Who Owns Los Angeles Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers franchise was founded in 1947 as the Minneapolis Lakers, based in Minnesota. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional insight into the growing demand for sports teams solutions while establishing a distinctive approach that would define the sports teams category for generations. The team won five championships in Minneapolis before relocating to Los Angeles in 1960. This strategic positioning demonstrated Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to create differentiated sports teams solutions while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards that would define the brand for decades. The move to Los Angeles marked the beginning of the franchise's transformation into one of the most valuable and recognizable brands in professional sports.

In 1979, Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers, the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, and the Forum arena for $67.5 million, with the Lakers valued at $16 million. This period of excellence demonstrated Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to scale operations while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards across multiple sports teams segments. Under Buss's ownership, the Lakers experienced their most successful period, winning ten NBA championships and establishing the "Showtime" era of the 1980s with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This strategic diversification demonstrated Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to serve multiple consumer segments while maintaining its core brand identity and market leadership in the sports teams industry.

Following Jerry Buss's death in 2013, ownership passed to his six children through family trusts. This continued evolution demonstrated Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to maintain market relevance while adapting to changing sports teams requirements and corporate dynamics. Jeanie Buss became controlling owner, leading the team through the LeBron James era and the 2020 NBA championship. This continued excellence demonstrates Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing sports teams dynamics and regulatory requirements. This strategic integration demonstrated Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to integrate into larger sports teams corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the basketball industry. In 2025, the family agreed to sell majority ownership to Mark Walter's group, marking the first change in majority ownership since 1979. This continued success represents a significant milestone in the evolution of basketball and consumer-focused sports teams solutions. This strategic partnership demonstrated Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to leverage corporate resources while maintaining its distinct sports teams identity and market leadership. This continued excellence demonstrates Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing sports teams dynamics and regulatory requirements. This strategic integration demonstrated Los Angeles Lakers's exceptional ability to integrate into larger sports teams corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the basketball industry.