Lakersโ Sold for Record-Breaking $10 Billion
the NBA board ofโค Governors โhas โunanimously approved the sale of the Los Angeles Lakersโฃ to โขMark Walter, CEOโค of investment group TWG Global, for a historic $10 billion. This transaction marks the highest โprice ever paid for a controlling stake in a team sports franchise,surpassing all โprevious records. Despite this valuation, Forbes estimates the Golden State Warriors currently hold the position of the NBA’s most โฃvaluable team.
The agreement, initially reached in June, sees Walter as the lead owner, with Todd Boehly joining as a minority partner. The Bussโ family will retain approximatelyโ 15% ownership โฃof the Lakers, and Jeanie Bussโฃ will continue to serve โas the club’s governor.
Walter and Boehly previouslyโ acquired a 27% stake in the Lakers. In 2021, Phil Anschutz held stock in the team, valuing it at $5.5 billion, and possessed the right ofโค first refusal on any further shares – a right that wasโข transferredโข as part of this latest deal.
This sale eclipses the previous โขrecord set by the Boston Celtics, whose deal closed in August with an initial valuation of $6.1 billion and a combined valuation approaching $6.5โ billion.
The Lakers, a โคprominent brand in the Los Angeles market, have a richโค history dating back to Jerry Buss’s acquisition of โtheโฃ franchise from Jack Kentโข Cooke in 1979โ for $67.5โค million. That โtransaction also included the los Angeles โKings and the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.
The โLakers generated an estimated $618 โmillion in revenue last season,net of income distribution. While the sale price is $10 billion, โขsome U.S. bankers, according to Forbes, suggestโ a combined valuation – factoringโข in Walter’s initial 2021 investmentโ – between $8 billion and $9 billion may more accurately reflect the franchise’s true worth.
Walter also holds a majority โownership โstake in โฃthe Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), with Boehly as aโ partner. Theโข two โare also co-owners of the Los Angelesโค Sparks โ(WNBA) and partnered with Clearlake Capital to purchase Chelsea FC in 2022 for $3.16 billion. Walter is โขthe co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, where Boehly previously worked.


