The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold in a historic $10 billion deal, making it the most expensive sports team transaction in United States history. The agreement sees billionaire Mark Walter, CEO of TWG Global, take majority ownership of the iconic NBA franchise.
Walter already owns a 20% stake in the Lakers since 2021 and also has controlling interests in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea Football Club, and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, which will join the grid in 2026. His company confirmed the agreement is in progress.
The Buss family, who purchased the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million, have owned the franchise for 46 years. The team won 11 NBA championships and made 17 NBA Finals appearances during their tenure. Following Jerry Buss’s death in 2013, ownership transferred to his six children via a trust that held a 66% stake. Under the terms of the sale, Jeanie Buss will remain as the team’s governor.
This record-breaking deal surpasses the $6.1 billion sale of the Boston Celtics in March 2025 and the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders in 2023. With its $10 billion valuation, the Lakers now top the list as the highest-valued franchise in US sports history.
Basketball legend Magic Johnson, a former stakeholder in the Lakers, publicly celebrated the news. He said he spoke with Jeanie Buss to congratulate her and praised Mark Walter’s leadership, noting how he built a championship-winning team with the Dodgers.
With LeBron James currently leading the team and Mark Walter stepping in as the primary owner, the Lakers are entering a new era filled with potential and high expectations.
