In a surprising move, the Lakers are being sold by the Buss family after 46 years of ownership. The price, simply put, is unfathomable.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that the Lakers are being sold to Mark Walter for $10 billion, the largest sale of an American pro sports franchise in history.
The sale is one of a few high-profile deals for NBA franchises in recent years. The Celtics were acquired by Bill Chisholm earlier this year for $6.1 billion, and Mat Ishbia bought the Suns for $4 billion in 2023. Those dollar figures, however, pale in comparison to what Walter just shelled out for the Lakers.
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Here's a look at where the Lakers sale ranks among the largest in American pro sports.
MORE LAKERS SALE:
- Meet Mark Walter, Dodgers owner and new Lakers owner
- Why Jeanie Buss family sold Lakers to Mark Walter
- Full Buss family timeline of Lakers ownership
How much are the Lakers being sold for?
Walter is buying the franchise from the Buss family for an eye-opening price. Charania reports the sale is for $10 billion, the largest sale price of a franchise in pro sports history.
The late Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers for $67.5 million in 1979.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2025
Forty-six years later, the Buss family is entering agreement to sell the franchise for a historic valuation of approximately $10 billion, sources told ESPN.
Full story: https://t.co/iWPjqEwasJ
The $10 billion number smashes the record for most expensive sale price, which was previously $6.1 billion when the Celtics were acquired by Bill Chisholm earlier this year.
The interesting thing about this sale is that it goes from the trust of the six Buss siblings to Walter. The way the trust was set up, any sale would have to be approved by a majority of the six siblings. This sale got that vote, including Jeanie Buss voting in favor.
Dr Jerry Buss structured the trust that owns the Lakers so that only his six children could decide on a sale. And it had to be a majority vote to sell. In 2017 the older brothers tried to force Jeanie Buss out as chairman of the board but lost that vote. Wednesday a majority of…
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 19, 2025
MORE: Who is Bill Chisholm? New Celtics owner buys team for $6.1B
The 10 most expensive American sports franchise sales
After the Lakers acquisition, here's an updated list of the most expensive franchise sales in American pro sports.
| Team name (League) | Buyer | Price | Year |
| Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) | Mark Walter | $10 billion | 2025 |
| Boston Celtics (NBA) | Bill Chisholm | $6.1 billion | 2025 |
| Washington Commanders (NFL) | Josh Harris | $6.05 billion | 2023 |
| Denver Broncos (NFL) | Rob Walton/Walton-Penner family/Mellody Hobson | $4.65 billion | 2022 |
| Phoenix Suns (NBA) | Mat Ishbia | $4 billion | 2023 |
| Dallas Mavericks (NBA) | Miriam Adelson | $3.5 billion | 2023 |
| Charlotte Hornets (NBA) | Gabe Plotkin/Rick Schnall | $3 billion | 2023 |
| New York Mets (MLB) | Steve Cohen | $2.4 billion | 2020 |
| Brooklyn Nets (NBA) | Joseph Tsai | $2.3 billion | 2019 |
| Carolina Panthers (NFL) | David Tepper | $2.275 billion | 2017 |