- Mark Walter acquires majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers
- Deal worth $10 billion sets a new record for sports franchise sale
- Jeanie Buss remains in her role as Governor despite change in control
Key Takeaways:
Mark Walter, CEO and chairman of the diversified holding company TWG Global, is entering an agreement to buy majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers in a record $10 billion deal — the largest sale of a sports franchise in history. Despite the change in control, Jeanie Buss will continue to serve as the team’s Governor.
The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Lakers to Mark Walter, who also owns the Dodgers, per @ShamsCharania
Jeanie Buss will continue to serve in her role as Governor after the sale pic.twitter.com/UncPhvM4fR
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 18, 2025
Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks, holds additional stakes in the Billie Jean King Cup, Cadillac Formula 1, and the professional women’s hockey league in the U.S.
The Buss family has led the Lakers since 1979, when the late Jerry Buss purchased the team for $67 million. Following his death in 2013, Jeanie Buss assumed control of the organisation, with brother Jim Buss also playing a role for a time.
The blockbuster deal comes amid a series of high-value NBA franchise sales in recent years, including the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion and the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion. With the Lakers now valued at $10 billion, the bar for franchise transactions has been raised to an unprecedented level.