Introduction
In a seismic shift for professional sports, Mark Walter, the enigmatic billionaire financier behind Guggenheim Partners and TWG Global, has agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers from the iconic Buss family—wrapping up a deal valued at an astonishing $10 billion. This historic acquisition eclipses all prior major‑league franchise transactions and marks a pivotal chapter in the storied legacies of both the Lakers and the Dodgers.
While Jeanie Buss, daughter of legendary owner Jerry Buss, remains team governor, Walter’s ascension symbolizes a new era—one anchored in strategic depth and sustained excellence. This blog post dives into the who, what, how, and why behind this blockbuster “lakers sold” story, anchored in robust reporting and rich historical context.
1. Background: Who Is Mark Walter?
1.1 Early Life & Education
Born in 1960 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mark Richard Walter was raised in a working‑class family. A Creighton University graduate (BBA, 1982) and Northwestern University Law School alumnus (JD, 1985), he later merged his early Chicago‑based investment firm with the Guggenheim family office. The result: Guggenheim Partners, a global firm managing over $325 billion in assets forbes.comhindustantimes.com+15m.economictimes.com+15silverscreenandroll.com+15silverscreenandroll.com+9washingtonpost.com+9nypost.com+9bild.de+12en.wikipedia.org+12nypost.com+12merca20.com+1apnews.com+1.
1.2 Rise Through Guggenheim & TWG Global
As CEO, Walter transformed Guggenheim into a financial services powerhouse. He also co‑founded TWG Global, a multinational holding vehicle with investments across sports, AI, media, insurance, and entertainment—with Walter holding a ~21% stake nypost.com.
2. Walter’s Sports Empire Before the Lakers Deal
2.1 Dodgers Dynasty
In 2012, Walter led teams under Guggenheim Baseball Management, along with Magic Johnson and Todd Boehly, to acquire the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.15 billion—the then‑record price. Under his leadership, the Dodgers captured World Series titles in 2020 and 2024, and dominated the NL West en.wikipedia.org+6en.wikipedia.org+6nypost.com+6.
2.2 Other Global Sports Ventures
Walter’s passion stretches across sports:
- Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) co‑owned with Johnson since 2014 (won 2016 title) latimes.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6si.com+6.
- Stake in Chelsea FC under BlueCo consortium en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2nypost.com+2.
- Investment in the Professional Women’s Hockey League—featuring the “Walter Cup” apnews.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3nypost.com+3.
- Motorsports via TWG Motorsports and Cadillac Formula 1 team (from 2026) sports.yahoo.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6espn.com+6.
3. The Historic Lakers Sale: “lakers sale” Unfolded
3.1 Buss Family’s Generational Legacy
Since Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million, the franchise has weathered golden eras—from Showtime in the 1980s to the Kobe‑led championships and recent LeBron‑Anthony Davis era triumphs. Following Jerry’s death (2013), control passed to his children, with Jeanie Buss emerging as governor after a storied sibling power struggle si.com+12bild.de+12espn.com+12.
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3.2 Minority Stake to Majority Takeover
In 2021, Walter and Boehly acquired ~27% from Phil Anschutz for $1.35 billion—while securing a right of first refusal should the Buss family sell apnews.com+13bild.de+13en.wikipedia.org+13.
3.3 $10 Billion Deal Details
Breaking news from multiple outlets (ESPN, FT, People, AP, etc.) confirms Walter agreed to acquire majority control of Lakers at ~ $10 billion. The Buss family retains ~15% minority stake, with Jeanie licensed to remain in her governing role for years to come washingtonpost.com+8people.com+8merca20.com+8.
3.4 Market‑Shattering Valuation
This sale sets a new benchmark—even surpassing the $6.1 billion Celtics sale earlier in 2025—claiming the title of the most expensive sports franchise ever sold in the U.S. si.com+4bild.de+4washingtonpost.com+4.
4. Why Walter? Motivations & Strategy
4.1 A Champion of Championships
Magic Johnson hailed Walter’s track record, stating, “Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand…he will put in the resources needed to win!” en.wikipedia.org+2espn.com+2foxsports.com+2.
4.2 Synergies Across Los Angeles Sports
Owning both the Dodgers and Lakers positions Walter uniquely to exploit cross‑marketing, venue advantages, and global brand elevation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emphasized Walter’s “very exciting day” for L.A. sport m.economictimes.com+8apnews.com+8ft.com+8.
4.3 Philanthropy & Legacy
Walter’s proven commitment to community initiatives—such as Dodgers Foundation and LA Rises—signals an alignment with the Buss family’s legacy of civic engagement washingtonpost.com+13en.wikipedia.org+13nypost.com+13.
5. The Players Left Behind
5.1 Jeanie Buss
Remaining team governor ensures continuity for organizational culture and fan engagement merca20.com+1apnews.com+1.
5.2 Buss Family Net Worth & Ownership
The Buss family’s emotional and financial valuation reflects decades of accumulation—though all signs point to a graceful passing of the torch ft.com+1espn.com+1.
5.3 Magic Johnson
As both Lakers legend and Dodgers partner, Johnson lends credibility and continuity to the transition .
6. What This Means for Lakers & “lakers news”
6.1 Budget for Championships
Expect a renewed big‑market mindset, with Walter’s Dodgers playbook hinting at aggressive free agency and analytics investment .
6.2 Roster & Facilities
With luxury‑tax flexibility, watch for new additions, revamped training centers, and state‑of‑the‑art player amenities—echoing the Dodgers’ own infrastructure upgrades .
6.3 Global Brand Expansion
Walter’s empire—spanning MLB, NBA, Premier League, and Formula 1—underscores his skill in magnifying athlete brands and team global reach ft.com.
7. How Much Did Jerry Buss Pay? A Story of Exponential Growth
From $67.5 million in 1979 to $10 billion today—the Lakers’ valuation rise reflects both franchise evolution and hyper‑inflation in sports. In comparison, Jerry Buss’s initial deal was part of intertwined ownership that also included the Forum and Kings elpais.com+14bild.de+14latimes.com+14.
8. Mark Walter Net Worth & TWG Global’s Endgame
8.1 Net Worth
Estimates vary: Bloomberg places Walter at ~$12.4 billion, while Forbes estimates $6.1 billion. His fortune spans diversified assets beyond sports si.com+2m.economictimes.com+2hindustantimes.com+2.
8.2 TWG Global Vision
As CEO, Walter channels investments across sports, AI, and entertainment—leveraging synergy and data-driven strategies as reported by FT ft.com.
9. Broader Context: Most Valuable Sports Franchises
The Lakers now sit atop the most valuable sports franchises in America—just ahead of the Celtics, Dodgers, and other billion‑dollar teams washingtonpost.com.
10. The Final Word: “who bought the lakers” & “who owns the los angeles lakers” Answered
Mark Walter is now the new ownership figure behind the Los Angeles Lakers—a billionaire who already owns the Dodgers, co-leads Chelsea FC and the Sparks, and controls a global sports empire under TWG Global. Jeanie Buss retains governance and emotional ties to the franchise’s past. The Lakers’ future, however, is now firmly in Walter’s hands—a transformative figure with resources, vision, and a legacy of success.
🔗 Reference
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Mark Walter?
A: A billionaire CEO of Guggenheim Partners and TWG Global, Walter owns the Dodgers, co‑owns Chelsea FC, Sparks, and now the Lakers. merca20.com+1nypost.com+1sports.yahoo.com+12en.wikipedia.org+12nypost.com+12timesofindia.indiatimes.com+9espn.com+9nypost.com+9
Q2: What is Mark Walter’s net worth?
A: Estimates range from $6.1 billion (Forbes) to $12.5 billion (Bloomberg). si.com
Q3: How much did Jerry Buss pay for the Lakers?
A: $67.5 million in 1979, part of a sale including the Forum and Kings. foxsports.com+4bild.de+4latimes.com+4
Q4: How much are the Lakers worth now?
A: Approximately $10 billion—making it the most expensive sports franchise sale in U.S. history. cbsnews.com+10ft.com+10nypost.com+10
Q5: Why did the Buss family sell now?
A: To pass the franchise to a trusted, resource‑rich owner capable of sustaining championship‑level investment while preserving their legacy via retained stake and governance.
Q6: Will Jeanie Buss remain involved?
A: Yes—she’ll continue as governor with a ~15% ownership stake and day‑to‑day role. apnews.com+1latimes.com+1merca20.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1
Q7: Why is Mark Walter buying the Lakers?
A: To consolidate Los Angeles’ top sports assets, leverage cross‑brand opportunities, and apply his winning formula from the Dodgers to the NBA.
Q8: How does this compare to other team sales?
A: It eclipses the $6.1 billion Celtics deal and dwarfs other major sales like the Mavericks ($3.5 billion) and Bucks ($3.5 billion).
