Highest total ever
LA Lakers change ownership for $10 billion
October 31, 2025, 9:18 a.m
Mark Walter is expanding his sports portfolio. After baseball, WNBA and Formula 1, the US billionaire is now also taking over an NBA team. The legendary Los Angeles Lakers are sold for a record sum.
The record sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to billionaire Mark Walter is perfect. The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the deal, the North American professional basketball league announced. The Lakers are reportedly changing hands for around ten billion US dollars (8.7 billion euros), more money has never been paid for a franchise in US sports or any other club in the world.
The 17-time champion goes to Walter from the Buss Family Trust, who also owns shares in the Los Angeles Dodgers (baseball), the Los Angeles Sparks (women’s basketball) and the future Formula 1 team Cadillac. Walter previously held a minority stake in the Lakers. According to the statement, Jeanie Buss remains president and will continue to manage day-to-day operations “for the foreseeable future.” An agreement had already been reached at the end of June.
Owned by the Buss family since 1979
“The Los Angeles Lakers are among the most iconic franchises in all of sports,” said Walter, adding that the club is “characterized by a history of excellence and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Few teams have such a rich heritage and global influence as the Lakers, and it is an honor to work with Jeanie Buss to maintain that excellence and set the standard for success in this new era – on and off the court.”
The Lakers had been owned by the Buss family since 1979. At that time, Jerry Buss bought the franchise from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million and, among other things, also received the Los Angeles Kings from the NHL.
Two of the most dominant basketball players in the world, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, are currently wearing the iconic Lakers jersey. The 40-year-old James led LA to the 17th championship in club history in 2020, and Doncic, who was surprisingly released by the Dallas Mavericks in the spring, is supposed to lead the team into the next era of success.
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