The Los Angeles Lakers just set a jaw-dropping new standard in sports franchise sales: $10 billion.

That’s the valuation in a record-shattering deal announced Wednesday, as the Buss family agreed to sell controlling ownership of the legendary NBA team to billionaire investor Mark Walter — best known as the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It marks the largest sale of a sports franchise in history, not just in the U.S., but globally.

To put that in perspective, Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for just $67.5 million, a package deal that also included the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the Forum. After his death in 2013, control of the team passed to his children, with Jeanie Buss serving as team governor. Even with this historic sale, Jeanie is expected to stay on in that role.

A New Benchmark for Sports Franchise Sales

The Lakers’ $10 billion price tag easily leapfrogs every other sports sale on record — here’s how the competition compares across leagues:

NBA: The High-Flyers

Before this week, the Boston Celtics held the record for the most expensive NBA team sale — $6.1 billion, purchased by a group led by Bill Chisholm earlier this year. That narrowly edged out the $6.05 billion paid by Josh Harris’ group for the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Other massive NBA deals include:

• Phoenix Suns: $4 billion (Mat Ishbia, 2023)
• Dallas Mavericks: $3.5 billion (Adelson and Dumont families)
• Brooklyn Nets: $3.3 billion (Joseph Tsai)

With the Lakers now in a class of their own, the NBA officially boasts the most expensive franchise in North American sports history.

NFL: Still a Heavyweight, But Outpaced

The Washington Commanders had held the North American record until recently with their $6.05 billion sale in 2023. That deal ended Dan Snyder’s tumultuous tenure as owner.

Other top NFL sales:

• Denver Broncos: $4.65 billion (Walton-Penner group, 2022)
• Carolina Panthers: $2.275 billion (David Tepper, 2018)

Fun fact: Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos for just $70 million in 1984. His heirs sold the team nearly 40 years later for more than 66 times that.

MLB: Still Swinging Big

While not quite at NBA or NFL levels, Major League Baseball has seen its share of billion-dollar deals.

• New York Mets: $2.4 billion (Steve Cohen, 2020)
• Los Angeles Dodgers: $2 billion (Mark Walter & Guggenheim, 2012)
• Miami Marlins: $1.3 billion (Bruce Sherman, 2018)
• Kansas City Royals: $1 billion (John Sherman, 2020)
• Baltimore Orioles: $1.725 billion (David Rubenstein, 2024)

The Mets sale was especially notable — not just for the price tag, but for how dramatically Cohen revamped the team, taking the payroll from $195 million in 2021 to over $300 million in 2025. That included a blockbuster signing of Juan Soto after prying him away from the Yankees.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly in advanced talks for a $1.7 billion sale, which would put them near the top of MLB’s all-time sales list.

NHL: Gaining Ground with Billion-Dollar Sales

Yes, even hockey is getting in on the action. The Tampa Bay Lightning set a new NHL record in 2024 when they sold for $1.8 billion to a group led by Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz of Blue Owl Capital. Although current owner Jeff Vinik will retain operational control for now, full ownership will transfer in three years.

Other notable NHL sales:

• Ottawa Senators: $950 million (Michael Andlauer, 2023)
• Utah Hockey Club (formerly Arizona Coyotes): $1.2 billion (Ryan Smith, 2024)

Ryan Smith, who also owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz, moved the struggling Coyotes to Salt Lake City, rebranding them as the Utah Hockey Club for the 2024–25 season.

Expansion costs are also rising fast in the NHL. Compare this:

• 1998–2000: Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, and Minnesota each paid $80 million to join.
• 2016: Las Vegas Golden Knights joined for $500 million.
• 2018: Seattle Kraken entered the league for a whopping $650 million.

The Big Picture

The Lakers’ $10 billion sale isn’t just a new high — it’s a seismic shift in the valuation of sports franchises. As media rights balloon, streaming becomes the norm, and global markets open up, elite sports teams are evolving into mega-investments.

But whether you’re a diehard fan or a business analyst, one thing’s clear: owning a professional sports team isn’t just about prestige anymore — it’s about serious money.

And the Lakers just raised the bar for everyone.

Source: Yahoo Sports – How the Los Angeles Lakers’ $10 billion sale compares to the price tags of other North American sports franchises

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