The Los Angeles Lakers have set another record — this time for the largest sale of a professional sports team in the world. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Buss family is selling the Lakers to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, for $10 billion. The Buss family is making nearly a 15,000% profit from the sale.
Mark Walter is entering agreement to purchase majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family for a valuation of approximately $10 billion, the largest sale of a professional sports franchise in the world, sources tell ESPN.
$10 billion. https://t.co/mgZkxcdXnp
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2025
Dr. Jerry Buss, who passed away in 2013, originally bought the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million, which also included ownership of the Los Angeles Kings and the Los Angeles Forum. The sale represents a staggering return on investment for the family at 14,714.81%.
Under Buss family ownership, the Lakers became Showtime with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Pat Riley, winning five NBA championships. The early-2000s brought another dynasty as Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson led them to a three-peat. After O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, Bryant would team up with Pau Gasol to capture back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. A decade later, LeBron James delivered their 11th championship during the Buss era.
According to Charania, Jeanie Buss will continue to serve as Lakers governor.
The sale follows another blockbuster transaction involving a legendary NBA franchise — the Boston Celtics were sold for $6.1 billion earlier this year.
With Walter set to become the majority owner and considering what his ownership group has accomplished with the Dodgers to make them one of baseball’s premier franchises, the Purple and Gold appear positioned for continued success.
Matt Higgins worked in national and local news for 15 years. He started out as an overnight production assistant ... More about Matt Higgins