Mark Walter has owned the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012, when Guggenheim Baseball Management — an investor group he leads — bought the team out of bankruptcy for a then-record $2.15 billion. Since then, Walter has built one of the most recognizable ownership names in sports, and in 2025 he added the Los Angeles Lakers to his portfolio too.
The Guggenheim connection is worth understanding since it threads through several teams I cover on this site: the same ownership network sits behind Chelsea FC in the Premier League.
Quick Facts
| Team | Los Angeles Dodgers |
|---|---|
| Controlling Owner | Mark Walter |
| Ownership Group | Guggenheim Baseball Management |
| Ownership Since | 2012 |
| Purchase Price | $2.15 billion (an MLB and North American sports record at the time) |
| Founded | 1883 (Brooklyn); moved to LA 1958 |
| League | MLB (NL West) |
| Home | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Dodgers relocate from Brooklyn to Los Angeles |
| 2004-2012 | Owned by Frank McCourt, whose tenure ends in a bitter divorce case and team bankruptcy |
| 2012 | Guggenheim Baseball Management, led by Mark Walter with Magic Johnson as a high-profile minority partner, buys the team for $2.15 billion |
| 2020 | Dodgers win the World Series, the franchise’s first title since 1988 |
| 2024-2025 | Dodgers win back-to-back World Series titles, cementing the Walter ownership era as one of the most successful in franchise history |
| 2025 | Mark Walter’s group closes a $10 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers, adding a second marquee LA franchise to his holdings |
Key Ownership Highlights
- The $2.15 billion Dodgers purchase in 2012 was, at the time, the highest price ever paid for a professional sports franchise anywhere in the world.
- Magic Johnson has been one of the group’s most visible minority partners since 2012, though his exact current stake is a frequently searched question we address separately.
- Guggenheim Baseball Management ties back to Guggenheim Partners, the investment firm whose leadership also holds a stake in Chelsea FC.
- With the 2025 Lakers acquisition, Walter became the first owner in decades to simultaneously control a marquee MLB and NBA franchise in the same city.
FAQ
Who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Mark Walter, through Guggenheim Baseball Management, has controlled the team since a 2012 purchase for $2.15 billion.
Does the Dodgers’ owner also own another LA team?
Yes. Mark Walter’s group closed a $10 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers in late 2025.
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