Who is Mark Walter? Net Worth, Education, Achievements and More About LA Lakers’ New Majority Stake Holder
On June 18, 2025, the world opened its eyes to shocking news about major changes at the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. The LA Lakers owner, Jennie Buss, agreed to sell majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most storied franchises in all of sports, to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter. The fanbase is a bit aware about Walter, but handing the full ownership is a major update, even though Buss will still own 15% of the franchise and also remain the Lakers’ governor and continue to run the team for “at least a number of years,”.
The valuation of the stake is $10 billion, making it the highest-valued franchise in the US. While the fate of the LA Lakers is confirmed, few fans are wondering who Mark Walter is and want to know more about the sports mogul. Here are details about Mark Walter’s net worth, education, profession and achievements.
Mark Walter: Net Worth and Profession
The newly minted majority stakeholder of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mark Walter, covering his education, net worth, profession, and career achievements:
Estimates of Walter’s wealth vary widely, reflecting his diverse business stakes. Forbes places his net worth at about $5.9 billion as of April 2025. While Bloomberg estimates a heftier $10.6 billion as of early April 2025, emphasizing his share in Guggenheim and insurance operations.
Also Read: Worrying Sign for Tyrese Haliburton for Game 6 And Indiana Pacers Makes Surprise Trade Amid NBA Finals 2025.
Getting close to the Forbes valuation, Los Angeles Business Journal lists a figure around $5.3 billion in mid‑2025. Discrepancies arise from valuation models, private holdings, and assumptions about his ownership stakes across enterprises. Regardless, he stands as one of the most influential and wealthy figures in finance and sports. Here are Mark Walter’s businesses earning him billions.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In 2012, Walter led the Guggenheim Baseball Management consortium, including Magic Johnson, Peter Guber, Todd Boehly, and Stan Kasten, in acquiring the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.15 billion—then a record for professional sports.
Since the acquisition, the Dodgers have remained playoff contenders for 12 straight seasons, claiming four National League pennants and the 2020 World Series title. Under his leadership, the franchise’s value surged to around $4 billion by 2023. Innovative strategies—including the negotiation of an $8 billion broadcast deal with Time Warner Cable—helped enhance the team’s profitability and media footprint.
Los Angeles Sparks
In 2014, Walter joined Magic Johnson in purchasing the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, committing to keeping the team in LA. The Sparks went on to win the 2016 WNBA championship and returned to the Finals in 2017.
Professional Women’s Hockey League
In 2023, Walter’s group purchased the Premier Hockey Federation, consolidating it with the PWHPA to launch the new Professional Women’s Hockey League in 2024. The new league’s championship trophy, the “Walter Cup,” honors his commitment to women’s sports.
Chelsea FC & RC Strasbourg
In April 2022, Walter joined the BlueCo consortium with Todd Boehly and Hansjörg Wyss to acquire Chelsea FC in the EPL, holding a 12.7% stake. BlueCo later acquired RC Strasbourg in France in 2023.
Andretti Global – Cadillac Formula 1
Walter also participates in Andretti Global, backing their entry into Formula 1 with a Cadillac-powered team.
Lakers Acquisition: Becoming the Majority Stakeholder
Walter’s connection to the Lakers began in July 2021, when he and Todd Boehly acquired a 27% stake (Walter 20%, Boehly 7%) from Philip Anschutz for around $1.35 billion, valuing the team at ~$5 billion.
Also Read: LeBron James Slams ‘Ring Culture in NBA’, Provides Examples of Players Who Never Won Championship.
On June 18, 2025, the Buss family agreed to sell their majority stake to Walter—valuing the Lakers at $10 billion, the highest ever for a U.S. sports franchise.
By this measure:
- Walter now holds majority control (at least 51%),
- Jeanie Buss will remain team governor, and the Buss family retains a ~15% minority stake for the short term.
This landmark sale shatters previous NBA franchise records and ushers in a new era in Lakers management and investment.
Philanthropy and Conservation
While Mark Walter is seen earning from multiple sources, there are lots of philanthropic works that the 65-year-old tycoon does. Let us go through Mark Walter’s impact, which extends well beyond business:
- He and his wife Kimbra, donated $40 million to Northwestern Law in 2014, establishing scholarships.
- They own White Oak Conservation, a 17,000-acre wildlife refuge in Florida, and support biodiversity projects in Africa.
- He serves on major boards, including Northwestern University, Creighton University, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and the Field Museum.
- Through the Dodgers Foundation, he champions youth education, literacy, and health in Los Angeles.
- He supports social equity initiatives such as Chicago Beyond and OneGoal Chicago.
Mark Walter: Early Life and Education
Mark Richard Walter was born on January 1, 1960, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Raised in a working-class family—his father worked in concrete block manufacturing—Walter absorbed lessons in hard work, frugality, and perseverance from a young age.
He graduated from Jefferson High School, Class of 1978, solidifying his foundations in the Midwest. Determined to expand his horizons, Walter enrolled at Creighton University in Omaha, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and business in 1982.
Pursuing further academic distinction, he then attended Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor (JD) in 1985. Though trained in law, Walter opted to enter the world of finance over practicing law, signalling the first key pivot of his career.
Mark Walter Career Beginnings and Guggenheim Partners
Walter launched his early career at firms such as First Chicago Capital Markets and a law practice before co-founding Liberty Hampshire Company in 1996. In 2000, Liberty Hampshire merged with a family office tied to the Guggenheim legacy, forming Guggenheim Partners. Walter became a co-founder and CEO, leading a firm that now manages over $320 billion in assets.
Under his leadership, the firm grew beyond asset management, extending into investment banking, commercial real estate debt, alternative investments, and insurance through entities like Security Benefit, TWG Global, EquiTrust, and Delaware Life.
In 2025, Walter’s holding vehicle, TWG Global, announced a $10 billion strategic alliance with Mubadala Capital, further elevating his reach in global finance.
In all, from his Iowa roots to the halls of Northwestern Law and the boardrooms of Wall Street, Mark Walter’s rise represents a remarkable American success story. A legal mind turned financial commander, he scaled Guggenheim Partners into a global powerhouse, while also building one of the most diverse and impactful sports portfolios in modern history.
His elevation to majority owner of the Lakers—valued at $10 billion—marks a defining moment for the franchise and the NBA. With Jeanie Buss remaining as governor and Walter emerging as the steward of resources and innovation, Lakers fans can expect continuity, winning pedigree, and fresh, strategic investment.
Beyond sports, his philanthropic footprint—spanning legal scholarships, conservation, youth development, and social equity—underscores a genuine commitment to leaving a legacy that transcends dollars and championships.
EN 
ES