Mark Walter, amid a federal investigation into his businesses, shockingly sold his stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea Football Club, which begged the question: what about the Los Angeles Dodgers?
The billionaire purchased the franchise in 2012 under his Guggenheim Baseball Management business, and if he continued a fire sale of sports ownership, that would be the next target.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.
But Walter stood firm when asked by the California Post if he planned on doing so.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Los Angeles Dodgers chairman Mark Walter speaks at a press conference announcing a new partnership between the Dodgers and UNIQLO at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
“We’re going to keep the team no matter what,” Walter replied to the outlet. “We’re going to be winning for 10 years or more. I think our commitment to do so will be just like it has been in the past, And, you know, we don’t win every year, but we’re going to try to.”
Walter’s team running the show — president Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman — have been saying their majority owner plans to run his team like they usually do.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
The man himself reiterated that sentiment.
“I certainly hope we can look forward to winning another World Series next year under my ownership,” he added. “And I think we’re just trying to win consistently, and do so for not just next season, but for the next decade and decades beyond that.”
Under his ownership, the Dodgers have become a villain of sorts with their ability to land superstar talent over the years, while paying record-breaking contracts. But with the federal government’s investigation into the alleged use of investment funds to make loans directly to other businesses, some of which within Walter’s business, speculation that there was fraud within the Dodgers started trickling out on social media.
Walter’s company, TWG Global, addressed those comments earlier this year, denying the conspiracy theories that the Dodgers’ payroll, the second-highest in MLB at $322.39 million, was supported by loan fraud.
“Over the past several weeks, multipronged attacks against TWG have been advanced by unnamed sources with self-serving interests that have been reported in the media. It is important to set the record straight,” it said. “TWG stands firmly behind the integrity of its business and remains focused on continuing to deliver value to its stakeholders.”
President Donald Trump, center, holds a baseball jersey alongside Clayton Kershaw, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, left, and Mark Walter, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, right, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
But with the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission looking into these allegations, Walter’s move to sell his controlling stake in the Lakers, another iconic American sports franchise like the Dodgers, sounded alarms, especially considering he had bought the majority stake with a $10 billion valuation from the Buss family just one year ago.
The Lakers were sold to Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation.
Walter then began the process of selling his stake in Chelsea, the English Premier League club, which he held alongside business partner Todd Boehly, who is also a member of Guggenheim Baseball Management. Reports also emerged that investment firm Guggenheim Partners was trying to raise funds for its insurance operations amid the federal investigation.
TWG Global denied any wrongdoing.
“There is no victim here. No one has been harmed, and no one has claimed they were harmed,” the statement said in August. “TWG is committed to working with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve their inquiries.
Los Angeles Dodgers CEO and owner Mark Walter waves to the crowd during the 2025 Back-to-Back World Champions Ring Ceremony prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2026. (Jessie Alcheh / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
“The Dodgers have the highest revenue in baseball, and it significantly exceeds the team’s obligations to its players.”
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
