LeBron James' LLC was in business with Mark Walter' Guggenheim: report

Key Points:

• LeBron James had financial dealings with Mark Walter, Guggenheim Partners' CEO, involving a $300 million loan secured by James' future non-NBA earnings before joining the Lakers in 2018.
• Walter, whose business empire faces federal and SEC tax fraud investigations, began lending more to James as he acquired the Lakers, eventually taking a majority stake in 2025 before selling his share for $12.5 billion in 2024.
• James’ LLC received additional financing in 2022 through bonds backed by his personal income, coinciding with his $97 million Lakers contract extension, with all transactions approved by the NBA.
• The NBA and James’ representatives emphasized these financial arrangements were standard securitizations of personal earnings, and James has no direct affiliation with Guggenheim or involved insurers beyond these deals.
• Walter’s sale of the Lakers and portfolio reshaping occurred amid ongoing investigations into his business practices, with no immediate comment from the Lakers or Guggenheim Partners.