Current Lakers Franchise Value
The Los Angeles Lakers are consistently ranked among the most valuable franchises in the NBA, with Forbes estimating the team's enterprise value at approximately $6.4 billion as of its latest annual NBA team valuations list. This figure reflects the purchase price paid by the current ownership group led by Jeanie Buss and the Buss family trust, which acquired full control of the team in a transaction that closed in 2017. The valuation combines the NBA franchise, the Staples Center operating share, and associated media and sponsorship rights, as detailed in the Forbes NBA valuations report here.
Forbes and other business outlets rank the Lakers near the top of the NBA's franchise value table, driven by a large national television audience, premium sponsorship deals, and a historically strong revenue base. The team's value has grown steadily over the past decade, reflecting both NBA-wide revenue growth and the Lakers' global brand strength. This sustained increase places the franchise among the most expensive sports teams in North America, alongside elite clubs in football, baseball, and soccer.
Revenue Streams and Business Model
The Lakers generate revenue from national and local television deals, ticket sales, suite and premium seating, merchandise, and arena-related income, with the team sharing in the NBA's media rights agreements that distribute billions of dollars across the league annually. Local regional sports network deals and in-arena experiences add significant earnings, while global merchandise sales and international partnerships extend the team's commercial reach far beyond the Los Angeles market.
Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, teams share revenue from national broadcasts and certain other sources, which helps support franchise valuations even for teams in smaller markets. The Lakers' position in the league's media and sponsorship hierarchy gives the franchise an outsized role in these shared revenue pools. Business analysts and sports finance outlets track these streams closely, and the Forbes NBA team valuations page provides detailed breakdowns of revenue and operating income here.
Ownership, Market Position, and Future Outlook
The Lakers are controlled by the Buss family through a trust structure, with Jeanie Buss serving as controlling owner and governor of the team, a role that has shaped the franchise's business strategy and public profile. The team operates as a limited partnership under the Lakers organization, with ownership stakes held by the Buss family trust and certain key executives, and the franchise's governance follows NBA ownership rules and compliance guidelines here.
Analysts project the Lakers' value will continue to rise as the NBA signs new media rights deals and expands international broadcasts, with the franchise's large market size and championship history supporting strong demand for tickets and sponsorships. The team's valuation is also tied to the broader sports and entertainment market in Los Angeles, where the Staples Center and surrounding venues anchor a dense ecosystem of events, concerts, and business activity. Investors and sports business journalists monitor these dynamics closely, and the latest franchise rankings are updated regularly in the Forbes annual NBA valuations report here.