07/15/2025
The Los Angeles Lakers: A $10 billion Story on Wealth Creation
The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most successful and iconic teams in the NBA, recently sold for a staggering valuation of $10 billion USD. This sale marks the most expensive transaction for a sports team across all major leagues, setting a new benchmark in the world of professional sports. For perspective, the second-largest sale in history was the Boston Celtics, which sold for $6.1 billion USD in March 2025.
Let's break down the numbers...
The Lakers were last sold in 1979 to entrepreneur Jerry Buss, who purchased the team for $68 million USD. Turning $68 million into $10 billion over 45 years is a feat that few can fathom. This equates to a compounded annual return of about 11.6%.
SO.... is this kind of return only achievable by millionaires or billionaires? Not at all.
If an investor had placed their funds into the S&P 500 Index back in 1979 — and reinvested all dividends — they would have achieved an annualized return of approximately 12.2% by June 30 2025. That equates to about $13 billion today, outperforming the Lakers investment by about $3 billion, or 0.6% per year.
Of course, this comparison simplifies the scenario. It doesn’t account for taxes, fees, etc. OR the unique emotional value of owning a sports franchise. However, the underlying message remains clear: you don’t need access to exclusive, high-profile investments to achieve strong financial returns. What you need is time, discipline, and consistent exposure to the market.
Two Key Takeaways:
• You don’t need to be a millionaire to build wealth: Whether you’re investing millions or just a few hundred dollars, the market rewards patience, consistency, and a long-term mindset.
• The power of compounding: Investing in the stock market can deliver returns that rival even the most exclusive asset classes, amplified by the reinvestment of dividends.
The Return from LA Lakers sale assumes purchase price of $67.5 million January 1, 1979, and sale of $10 billion on June 30, 2025, compounded annually. S&P 500 returns from January 1, 1979, to June 30, 2025, and accounts for dividend reinvestment.
Source: Morningstar Direct, RBC GAM.