A New Chapter Begins: Mark Walter’s $10 Billion Takeover of the Los Angeles Lakers

19 June 2025

Mark Walter / Kirby Lee / USA today sports

In a seismic shift that reverberates far beyond the basketball court, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially changed hands. The storied franchise is now majority-owned by billionaire financier Mark Walter, ushering in an era defined by ambition, strategy, and swagger. The $10 billion sale eclipses all prior transactions in U.S. professional sports and marks a turning point in how we value athletic brands.

Walter, a seasoned sports impresario who already owns the Dodgers and co-owns Chelsea FC and the WNBA’s Sparks, first dipped a toe into the Lakers' waters in 2021. He and investment partner Todd Boehly acquired a 27 percent stake then, establishing a powerful position that included the right of first refusal on the majority share. Now, through his firm TWG Global, Walter has exercised that right, stepping up to claim control in what is being hailed as a record-breaking deal and a bold statement of intent

While Walter assumes majority ownership, Jeanie Buss will retain a controlling stake of just over 15 percent, enabling her to remain team governor. This continuity offers relief to die-hard fans who may fear a jarring cultural shift. Under Buss’s guidance, the Lakers won their 17th NBA championship in 2020, continuing a dynasty that began under her father, the legendary Jerry Buss, who purchased the team in 1979

Magic Johnson, the franchise’s iconic face and a minority stakeholder, praised the transition, writing that Walter is “the best caretaker of the Laker brand” and applauding his competitive drive. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed the sentiment, calling Walter's leadership “a very exciting day for the Lakers and the city of Los Angeles” These endorsements reinforce Walter’s credibility not just as an investor but as a visionary aligned with championship culture.

Financially, the acquisition reflects basketball’s evolution into a multibillion-dollar industry. Just months ago, the Boston Celtics were sold at a historic $6.1 billion. Now, with the Lakers’ valuation nearly doubling that figure, the league’s value proposition is undeniable. The recent $77 billion television rights deal, which sees teams receiving around $140 million annually with the potential to grow to $290 million has set the stage for ownership valuations once deemed speculative.

Walter’s expertise spans multiple athletic arenas MLB, WNBA, Premier League soccer, and now the NBA. This cross-portfolio approach underscores a broader strategy: to build an ecosystem of star-studded, market-dominant sports brands. In an era when live-sports content remains one of the few antidotes to streaming fatigue, Walter’s expansion is both prescient and opportunistic .

Yet this moment is not merely transactional. It's a reflection of the Buss legacy and the complexities of sustaining a family-owned empire in today’s corporate sports world. Jeanie Buss has steered the team through highs and lows, from courtroom battles with her brothers to new front-office philosophies while maintaining competitive success. That legacy now enters a new phase with Walter at the helm .

LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the Lakers' two generational talents, are central to what lies ahead. LeBron, at 40, remains the franchise cornerstone, while Dončić could propel the team to another level. The pair embody both continuity and evolution, as Walter promises a “championship-calibre” squad every year. The expectation is clear: talent, resources, and a global vision all converge in pursuit of sustained excellence.

The ripple effects are already clear: rival franchises reevaluate their valuations, TV deals are rewritten on spreadsheets with bigger numbers, and investment flows increasingly look toward sports as ripe asset classes. The Lakers’ sale signals that America’s pastime is no longer constrained by attendance or merchandise, it’s a media-first operation with a global footprint .

As the final signatures are made and Walter officially steps onto the court, the world watches. Fans want to know: will this ownership be a continuation of the “Showtime” spirit or a departure? Will the glamor of Hollywood finally match the success in the standings? Can celebrity transcend basketball? The foundations are set. Now, every draft decision, championship run, and business move will be scrutinized in light of this historic transition.

There’s an unmet promise in the crisp glimmer of gold and purple: on paper, this is the richest franchise in history. The benchmark has been reset. Whether Walter’s stewardship delivers on the legacy and whether NBA moguls take note is now the story unfolding.