With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Buss family to sell majority stake in Lakers
Jeanie Buss and Jay Mohr attend a Lakers' home basketball game in February.
(
Allen Berezovsky
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
The Buss family has reportedly agreed to sell its majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers to Dodgers chairman Mark Walter for $10 billion. ESPN's Shams Charania broke the story.
Mark Walter is entering agreement to purchase majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family for a valuation of approximately $10 billion, the largest sale of a professional sports franchise in the world, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2025
$10 billion. https://t.co/mgZkxcdXnp
The backstory and why it matters: The sale would be a major shakeup in Lakers ownership. The Buss family has owned the team since Dr. Jerry Buss bought them for $67.5 million in 1979. Under the Buss family's ownership, the Lakers have won 11 NBA championships. Mark Walter has had plenty of his own success with the Dodgers since his ownership group bought them in 2012, turning them into a perennial playoff team and winning World Series titles in 2020 and 2024.
Support for LAist comes from
What's next: Jeannie Buss will reportedly continue in her role as Lakers governor under the deal. The Associated Press reports that Walter and the Buss family say they expect the deal to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2025.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
Best of LAist