Lukas Walton and Wife Acquire Minority Stake in Chicago Bulls

Lukas Walton and his wife Samantha acquired a minority stake in the Chicago Bulls and the United Center. The Chicago Bulls announced the transaction on Friday. The purchase involved existing stakes from limited partners and does not provide a path to controlling ownership.

A person familiar with the matter said the Waltons hold a 10 percent interest in the team and arena. The size of the stake and its valuation were not disclosed. The Reinsdorf family remains the controlling owner of the Chicago Bulls.

Jerry Reinsdorf purchased the team for $16.2 million in 1985. CNBC values the franchise at $6.45 billion, ranking it fifth among NBA teams. The Wirtz and Reinsdorf families split ownership of the United Center and will retain controlling interest in the arena and the $7 billion 1901 Project redevelopment on Chicago's West Side.

Lukas Walton, 39, is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton and has a reported net worth of roughly $45 billion. He and Samantha are Chicago residents. The Chicago Bulls won six NBA championships during the Michael Jordan era but have not reached the playoffs since the 2021-2022 season.

"The Chicago Bulls are as iconic as the city itself, and this transaction reflects our dedication to the city's future," the Waltons said in a statement. " Lukas Walton's uncle Rob Walton bought the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2022 and owns a stake in MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.