- Businessman Mark Walter is presenting a record-shattering $10 billion bid to acquire a controlling share of the Los Angeles Lakers.
- The NBA’s Advisory Finance Committee is reviewing the offer, with a final vote by the Board of Governors possible by the end of next week.
- If approved, the $10 billion valuation would become the largest purchase of a sports franchise in history, dwarfing previous records.
- The Buss family will retain a minority stake of over 15%, with Jeanie Buss continuing in her role as team governor.
A New Era for the Lakers
In a move set to redefine the landscape of professional sports ownership, businessman Mark Walter is scheduled to present his monumental $10 billion bid to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA’s Advisory Finance Committee. According to sources close to the situation, the league could approve him as the franchise’s new majority owner by the end of the month, marking a historic shift for one of basketball’s most storied teams.
A Record-Breaking Valuation
The proposed $10 billion valuation for a controlling interest from the Buss family is not just a headline number—it’s a history-making figure. Should the deal be approved, it would obliterate the previous record for a sports franchise sale, currently held by Josh Harris’s $6.05 billion purchase of the Washington Commanders in 2023. It also easily surpasses the recent $6.1 billion acquisition of the Boston Celtics.
The process is now in the hands of the NBA’s top brass. The Advisory Finance Committee will first review the details of Walter’s bid before making a formal recommendation to the Board of Governors. Sources indicate a decisive vote on Walter’s approval could happen as soon as the end of next week.
Walter’s Expanding Sports Empire
Mark Walter is no stranger to high-stakes acquisitions. As the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has already proven his acumen for turning major investments into colossal successes. His $2.15 billion purchase of the baseball team in 2012, which seemed staggering at the time, has since been validated with the team’s current valuation soaring between $6.8 billion and $7.73 billion.
An approval would add the Lakers to Walter’s already formidable collection of sports properties, which includes:
- The WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks
- The Billie Jean King Cup
- The new Cadillac Formula 1 team
- The Professional Women’s Hockey League
- A part-ownership stake in Chelsea FC of the English Premier League
The Future of the Buss Family’s Involvement
While the sale would transfer majority control, it will not mark the complete exit of the Buss family from the franchise they have owned for decades. The family is set to retain a significant minority ownership stake of more than 15%. Crucially for Lakers fans, this arrangement ensures that Jeanie Buss will remain in her pivotal role as the team’s governor for the foreseeable future, providing a sense of continuity during this monumental transition.
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