Mark Walter at the White House at an event celebrating the 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo from The White House)
Mark Walter, the billionaire behind Guggenheim Partners and the Dodgers, has acquired a majority stake in the Lakers in a historic deal that is reshaping the landscape of Los Angeles sports.
At 65, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa native has spent decades building his business empire far from the spotlight. Walter is the co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, a global financial services firm managing over $325 billion in assets. He also co-founded TWG Global, an investment platform with holdings across artificial intelligence, motorsports, and entertainment.
Walter earned a business degree from Creighton University and a law degree from Northwestern University in 1985. He resides in Chicago with his wife, attorney Kimbra Walter, though he is known to divide his time between the Midwest and Southern California. Despite an estimated net worth exceeding $12 billion, Walter is known for maintaining a deliberately low public profile. His philanthropic efforts span wildlife conservation, education, and social justice.
Walter entered the sports world in 2012, leading the Guggenheim Baseball Management group that purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.15 billion—then the most expensive deal in baseball history. Under his leadership, the Dodgers have thrived, winning World Series titles in 2020 and 2024, and earning praise for their player development and data-driven strategies.
On June 18, 2025, Walter and the Buss family reached an agreement for the majority purchase of the Lakers, valuing the team at $10 billion—the highest known price ever paid for a professional sports franchise in the United States. The Buss family will retain a minority stake, and Jeanie Buss will remain as team governor, preserving continuity in leadership.
However, the deal still requires final approval by the NBA Board of Governors, which is expected to be granted in the coming months. While the agreement is in place, the acquisition isn’t officially complete until the NBA formally approves it.
“Mark understands what winning looks like—not just on the field, but in leadership,” Lakers legend and Dodgers stakeholder Magic Johnson wrote on X. “He trusts good people and gives them the tools to succeed.”
Walter’s leadership style has been credited with five defining traits: strategic patience, empowering leadership, quiet influence, values-driven investing, and a long-term, cross-platform vision. He is known for avoiding media theatrics, preferring to work behind the scenes—carefully selecting deals, hiring top-tier talent, and letting them operate with autonomy.
“He doesn’t flinch under pressure,” one executive noted. “He waits for the right deal.”
His trust in executives—such as Dodgers president Stan Kasten and head of baseball operations Andrew Friedman—has allowed for sustained excellence. He’s also made it clear that ownership, to him, is about legacy and stewardship.
Walter’s commitment to inclusion and equity is reflected in his investments in women’s sports. He owns the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and is a key backer of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), where the championship trophy is named the Walter Cup. His holdings extend internationally, including co-ownership of Chelsea Football Club in the English Premier League and RC Strasbourg in France. Through TWG Global, he also supports Andretti Global’s Cadillac Formula 1 team and forward-facing ventures in tech and data.
“He sees ownership as stewardship,” said a source close to TWG Global.
“You won’t hear much from Mark publicly,” added a longtime associate, “but if you’re working in sports in Los Angeles, you’ll feel his presence—because he’s reshaping how teams are run.”
