Major Financial Milestone for the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of a major financial milestone, as a proposed sale to Mark Walter, CEO of TWG Global, is set to reach a staggering $10 billion (£7.45 billion). If the transaction is finalized, it will not only make the Lakers the most expensive sports franchise to date but will also mark the highest-priced acquisition in the realm of professional sports history.
Competitive Landscape of Sports Team Valuations
Currently, the Dallas Cowboys hold the title for the highest-valued sports team with an estimated worth of $10.1 billion (£7.5 billion), although they have not been sold since their acquisition by Jerry Jones in 1989. Earlier this year, the Boston Celtics, one of the Lakers’ notable rivals, were sold for $6.1 billion (£4.5 billion), establishing a new benchmark for sales in the NBA and highlighting the competitive financial landscape of sports franchises.
The Trend of Record Sports Team Sales
A significant trend in the top recorded sports team sales is the dominance of American teams, with nine of the top ten sales coming from franchises in basketball, American football, and baseball. In the realm of English football, the sale of Chelsea to Clearlake Capital for $5.4 billion (£4 billion) in 2022 stands out, ranking as the fourth-most expensive sale overall. However, no other football clubs have cracked the top ten list for the highest team sales.
Among English football teams, Manchester United is valued at $6.55 billion (£4.9 billion), making them the most valuable, though they rank only 14th on Forbes’ list. They stand at a distance to rival Manchester City, which topped Deloitte’s Football Money League for 2025. Furthermore, Liverpool and Manchester City also make appearances on Forbes’ list of valuable sports teams, ranking 27th and 32nd, respectively.
Top Ten Highest Sports Team Sales
- Los Angeles Lakers (Basketball) – $10 billion
- Boston Celtics (Basketball) – $6.1 billion
- Washington Commanders (American Football) – $6.05 billion
- Chelsea (Football) – $5.4 billion
- Denver Broncos (American Football) – $4.65 billion
- Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury (Basketball) – $4 billion
- Dallas Mavericks (Basketball) – $3.5 billion
- Charlotte Hornets (Basketball) – $3 billion
- New York Mets (Baseball) – $2.4 billion
- Carolina Panthers (American Football) – $2.275 billion
These figures reflect the ongoing financial trends shaping professional sports, with the Lakers sale poised to solidify the ongoing shift in ownership valuations within major leagues.
