Dodgers owner Mark Walter officially sold off his shares in English soccer club Chelsea on Wednesday, a move coming hot on the heels of his surprise $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers last month, all while a federal investigation into his insurance companies continues to swirl. It’s a turbulent time for Walter, who is shedding major sports assets at a dizzying pace.
The Billion-Dollar Exit Strategy
Walter and co-owner Todd Bohely had originally purchased Chelsea in 2022 alongside majority owner Clearlake Capital for roughly $3.38 billion. Bohely, who was previously the chairman of Chelsea, also sold his shares, leaving Clearlake to take controlling ownership of the club. The Chelsea deal follows last month’s record-breaking $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to a group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. That Lakers deal reportedly came together in a matter of days and ended Walter’s time running the franchise after only about a year, having bought it for a then-record $10 billion in June 2025. You gotta wonder what’s driving these quick, massive sales.
The Federal Probe and Dodgers on the Clock?
The real kicker in all this? Walter is currently the subject of a federal investigation. There are serious allegations that his insurance companies engaged in fraud, specifically that they invested money from policyholders into other companies owned by Walter without properly disclosing it to investors. Even wilder, he’s accused of using those companies and that money to fund his original purchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Walter’s company, TWG Global, insisted last month after the Lakers sale that the Dodgers are not going to be sold and that they complied with all MLB rules when buying the team for more than $2 billion in 2012. Dodgers president Stan Kasten has also reiterated that the team is “not for sale” despite the ongoing investigation into Walter. But after seeing him dump two of his three most notable teams, it’s fair to wonder if the Dodgers could be next, no matter what anyone is saying.
The Dodgers have already clinched a playoff spot this fall and are locked in, vying for a third straight World Series title. Chelsea just had a successful year themselves, snagging the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Europa Conference League, and they sit at 2-1-1 in the Premier League after a 2-2 draw with Hull City on Sunday. But with Walter selling off assets at such a rapid pace and a federal investigation breathing down his neck, the baseball world has to be watching closely to see if those assurances about the Dodgers’ future truly hold up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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