent past has witnessed:
- Dallas Mavericks majority stake sold by Mark Cuban for $3.5 billion
- Boston Celtics now open to a $6.1 billion sale process
- Indiana Pacers basking in the league’s second-highest family ownership since 1983
Luka Dončić Trade Implies Competitive Urgency
Prior to the sale, Lakers acquired Luka Dončić in a February blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis. The move shows earnest aspiration to build another championship-caliber roster, aligning with Walter’s aspiration for greatness.
Jeanie Buss Stays in Charge—For Now
ESPN reports the deal includes terms for Jeanie Buss to stay team governor “at least several years.” The family’s minority share ensures continued control, just over purse strings, passed over to Walter.
This is in line with previous circumstances where owners managed some degree of symbolic control following a sale (e.g., Mark Cuban and the Mavericks).
A New Era for the LA Lakers
The sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter for $10 billion breaks the record for purchasing a pro sports franchise. However, new ownership creates a new future for the Lakers, but the culture and competitive legacy of the Lakers will not change.
Under Walter’s guidance, resources, and established track records, the Lakers will go on being the center of global basketball.
The Los Angeles Lakers sold themselves to billionaire Mark Walter, owner of the Dodgers, for $10B; the largest sale ever of a U.S. franchise. One owner, Jeanie Buss, maintained status as team governor. Walter as owner will bring LA Lakers into a new rising era.