The new Los Angeles Lakers owner is billionaire Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners and a seasoned sports investor known for leading the Dodgers to multiple championships.
The Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of a historic shift. Reports say the Buss family is selling a majority ownership stake in the franchise to billionaire Mark Walter for approximately $10 billion. But who exactly is Mark Walter?
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Walter, 65, is a seasoned investor and the CEO and founder of Guggenheim Partners, a global financial services firm managing over $330 billion in assets.
Born in Iowa, Walter earned his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and a doctorate from Northwestern University, where he also serves as a board member.
According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at $6.1 billion, a fortune built primarily through his leadership in the insurance and financial services industries.
Walter’s foray into sports ownership began in 2012 when his investment group, Guggenheim Baseball Management, purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.15 billion—a record for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team at the time.
The group, which included Lakers legend Magic Johnson, turned the Dodgers into a powerhouse, winning World Series titles in 2020 and 2024 while consistently maintaining one of the highest payrolls in baseball.
Walter’s business acumen and willingness to invest in talent have been credited with revitalizing the Dodgers' brand and infrastructure, including major renovations to Dodger Stadium.
Beyond baseball, Walter's sports portfolio is expansive.
He owns a stake in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, which won a championship in 2016, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
He also holds a minority interest in Premier League soccer club Chelsea FC and is involved with the Cadillac Formula 1 team, set to debut in 2026.
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