Mark Walter Becomes New Majority Owner of Lakers in Historic $10 Billion Deal

Mark Walter, pictured above second from left, is recently minted new majority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In fact, he got his unanimous approval from the NBA Board of Governors on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. The combined, landmark sale has now topped that historic value at an astounding $10 billion. This monumental success is more than $6.1 billion, the record Bill Chisholm set when he bought the Boston Celtics in July.

The real reason Walter’s acquisition stands out is the huge financial scale of it. It further underscores his stellar reputation in the rarified air of professional sports ownership. In 2012, he purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.15 billion. Since then, the franchise has ballooned in value and is now estimated to be worth $6.8 billion and $7.73 billion, respectively, according to Forbes and Sportico. With the addition of the Lakers, Walter now owns one of the most valuable collections of professional sports franchises worldwide.

The deal includes the Buss family, who will keep a minority ownership stake of more than 15%. This deal gives Jeanie Buss cover to continue serving as her team’s Governor for the foreseeable future, at least the next five years. It ensures there will be continuity in leadership through this critical transition period. Walter’s willingness to work with Buss demonstrates Walter’s own dedication to excellence. Together, they’re working to redefine what success looks like both on the court and beyond it.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Walter was a great leader. He noted that Walter’s rock-solid loyalty to provide winning championships to Los Angeles never faltered during their tenures. This sentiment is indicative of the league-wide optimism surrounding Walter’s ability to shape the Lakers’ future.

The sale, which is expected to be completed by early next year, removes the Buss family’s controlling interest in the Lakers, one of the league’s most storied franchises. When Jerry Buss bought the Lakers, he paid $67.5 million. He gained control of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the Forum arena as part of that deal. Walter’s purchase represents a dramatic shift in valuation for one of basketball’s premier franchises.