The Buss Era Ends: Lakers Franchise Sells for Historic $10 Billion

Let me say this loud enough for the rafters at Crypto.com Arena: Ten. Billion. Dollars.

That’s the price tag for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Not a tech company. Not an energy conglomerate. But a basketball team.

The Buss family has agreed to sell majority ownership of the franchise to billionaire investor Mark Walter, with the franchise being valued at an earth-shaking $10 billion—the highest valuation for any U.S. professional sports team in history.

From $66 Million to $10 Billion—Let That Marinate

Let’s run that back real quick:

• Before Dr. Jerry Buss bought the Lakers (1979)

  • Championships: 7

  • Estimated Franchise Net Worth: $66 million

• When the Buss family sold the team (2025)

  • Championships: 17

  • Estimated Franchise Net Worth: $10 BILLION

Whew.

That’s not just a flex. That’s generational excellence. That’s legacy management done right.

What the Buss Family Built

From Magic and Kareem to Kobe and Shaq to LeBron to Luka Dončić, the Lakers have remained at the top of the basketball food chain because of what the Buss family created.

Jerry Buss didn’t just run a team—he built an empire. One rooted in Showtime flash and championship grit.

Let’s be clear: 11 championships since 1980.

Count them.

11.

No other team touches that in the modern NBA era.

Jeanie Buss, in particular, helped navigate the post-Kobe era, enduring criticism, surviving messy front-office drama, and eventually bringing home a 2020 title in the bubble.

Oh, and let’s not forget that Luka Dončić bombshell trade this season.

That alone showed they were still in the go-big-or-go-home business.

But now? That chapter is closing.

Who is Mark Walter?

Mark Walter isn’t new to the game. He’s already part of the Lakers' ownership group and also the principal owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This is a billionaire who knows the weight of winning, managing superstars, and big-time brands.

His company, TWG Global, is a heavyweight in the sports and entertainment world.

Walter first bought into the Lakers in 2021, grabbing a 26% stake and securing the right of first refusal if majority ownership ever went up for grabs.

Now, that moment has come.

What's Next?

This is more than just a transaction. It’s a transition of power, a cultural pivot.

The Lakers are more than banners and box scores—they're basketball royalty. They’ve transcended the game. They're the game in so many ways.

The pressure is on Walter now.

Titanic.

He inherits not just Luka and a championship-caliber team but a legacy franchise with global expectations, a fanbase that bleeds purple and gold, and a history that demands more than profit—it demands excellence.

Let’s be honest: winning 11 titles under one family? That’s not just good ownership.

That’s a dynasty—off the court.