Dodgers owner Mark Walter met with NBA officials hours before the World Series to present his record $10B bid to buy the Los Angeles Lakers
19:35 ET, 24 Oct 2025Updated 20:21 ET, 24 Oct 2025
Mark Walter’s investment group, Guggenheim Baseball Management, acquired the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012(Image: Getty)
Hours before the Los Angeles Dodgers opened the 2025 World Series in Toronto, owner Mark Walter attended a high-stakes meeting in Los Angeles: the presentation of his bid to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers at a record-shattering $10 billion valuation, changing the ownership for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Walter appeared before the NBA Advisory Finance Committee on Friday as he seeks approval from the NBA for the majority purchase of the Lakers from the Buss family. If endorsed, the deal could be finalized as early as the end of this month via a vote of the Board of Governors.
The timing was striking. While Walter’s attention sat in a boardroom discussing NBA ownership, his MLB franchise, the Dodgers, prepared to start the best-of-seven World Series. His ownership realm now spans high-value franchises around the world.
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The proposed $10 billion price tag would eclipse every previous U.S. sports franchise sale and reset the valuation ceiling.
In 2023, the Washington Commanders sold for $6.05 billion; in July 2025, the Boston Celtics reportedly fetched $6.1 billion. Walter’s bid would enlarge the deal by nearly 65 percent.
Walter is no stranger to big-ticket sports transactions. He led the purchase of the Dodgers in 2012 for $2.15 billion — once a record, now valued between $6.8–$7.7 billion.
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He also has holdings in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, the new Cadillac Formula One team, and is a part-owner of English Premier League side Chelsea F.C..
Under the terms reported, the Buss family would retain a minority stake, more than 15 percent, allowing Jeanie Buss to remain team governor for the foreseeable future. That continuity appears intended to reassure fans and NBA partners alike during what could be a transformative ownership change.
For the NBA, the approval process is under the microscope. The finance committee must evaluate Walter’s capital structure, debt levels, media-rights exposure and governance plan before recommending final approval. If the committee signs off, the Board of Governors could cast a vote by week’s end.
From the Lakers’ dynasty-laden history — 17 NBA titles and global brand strength — to the Dodgers’ recent baseball royalty, Walter’s stewardship could reshape two of Los Angeles’s most iconic teams. But approval is not a guarantee: any last-minute disclosures or governance concerns could delay or derail the deal.