Walmart Heir Lukas Walton Nets Minority Stake in Chicago Bulls

Lukas Walton, the heir to Walmart, and his wife, Samantha, have acquired a minority stake in both the NBA's Chicago Bulls and the United Center, where they play. CNBC reported the news following a team announcement. 

With this transaction, Walton is purchasing existing stakes from limited partners, but there's no path to controlling ownership, according to the team. 

The exact details of the stake or valuation weren't disclosed, but CNBC is reporting that the stake in the team is around 10% according to "a person familiar with the matter." 

The person who disclosed the information to CNBC was not authorized to speak about it publicly. 

Right now, the controlling owners of the Bulls are the Reinsdorf family. Jerry Reinsdorf purchased the team for $16.2 million in 1985. The team's valuation in 2026 is about $6.45 billion, per CNBC's NBA team valuations. This is the fifth-most valuable NBA franchise. 

The list of NBA franchises could become expanded soon as Bill Foley, the owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, has placed a bid for a Las Vegas-based NBA team. 

Reinsdorf Family Retains Control

As for the United Center, this ownership is split between the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families. The United Center is not only where the Bulls play, but also where the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks play. These families will continue to hold a controlling interest in the United Center and the "1901 Project," a $7 billion redevelopment. 

The Bulls franchise has six total NBA titles. These wins came in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998. The team hasn't made the playoffs since the 2021-22 season. They haven't won a division title since 2012 or a conference title since 1998. 

Walton Family Expands Sports Investments

Walton, 39, is the grandson of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. He and his wife are residents of Chicago, and per Forbes, he has a net worth of about $45 billion. 

“The Chicago Bulls are as iconic as the city itself, and this transaction reflects our dedication to the city’s future. We have long admired the vision the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families have set forth for The 1901 Project, and we look forward to the United Center’s continued positive impact on Chicago’s West Side,” the Waltons said in a statement.

Lukas' uncle, Rob Walton, purchased the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2022 and also has a stake in the MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.