Los Angeles Lakers Sell In Historic Multi-Billion Dollar Deal That Nobody Saw Coming: REPORT

Mark Walter is the undisputed king of L.A.

The Buss family have agreed on a deal to sell Los Angeles Lakers majority ownership to TWG Global’s Mark Walter, who currently owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, for a $10 billion franchise valuation, according to a report Wednesday from ESPN’s Shams Charania. The $10B amount is the most-ever for a purchased professional sports organization in the United States.

A minority share of the franchise, a little more than 15%, will stay with the Buss family for a limited stretch, per ESPN.

Also a part of the deal is keeping Jeannie Buss on as the governor of the Lakers with her maintaining leadership for “at least a number of years,” per the report from ESPN. (RELATED: Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Throws Criticism At Stephen A. Smith For Ripping Memphis As Unsafe)

TWG Global’s CEO and chairman, Walter has been a Lakers stakeholder since 2021, buying up 26% of the team from Phil Anschutz. That’s when Walter landed a right of first refusal when it came to majority ownership.

Walter and TWG Global now own the Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, English Premier League soccer club Chelsea, TWG Motorsports (including Cadillac Formula 1) and the entire Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Since 1979, the Buss family have been the owners of the Lakers, being bought for $67.5 million from Jack Kent Cooke.

Reporting for @SportsCenter on the Los Angeles Lakers’ historic $10 billion sale and what it means, including the Buss family retaining just over 15% of minority ownership: pic.twitter.com/UHZLyiU7ZZ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2025

Kendrick Lamar can say what he wants, but he’s no Mark Walter — the REAL king of Los Angeles.