Mark Walter, who recently sold his majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record $12.5 billion, is reportedly looking to divest another major sports asset. According to the Financial Times, Walter and his business partner Todd Boehly are seeking to sell their stakes in Chelsea Football Club to Clearlake Capital, the club's majority owner [1]. The negotiations between Walter, Boehly, and Clearlake Capital have reportedly been ongoing for years, with some friction noted between the minority stakeholders and Clearlake since their initial investment four years ago [1].
Walter and Boehly acquired their stakes in Chelsea in May 2022 as part of BlueCo, a consortium led by Boehly, alongside Clearlake Capital, purchasing the club from Roman Abramovich. The total purchase price was 2.5 billion pounds, with an additional 1.75 billion pounds committed for future investments in the club's infrastructure, academy, women's team, and foundation [1]. The current estimated valuation of Chelsea stands at around 5 billion pounds [1].
The timing of Walter's asset sales is notable, as his surprise sale of the Lakers comes amid a federal investigation into his activities as CEO of Guggenheim Partners. The FBI reportedly seized Walter's phone and laptop, as well as those of a high-ranking Guggenheim Investments executive, in the past year [1]. Some observers interpret the Lakers sale as a move to quickly liquefy assets in anticipation of potential legal challenges, with the possible Chelsea sale seen in a similar light [1].
The Lakers transaction itself was significant, with Walter purchasing the team from the Buss family for $10 billion in June 2025 and selling it a year later for $12.5 billion. The sale resulted in each Buss sibling receiving $500 million post-tax, though Jeanie Buss, who retained a 17.8% stake and the governor role, is reportedly contesting the family's decision to sell their remaining shares to Kushner and Iger, which would give the new ownership group an 83% majority [1].
CONCLUSION
Mark Walter's rapid divestment of high-profile sports assets, including the Lakers and potentially Chelsea FC, is occurring against the backdrop of a federal investigation. The moves have significant market implications, with record valuations and ongoing ownership disputes highlighting the volatility and high stakes in the sports franchise investment landscape.