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Mark Richard Walter (born January 1, 1960) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a privately held global financial services firm with more than $345 billion in assets under management.[1] He is also the CEO and co-chairman of TWG Global, an American multinational holding company.
In 1996, Walter, Tom Irvin, and Steven E. Johnson co-founded the Liberty Hampshire Company.[2] In 1999, he helped found Guggenheim Partners with assistance from Guggenheim family heir Peter Lawson-Johnson II;[3][4] he now serves as its CEO.[5][6] Through his work at Guggenheim, he got to know future investment partner Todd Boehly, who spent 14 years with the firm.[7][8]
In May 2024, Walter co-founded TWG Global[6] and is its CEO, co-chairman, and 21% owner.[9][10] He is the controlling shareholder of Delaware Life Holdings, LLC, and serves on the board of EquiTrust Life.[11]
Walter has a personal stake in Beyond Meat.[12] In addition, in 2021, it was reported that Walter had purchased numerous commercial and historic buildings in Crested Butte, Colorado, where his family frequently takes vacations,[3] for unknown purposes.[13][14]
According to a family representative, Walter owns 27% of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.[9] In 2012, he led Guggenheim Baseball Management's $2.15 billion purchase of the team[20] using cash from Guggenheim's investments in insurance investments and annuities.[21][22] Walter and his partner investors provided collateral to the insurers, including Dodgers shares, Walter's stake in Carvana, and various Wendy's hamburger franchises.[23] His personal contribution was reportedly $100 million,[24] with Guggenheim Partners-related businesses contributing another $1.213 billion.[25] The precise contribution from insurance companies has been disputed, with The Wall Street Journal estimating a contribution of "at least $300 million"[23] and LA Weekly putting the figure at $100 million.[22] Other members of the Guggenheim consortium include Peter Guber, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Stan Kasten, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Alan Smolinisky, and Robert L. Plummer.[26][27][28]
Guggenheim's investments in sports have been questioned by industry commentators as riskier investments than insurance.[29] After insurers reportedly contributed at least $300 million to the Dodgers' bid, government regulators investigated the arrangement but declined to take further action.[23]
Mark Walter at the White House at an event celebrating the 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
The price paid for the Dodgers was initially reported as high[20] as Forbes had valued the team at $1.4 billion and rivals were considering opening bids in the $1.6 billion range.[30] Walter was attempting to outbid Steven A. Cohen,[20] who had already offered $2 billion to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.[31]
Walter appointed Stan Kasten to run the team.[21] Under Walter, Kasten, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman,[32] the team became baseball's "most perennially competitive team"[33] and won the World Series in 2020 and 2024.[34] Less than a year after Guggenheim bought the team, the Dodgers signed a television deal that increased their payroll.[21]
Los Angeles Lakers
Walter is the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.[35] In 2021, he and Boehly purchased Philip Anschutz's 27% stake.[9][36] On June 18, 2025, ESPN reported that Walter had agreed to buy majority control of the team from the Buss family at a $10 billion valuation.[35] The Los Angeles Times reported that TWG Global would also be involved in the purchase.[37]
Los Angeles Sparks
Since 2014, Walter and Magic Johnson have led the ownership group for the Los Angeles Sparks women's basketball team.[38] Walter personally owns one-sixth of the franchise,[9] which he co-owns with several other Dodgers partners.[39] He credited Johnson with giving him the idea to "save the Sparks and keep them in Los Angeles."[38]
Walter invested in the league[44] and appointed the Dodgers' Stan Kasten to oversee the league's business operations,[47] which began play in 2024.[42] The Mark Walter Group owns the inaugural six teams.[48][49] The league's championship trophy is named after Mark and Kimbra Walter.[44]
Squash
Walter and his wife were the primary financial backers of the 2018–19 PSAWorld Squash Championships; with their help, the event presented its largest winners' purses in history. They continue to back the event, as well as the Windy City Open.[50]
Walter and his wife invest together in numerous philanthropic causes, including the White Oak Conservation,[62] which is an animal refuge in Florida. Walter bought the facility in 2013, which has cared for many endangered species, including the Florida grasshopper sparrow.[63][64]
Walter leads the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, which is committed to promoting education and health in the greater Los Angeles community.[65] He donated $50 million at the start of the 2024 season and an additional $50 million when the Dodgers made it to the World Series.[66]
In 2025, he became a leader of LA Rises, a fundraising group assigned by California Governor Gavin Newsom to support rebuilding after the area's wildfires early in the year, and organized the first $100 million donation.[69]
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