Lakers Majority Owner Mark Walter Discussion

haha makes sense why they are going. s*** better get as much as you can.

 

It’s cool Kurt has the ambassador role. The Dodgers are doing this with Kershaw.

 

Scouting department should definitely be fully operational at this point.

 

Welp they were at the White House today.

 

Marks trying to get as many friends there as possible. I had no idea about this investigation. So I get why they went. Say all the right things.

 

According to Irwin, we're still offering cheap contracts the potential assistant GMs.

If true, I don't get it. Might help explain why the seat is still empty. Cause I've been saying throw enough money at it to make the candidate interested. If we're not doing that, we're definitely not getting a legit target because of the Rob of it all.

But if we're not doing that, why?


Walter is investing in the facility but why not the front office,scouting departments, shooting coaches, etc?

 

Agreed, especially when I see guys like Chip Engelland just getting hired to Houston. Kind of weird.

 

Honestly, I think he is biding his time. Jeannie is in charge for now. His plan is longer term, at least until the federal indictments are solved one way or the other.

 

Yeah it baffles me too. And if it's being cheap, it goes against Walter's approach.

And the "people waiting for Rob to be out" doesn't really track with me. It would be a hire from the new regimen and there's a ton of value to be in the organization and show your skills and build your relationships with a view to get the GM if that's what you're after.

Plus, I think Rob is delivering again so it might take a while for him to be out.

Jeannie is not in charge. She's just the ambassador. You don't throw 10b to buy the biggest franchise in the world just to let someone else run it, much less the former owner. And even less when it was someone that always delegated the basketball part.

But agree the indictments might justify it and he wants to get clear from that before investing heavily.

 

This is crazy. This guy is supposed to be clean. Why is there an investigation? Makes no sense. Still doesn’t. I think it’s nothing.

 

There’s so much misinformation regarding ICE that even my Nephew’s newish wife, WHO WAS BORN IN Oregon, but is of Mexican decent, thinks she can be deported.
Crazy, Daze of Deception we are in.

 

Excerpts from LA Times article today with more information on Walter's companies and the Feds.

The business empire of Dodgers and Lakers owner Mark Walter reportedly is being probed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and securities regulators over $16 billion in possibly fraudulent loans.

The loans by two Delaware life insurers that Walter owns were made to companies tied to him or his TWG Global holding company but were not disclosed as “related party” transactions as required, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Related party transactions made by insurers are required to be reported to limit conflicts of interest and protect policyholders, who have an interest in the financial strength of their insurers.

Walter, 66, chief executive of Chicago investment firm Guggenheim Partners, led a group that included Todd Boehly — another Guggenheim executive — and Magic Johnson in acquiring the Dodgers for $2.15 billion in 2012, a record for a pro sports team at the time. Last year, Walter and TWG acquired a controlling stake in the Lakers at a $10 billion valuation, a new record. Walter also owns the Chelsea soccer team in the English Premier League.

Dodgers visit Trump at White House to celebrate World Series win
July 23, 2026
Last week, the financial and sports mogul celebrated the Dodgers’ World Series victory at the White House. It was the second time in two years, following back-to-back World Series wins.

The majority of the money used to buy the Dodgers — more than $1 billion — came from insurance companies managed by Guggenheim Partners and controlled by Walter, the Times has reported.

A number of state insurance regulators investigated the purchase in 2014 and found no irregularities, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2020.

Guggenheim Partners got into the insurance business after America’s 2008 financial crisis, spotting investment opportunities. Walter figured he could increase the returns insurers got on their typical purchases of corporate bonds by connecting them to his deal pipeline, according to the Wall Street Journal, which found that five insurers had provided more than $10 billion in deal funding over the years.

The current probe began after an internal whistleblower filed a complaint questioning the way Walter’s asset-management firm, Guggenheim Investments, booked revenue associated with insurers, the Journal reported this week, and FBI agents seized at least one cellphone related to that probe.


Lakers selling majority ownership of franchise to Dodgers owner
June 18, 2025
The investigation then spread to examining $16 billion in loans, which were passed through a third party before being received by the companies tied to Walter or TWG, the Journal reported, adding that authorities are trying to determine whether that amounted to fraud, citing an unnamed source.

The insurers, Delaware Life Insurance and its affiliate Clear Spring Life and Annuity, disclosed the investigations in June regulatory filings. Delaware Life, which earlier had stated affiliated investments amounted to only about $1 billion, or 3% of its portfolio, increased that number to $16 billion.

Delaware Life executives told one credit rating firm they were unaware the loans were made to entities tied to Walter, the Journal reported. The companies said they received grand jury subpoenas in February related to an investigation by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York and that the Securities and Exchange Commission also is conducting a parallel investigation.

Investigations conducted by prosecutors and securities regulators often result in no action.

The Dodgers, TWG and Guggenheim did not immediately respond to messages for comment.

A TWG spokesperson told the Journal that “Mark Walter and TWG have always acted in good faith,” are cooperating with authorities and are “confident these matters will be resolved favorably.”

Dodgers’ new owners see winning business model; others see trouble
Dec. 15, 2012
After conducting an internal investigation, Delaware Life said it would restructure some related-party loans, address its internal control deficiencies and moderate its business plan, according to S&P Global. While the ratings agency is maintaining its “A-” financial strength and credit ratings of Delaware Life, it reduced its outlook to “negative” because of possible higher credit risk following changes to the insurer’s portfolio.

“In addition, such outcomes could weaken Delaware Life’s regulatory relationships and damage its reputation, which could erode its competitive position,” S&P said.

“Our capital position and liquidity remain strong, and our financial strength ratings are unchanged,” Group 1001, the insurers’ parent company, said in a statement.

“We remain focused on delivering exceptional value and service to our contract and policyholders and their financial representatives,” the statement added.

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.

 

the whistleblower's name was beve stallmer

 

Rich people tend to bend or break rules as they see fit. They hire a bunch of smart people to make it happen. Why should Walter be any different? This is the American way. If you aren't "cheating " you aren't really trying to win.

 

I watched the Billions tv series, the Feds will look into everything it seems lol

 

Good show

 

yeah, hard disagree, similar to "it's ok for ballmer to cheat cuz cheating is how you win!". no, you win by outperforming in a game or system governed by agreed-upon rules. cheating is cheating and should be punished by those who govern the system, else there is no system (and thus no winners, really).

anyway, tbh, the whole walter experience has been a total dud so far. guy seems like a slimeball, and almost no tangible change has occurred. we hired some underlings from a bad franchise, moved the g league team, and gutted our already paltry scouting team seemingly without replacement. no announced improvements on medical team, reportedly lowball offers to attempted front office hires--including more than one rejection (i know, i know, all rob's fault, like all other laker ills), rambis still running around with no clear job description other than ubiquitous.

same s***, different day, except now our owner is involved with saudi arabia and for-profit prisons instead of being dinged for being too nice or whatever.

 

Damn, go get them abeer! Great rant