Billionaire Mark Walter’s Path To Lakers Control/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Mark Walter, billionaire CEO of Guggenheim Partners, is poised to gain controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers. With a $6.1 billion net worth, Walter made his fortune through finance, AI, and sports investments. He also co-founded TWG Global, with stakes in Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and F1 teams.
Mark Walter’s Rise To Lakers Ownership Quick Looks
- Guggenheim CEO and TWG Global co-founder
- Net worth estimated at $6.1 billion by Forbes
- Holds stakes in Dodgers, Chelsea FC, Cadillac F1
- Background in law and finance, Creighton and Northwestern graduate
- Partners with Palantir, Elon Musk’s xAI in financial AI project
Billionaire Mark Walter’s Path To Lakers Control
Deep Look
Billionaire investor Mark Walter, a titan in finance and sports ownership, is set to acquire controlling interest in one of basketball’s most iconic franchises—the Los Angeles Lakers. Walter has forged a unique path, combining legal training with business acumen to lead some of the world’s most influential ventures.
Currently serving as CEO of Guggenheim Partners, Walter oversees a global investment and advisory powerhouse managing over $325 billion in assets. He also helms TWG Global, a diversified holding company that extends his financial influence into technology, sports, and entertainment. His net worth is estimated by Forbes at $6.1 billion, placing him at No. 216 on its prestigious Forbes 400 list last year.
Walter’s journey began with a business degree from Creighton University, followed by a law degree from Northwestern University. While qualified for a legal career, he quickly gravitated toward investment, co-founding Liberty Hampshire in the 1990s. That firm evolved into Guggenheim Partners, where Walter has remained a central figure since its founding.
Beyond traditional finance, Walter is reshaping future markets through TWG Global, which he co-founded alongside Hollywood producer Thomas Tull. TWG’s reach is wide, encompassing Guggenheim Investments, Guggenheim Securities, Group 1001 Insurance, and Delaware Life, along with Shield AI, an advanced aerospace and defense technology firm.
In 2025, TWG Global entered a cutting-edge partnership with Palantir Technologies and Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, known for the conversational AI Grok. The goal: develop artificial intelligence tools for the financial services industry. This alliance signals Walter’s ambitions to steer his businesses into the future of tech-driven finance.
Walter’s portfolio also includes major stakes in global sports, reinforcing his stature in the athletics world. Through TWG, he holds a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Dodgersco-owns Premier League powerhouse Chelsea FC, and is heavily invested in women’s professional hockey and Formula 1 racing via TWG Motorsports.
His upcoming acquisition of the Lakers’ controlling stake places Walter at the center of three of the world’s most popular sports: basketball, baseball, and football. Few figures straddle both Wall Street and international sports with such visibility.
Off the court and away from boardrooms, Walter and his wife, Kimbra, are deeply involved in philanthropy. Their giving includes support for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the Academy Group, Chicago Beyond, and OneGoal—initiatives that focus on educational equity and community development.
Mark Walter’s story is one of deliberate diversification and strategic growthblending old-school investment with visionary ventures in AI and global sports. As he prepares to take the reins of the Lakers, he brings a legacy of calculated risk, expansive ambition, and a long-term outlook rooted in both business and societal impact.
More on Sports
