Mark Walter

Mark Walter is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and graduated from Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in 1978.{{Cite web |last=Hlas |first=Mike |date=2012-05-11 |title=From Cedar Rapids to owning the L.A. Dodgers, Mark Walter moves quietly and effectively |url=https://www.thegazette.com/sports/from-cedar-rapids-to-owning-the-l-a-dodgers-mark-walter-moves-quietly-and-effectively/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.thegazette.com |language=en-US}} His father, Ed, worked at a local concrete block manufacturing plant. Growing up, he was a fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.{{Cite book |last=Knight |first=Molly |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Best_Team_Money_Can_Buy/uYojCgAAQBAJ |title=The Best Team Money Can Buy: The Los Angeles Dodgers' Wild Struggle to Build a Baseball Powerhouse |date= |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4767-7629-3 |pages=29 |language=en}}

Walter attended Creighton University, where he studied accounting and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business in 1982. He then graduated from Northwestern University Law School in 1985.{{Cite web |title=Mark Walter |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-walter/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Walter gave Northwestern's law school $40 million in 2014 and endowed a law scholarship with his wife in 2015.{{Cite web |date=August 2015 |title=Mark and Kimbra Walter Establish Scholarship Fund at Northwestern Law |url=https://wwws.law.northwestern.edu/campaign/gifts/walter/index.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Northwestern Pritzker School of Law}}

Walter is married to Kimbra Walter, an attorney. She attended Northwestern University and Southern Methodist University Law School.{{Cite web |title=Kimbra and Mark Walter |url=https://www.twfcauses.com/about |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Walter Family Causes |language=en-US}} They have a daughter and live in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Walter serves as a trustee of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation;{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2012 |title=New Dodgers owner's ties to one of America's old money families |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-mar-28-la-fi-moco-new-dodgers-owners-story.html |access-date=July 29, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation |url=https://www.guggenheim.org/about-us/foundation |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation |language=en-US}} Creighton University;{{Cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://www.creighton.edu/leadership/president/board-trustees |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.creighton.edu |language=en}} Northwestern University;{{Cite web |title=Trustees |url=https://www.northwestern.edu/about/board-of-trustees/trustee/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Northwestern University |language=en}} and the Field Museum.{{Cite web |title=Mark R. Walter |url=https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/staff/profile/mark-r-walter |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Field Museum}} Kimbra Walter is a trustee of the Lincoln Park Zoo.{{Cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://www.lpzoo.org/about-the-zoo/leadership/board-of-trustees/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Lincoln Park Zoo |language=en-US}} Walter and his wife own White Oak Conservation, an animal refuge in Florida.{{Cite web |title=Mark Walter {{!}} Los Angeles Dodgers |url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/team/front-office/mark-walter |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In 2011, Walter made a $30,800 contribution to the Democratic National Committee, as well as a $5,000 contribution to Obama for America.{{Cite web |last=Christensen |first=Kim |date=April 21, 2012 |title=What kind of man is Dodgers' next owner? |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-apr-21-la-fi-mark-walter-20120422-story.html |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en}}

Walter is notoriously private, and estimates of his wealth vary wildly. In May 2024, Bloomberg Businessweek estimated that Walter's net worth was $6 billion.{{Cite news |last=Vaughan |first=Liam |date=2024-05-22 |title=The Dodgers Mogul and the Indian Infrastructure Giant that Wasn't |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-05-22/dodgers-owner-mark-walter-s-india-bet-ends-in-disaster |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek}} However, in October 2024, Bloomberg raised the estimate to $12 billion,{{Cite news |last=Maloney |first=Tom |date=2024-10-25 |title=Guggenheim's Walter Is Worth $12 Billion as Dodgers Thrive |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-25/guggenheim-s-walter-builds-12-billion-fortune-as-dodgers-thrive |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek}} on the assumption that Walter owned 20% of Guggenheim Partners.{{Cite web |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index: #231 Mark Walter |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/mark-r-walter/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Bloomberg}} As of February 2025, Forbes valued Walter's net worth at $6.1 billion.

In 1996, Walter, Tom Irvin and Steven E. Johnson co-founded the Liberty Hampshire Company.{{Cite web|title=Liberty Hampshire Co LLC/The - Company Profile and News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/504944Z:US|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=Bloomberg.com|language=en}} In 2000, he helped found Guggenheim Partners with assistance from Guggenheim family heir Peter Lawson-Johnson II; he now serves as its CEO.{{cite web |title=Who Is Dodgers Owner Mark Walter And Where Did He Get All That Money |url=https://www.laweekly.com/who-is-dodgers-owner-mark-walter-and-where-did-he-get-all-that-money/}} Through his work at Guggenheim, he got to know future investment partner Todd Boehly, who spent 14 years with the firm.{{Cite news |last=Twomey |first=Liam |last2=Johnson |first2=Simon |title=Chelsea’s ownership structure: Who owns what at Stamford Bridge? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5758157/2024/09/11/chelsea-ownership-boehly-clearlake-walter-wyss/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Walter is heavily involved in the insurance industry. He owns 21% of TWG Global Holdings, through which he owns 19% of Group 1001, a company that owns various insurance companies.{{Cite web |title=Organization Chart of the Registrant, the Depositor and DLIC Holdings, LLC |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/853285/000119312524121806/d816661dex99r.htm |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.sec.gov}} He is the controlling shareholder of Delaware Life Holdings, LLC, and serves on the board of EquiTrust Life.{{Cite web |date=2013-09-07 |title=Mark Walter, Chairman and Owner |url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/community/executives/walter.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907233702/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/community/executives/walter.html |archive-date=2013-09-07 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Los Angeles Dodgers}} TWG Global also maintains a stake in Carvana.

Walter has a personal stake in Beyond Meat. In addition, in 2021, it was reported that Walter had purchased numerous commercial and historic buildings in Crested Butte, Colorado, where his family frequently vacations, for an unknown purpose.{{Cite news |last=Hitt |first=Tarpley |date=May 2, 2021 |title=Billionaire Is Buying Up Small Colorado Town—and Locals Are Freaked |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/billionaire-mark-walter-is-buying-up-crested-butte-colorado-and-locals-are-freaked |access-date=July 29, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Blevins |first=Jason |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Mark Walter, who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, is buying up Crested Butte's downtown buildings |work=Colorado Sun |url=https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/09/mark-walter-dodgers-buying-crested-butte-downtown/}}

According to the Los Angeles Times, Walter utilized financial firepower from various Guggenheim-related insurance funds to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012.{{Cite web |last=Shaikin |first=Bill |date=2022-04-29 |title=The sale that saved the Dodgers, launched a decade of dominance |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2022-04-29/dodgers-owner-anniversary-kasten-magic-mark-walter-colletti-mattingly-kershaw |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} The Guggenheim insurers frequently deal in annuities, which provide large amounts of upfront capital but commit the insurers to long-term payment calendars.{{Cite web |last=Maddaus |first=Gene |date=2015-10-06 |title=Who Is Dodgers Owner Mark Walter and Where Did He Get All That Money? |url=https://www.laweekly.com/who-is-dodgers-owner-mark-walter-and-where-did-he-get-all-that-money/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=LA Weekly |language=en-US}} Walter frequently co-invests with Todd Boehly, a former Guggenheim employee who helped Walter's Guggenheim Partners acquire annuity specialist Security Benefit and bought the company from Guggenheim in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Ahuja |first=Maneet |last2=Tucker |first2=Hank |date=2024-04-01 |title=Meet The Billionaire Bond Investor Behind Chelsea F.C., Springsteen's Songbook And The LA Dodgers |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maneetahuja/2024/04/01/meet-the-billionaire-bond-investor-behind-chelsea-fc-springsteens-songbook-and-the-la-dodgers/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Forbes |language=en}} According to Boehly, his investment business creates or buys cash-needy companies, which Security Benefit's cash flow helps grow. Provided that the companies actually turn a profit, these profits can then be used to fund Security Benefit's annuities. Boehly earns money, in part, by buying stakes in the companies, which appreciate in value due to the investment from Security Benefit.{{Cite web |last=Childs |first=Mary |title=Former Guggenheim President Todd Boehly Is Growing His Investment Empire, From the Dodgers to Collateralized Loans |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/todd-boehly-profile-51555019627 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Barron's |language=en-US}} Forbes noted that other investors, like Warren Buffett (whose Berkshire Hathaway company owns insurer GEICO), have used similar tactics to make investments and acquisitions, although it added that Buffett "prefers mundane businesses like truck stops and ketchup."

Because of their long-term payment horizon, insurers that sell annuities are expected to prioritize long-term financial stability. As such, Guggenheim's investments in sports have sometimes been questioned by industry commentators. When Walter bought the Dodgers in 2012, The New York Times' Andrew Ross Sorkin wrote a critical column opining that insurance companies ordinarily do not invest in comparatively risky assets like sports franchises.{{Cite web |last=Sorkin |first=Andrew Ross |date=2012-04-10 |title=A Costly Toy Subsidized by Others |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/a-costly-toy-subsidized-by-others/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=DealBook |language=en}} After insurers reportedly contributed at least $300 million to the Dodgers bid, government regulators investigated the arrangement but declined to take further action.{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Jeff |date=2018-11-24 |title=A $20 billion plan that includes the LA Dodgers is said to be aimed at helping insurers if credit markets sour: WSJ |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/24/la-dodgers-linked-to-20-billion-plan-to-stabilize-big-insurers-wsj.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=CNBC |language=en}} In addition, in 2015, a representative from the Consumer Federation of America said that he would prefer to see a more conservative strategy from the Guggenheim insurers. By controlling multiple insurance companies, Guggenheim freshens up the balance sheets of each insurer by arranging for one insurer to provide reinsurance for the others, a practice that Guggenheim has defended as regulator-approved. Guggenheim has also struck a reinsurance deal with a company owned by a Dodgers investor.

Following early qualms, Guggenheim's financial position was strengthened by high television rights fees, as "live sports programming has proven far more resistant to disruption from the likes of Netflix and Amazon than other entertainment fare such as TV series and films."{{Cite news |title=Sports rights in the US approach $30 billion in 2024 |url=https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/sports-rights-in-the-us-approach-30-billion-in-2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250114121656/https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/sports-rights-in-the-us-approach-30-billion-in-2024 |archive-date=2025-01-14 |access-date=2025-02-14 |work=S&P Global Market Intelligence |language=en}} In buying the Dodgers, Walter intentionally broke with the conventional wisdom that National Football League franchises were more valuable than baseball teams, pointing out that the NFL does not allow teams to own their own television broadcasting rights.Knight 2015, pp. 35-36. In addition, Walter and his business associates have provided collateral to the insurers, including Dodgers shares, Walter's stake in Carvana, and various Wendy's hamburger franchises. Sorkin has acknowledged that Guggenheim's investment principles are not unique, as "many insurance companies use their premiums to make investments ... a slice of which can sometimes even be speculative," and that insurance companies ordinarily comply with the law if they "meet minimum capital requirements as determined by various regulators."{{Cite web |last=Rajbhandari |first=Alexandre |last2=McNeely |first2=Allison |date=2024-12-20 |title=Boehly’s Insurer Reaps Gains and Doubts From Loans to His Firms |url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2024/12/20/boehlys-insurer-reaps-gains-and-doubts-from-loans-to-his-firms/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=BNN Bloomberg |language=en}}

According to a family representative, Walter owns 27% of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. In 2012, he led Guggenheim Baseball Management (GBM)'s $2.15 billion purchase of the team.{{Cite web |last=Dilbeck |first=Steve |date=2013-04-03 |title=Mark Walter tells '60 Minutes' $2.15-billion bid for Dodgers was preemptive |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-xpm-2013-apr-03-la-sp-dn-mark-walter-60-minutes-dodgers-bid-20130402-story.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} His personal contribution was reportedly $100 million,{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Melissa |date=2014-06-08 |title=Chicago billionaire Mark Walter looks at big picture in LA sports deals |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/06/08/chicago-billionaire-mark-walter-looks-at-big-picture-in-la-sports-deals/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} with Guggenheim Partners-related businesses contributing another $1.213 billion.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-12-16 |title=Who spent what: Breaking down the $2-billion Dodgers sale |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-dec-16-la-sp-guggenheim-chart-20121216-story.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} (The precise contribution from insurance companies has been disputed, with The Wall Street Journal estimating a contribution of "at least $300 million" and LA Weekly putting the figure at $100 million.) He had previously looked into buying the Houston Astros.Knight 2015, p. 30.

File:The White House - 54437558719.jpg at an event celebrating the 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers]]

The price paid for the Dodgers was initially described as "stunning," as Forbes had valued the team at $1.4 billion and rivals were considering opening bids in the $1.6 billion range.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Patrick |date=2012-07-17 |title=Dodgers Still Worth $1.4 Billion, No Matter What Guggenheim’s Mark Walter Paid for Them: Forbes |url=https://observer.com/2012/07/dodgers-still-worth-1-4-billion-no-matter-what-guggenheims-mark-walter-paid-for-them-forbes/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Observer |language=en-US}} However, journalist Molly Knight later revealed that Steven A. Cohen (who later bought the New York Mets) had already offered Dodgers owner Frank McCourt $2 billion.Knight 2015, p. 32. Walter explained that he opened with his best bid so that McCourt would call off his auction for the Dodgers, which was scheduled for the following day.Knight 2015, p. 33. In March 2024, Forbes valued the Dodgers at $5.45 billion.{{Cite web |title=#2 Los Angeles Dodgers |url=https://www.forbes.com/teams/los-angeles-dodgers/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Walter appointed Stan Kasten to run the team. Under Walter, Kasten, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman,{{Cite news |last=McCullough |first=Andy |title=As the Dodgers enter their Shohei Ohtani Era, failure is not an option |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5339265/2024/03/18/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-era-opening-day/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} the team became baseball's "most perennially competitive team," and won the World Series in 2020 and 2024.{{Cite web |last=Toribio |first=Juan |date=2024-10-31 |title=Dodgers 'hit every speed bump possible' on way to title |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-beat-yankees-win-2024-world-series |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Less than a year after GBM bought the team, the Dodgers signed the most lucrative television deal in baseball.{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Jorge |last2=Shaikin |first2=Bill |date=2020-04-01 |title=Dodgers TV blackout is over; SportsNet LA now on DirecTV, AT&T |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2020-04-01/spectrum-deal-puts-sportsnet-la-on-att-platforms-dodgers-games-can-be-viewed |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Aided by the TV deal, the Dodgers significantly increased their payroll, which had previously been constricted by McCourt's cash flow issues. Although the Dodgers have not always been the year's biggest spender,{{Cite web |title=Major League Baseball Team Payrolls 1998-2024 |url=https://www.stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.stevetheump.com}} Walter greenlighted spending sprees in 2012 (when the Dodgers "easily" set the MLB single-season payroll record for the next season),{{Cite web |last=Saxon |first=Mark |date=2012-12-14 |title=GM Colletti: Dodgers not spending recklessly |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/8747944/not-spending-recklessly |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} 2023 (when the team signed $1.145 billion in contracts),{{Cite web |last=Axisa |first=Mike |date=2023-12-22 |title=Where Dodgers' payroll stands amid billion-dollar offseason and what roster holes LA still has to fill |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/where-dodgers-payroll-stands-amid-billion-dollar-offseason-and-what-roster-holes-la-still-has-to-fill/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} and 2024 (when the team added four nine-figure contracts in fewer than 12 months).{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Alden |date=2024-12-07 |title=Dodgers defend record spending, unprecedented deferred deals |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42815541/mlb-offseason-2024-25-free-agency-los-angeles-dodgers-deferrals-1-billion-snell-ohtani |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24745993/billie-jean-king-joins-los-angeles-dodgers-ownership-group|title=Dodgers welcome 'trailblazing' Billie Jean King, partner to ownership group|date=September 20, 2018|website=ESPN|access-date=}}{{Cite news| url =https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/robert-plummer-alan-smolinisky-join-dodgers-ownership-group)|title=Plummer, Smolinisky join Dodgers' ownership |work=MLB.com |date = September 19, 2019}}{{Cite news| url =https://www.wsj.com/articles/los-angeles-dodgers-add-two-entrepreneurs-to-ownership-team-11568936324|title=Los Angeles Dodgers Add Two Entrepreneurs to Ownership Team |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date = September 19, 2019}}

Walter owns one-sixth of the Los Angeles Sparks women's basketball team, which a group of Dodgers partners bought in 2014.{{cite web |last=Rohlin |first=Melissa |date=February 4, 2014 |title=Sparks bought by investment group led by Magic Johnson and Mark Walter |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-sparks-sold-magic-dodgers-20140204,0,3096283.story#axzz2sJrXrCHG |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times}} The WNBA's press release described Walter and Magic Johnson as the leaders of the ownership group. After buying the team, Walter commented that Johnson "came to me and said we need to help save the Sparks and keep them in Los Angeles."{{Cite web |title=WNBA Announces Sale of Sparks to Investment Group Led by Magic Johnson and Mark Walter |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/fever/news/wnba_announces_sale_los_angeles_sparks_magic_johnson_mark_walter.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=NBA.com}} The Sparks won the 2016 WNBA championship and made the 2017 WNBA Finals.{{Cite web |last=Voepel |first=Mechelle |date=2017-10-05 |title=Lynx outlast Sparks to win fourth WNBA championship |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/20917489/minnesota-lynx-outlast-los-angeles-sparks-win-fourth-wnba-championship |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Beyond the Sparks, a Group 1001 subsidiary signed Caitlin Clark as a brand ambassador in March 2024, shortly before the 2024 WNBA draft.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-05 |title=Gainbridge Signs College Basketball Star Caitlin Clark as Brand Ambassador |url=https://www.group1001.com/news/caitlin-clark-brand-ambassador |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.group1001.com |language=en}}

Walter owns 20% of the Los Angeles Lakers men's basketball team. In 2021, he teamed up with Boehly to buy out Philip Anschutz's 27% stake for an estimated $1.35 billion. Walter and Boehly reportedly have a right of first refusal if the Buss family ever sells the team.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-09 |title=AEG Announces Sale of Phil Anschutz’ Minority Interest in Lakers to Dodgers Owners Mark Walter and Todd Boehly |url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/aeg-announces-sale-anschutz-minority-interest-to-dodgers-owners-walter-boehly |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}} Walter had previously joined David Geffen, Oprah Winfrey, and Larry Ellison's unsuccessful 2014 bid for the Los Angeles Clippers,{{Cite news |last=Grover |first=Ronald |date=2014-05-29 |title=Group led by media mogul Geffen bids over $1.5 bln for LA Clippers |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/laclippers-geffen/group-led-by-media-mogul-geffen-bids-over-1-5-bln-for-la-clippers-source-idINKBN0E92CG20140529/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=Reuters}} which eventually went to Steve Ballmer.

Walter once led a consortium that bid for Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Los Angeles Kings and is the Lakers' landlord, but Philip Anschutz decided to keep the company.

Walter is a co-owner of several motorsport teams through TWG Global and its subsidiary TWG Motorsports:{{cite web |last1=Medland |first1=Chris |date=25 November 2024 |title=F1 confirms agreement in principle for GM/Cadillac to enter in 2026 (UPDATED) |url=https://racer.com/2024/11/25/f1-confirms-agreement-in-principle-for-gm-cadillac-to-enter-in-2026/ |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=RACER}}{{Cite web |last=Koenig |first=Bill |title=General Motors Agrees To Introduce A Formula One Race Team In 2026 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/billkoenig/2024/11/25/general-motorsagrees-to-introduce-a-formula-one-race-team-in-2026/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

• Andretti Global (primarily open-wheel racing, such as IndyCar, Indy NXT, Formula E);
• Cadillac Formula 1 Team (Formula One team entering competition in the 2026 Formula One World Championship);
• Spire Motorsports (stock car and truck racing, such as NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA);
• Walkinshaw Andretti United (Supercars Championship team); and
• Wayne Taylor Racing (sports car racing, such as the IMSA SportsCar Championship).

Through TWG's subsidiaries Group 1001 and Gainbridge, TWG began sponsoring Andretti Global in 2018, when it was still owned by Michael Andretti.{{Cite web |last=Blackstock |first=Elizabeth |date=2024-09-28 |title=Andretti Global and Group 1001: How a sponsorship became team co-ownership |url=https://www.planetf1.com/features/andretti-global-group-1001-racing-sponsorship-team-co-ownership |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=PlanetF1 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Nathan |date=2022-12-07 |title=As Andretti breaks ground on $200 million facility, F1 expansion answer 'getting close' |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2022/12/07/f1-news-michael-andretti-confident-in-formula-1-expansion-hopes/69694683007/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}} In 2019, Gainbridge also became the presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500.

Walter owns 12.7% of BlueCo, a holding company that bought English Premier League football club Chelsea in 2022 and Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg Alsace in 2023. BlueCo is primarily owned by Clearlake Capital (represented by Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano), and Eghbali is the primary figure at BlueCo, but Walter's investment partner Todd Boehly has a veto over major decisions. Walter serves on Chelsea's board,{{Cite web |title=Club Personnel |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-personnel |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Chelsea Football Club |language=en-gb}} but does not play an active role in day-to-day operations.

Walter owns North America's top-level professional women's ice hockey league, the Professional Women's Hockey League. In collaboration with Dodgers partners Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, Walter formed a unified league by consolidating the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association with the remnants of its rival, the Premier Hockey Federation.{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |date=May 24, 2022 |title=PWHPA, Billie Jean King considering new league: Source |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3490779/2022/05/24/pwhpa-billie-jean-king-enterprises-exploring-starting-womens-hockey-league-source/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=June 30, 2023 |work=The Athletic |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Walter Cup unveiled as PWHL's new title trophy |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39875607/pwhl-names-new-championship-trophy-financial-backer-walter-family |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The purchase ended the PWHPA's boycott of the PHF, which the PWHPA was pressuring to invest more in the sport.{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |date=June 30, 2023 |title=What we know about the PHF shutdown, and more on the new pro women's hockey league |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4655207/2023/06/30/premier-hockey-federation-why-mark-walter/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=June 30, 2023 |work=The Athletic |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-30 |title=Women’s Pro Hockey League Backed by Dodgers Owner, Billie Jean King to Launch in January |url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2023/06/30/womens-professional-hockey-league-billie-jean-king-mark-walter |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=SI |language=en-US}}

Walter appointed the Dodgers' Stan Kasten to oversee the league's business operations,{{Cite web |last=Medow |first=Shawn |last2=Ross |first2=Martin |date=2023-08-30 |title=Kasten: Investors’ PWHL business plan exceeds 10 years |url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/kasten-investors-pwhl-business-plan-exceeds-10-years/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=SportBusiness |language=en-GB}} and reportedly "committed hundreds of millions of dollars to launch the league," which began play in 2024.{{cite news |last1=Donkin |first1=Karissa |title=New York shuts out Toronto in 1st PWHL game as Canada's Shelton leads the way |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-toronto-new-york-season-opener-recap-jan-1-1.7072109 |access-date= January 2, 2024 |work=CBC Sports |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date= January 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101203630/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-toronto-new-york-season-opener-recap-jan-1-1.7072109 |archive-date= January 1, 2024 |location=Toronto | url-status = live}} The Mark Walter Group owns the inaugural six teams,{{cite web |author=ESPN News Services |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Sources: Premier Hockey Federation sale could unite women's hockey |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37937093/premier-hockey-federation-sale-unite-women-hockey |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN}}{{cite press release |title=New Women's Pro Hockey League to Launch in 2024 |date=June 30, 2023 |publisher=Premier Hockey Federation |url=https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/new-women-s-pro-hockey-league-to-launch-in-2024 |quote=Initiative, led by Mark and Kimbra Walter, Billie Jean King has PWHPA and PHF support |last=Krotz |first=Paul |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=PremierHockeyFederation.com}} although the PWHL has not ruled out adding expansion teams.{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2024-11-25 |title=With new season on the horizon, PWHL evaluating more than 25 expansion proposals |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-expansion-update-november-2024-1.7392870 |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}} The league's championship trophy is named after Mark and Kimbra Walter.

Walter and his wife were the primary financial backers of the 2018-19 PSA World 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.{{Cite web |last=Zug |first=James |date=April 3, 2019 |title=$1 Million: Professional Squash Hits Milestone in Chicago |url=https://squashmagazine.com/2019/04/1-million-professional-squash-hits-milestone-in-chicago/ |access-date=April 3, 2019 |website=squashmagazine |language=en}}

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Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:American chief executives of financial services companies

Category:BlueCo

Category:Chelsea F.C. chairmen and investors

Category:Los Angeles Dodgers executives

Category:Los Angeles Dodgers owners

Category:Major League Baseball executives

Category:Creighton University alumni

Category:Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law alumni