Who Owns the Timberwolves? Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, After a 2-1 Arbitration
If you landed here by searching who owns the Timberwolves, you are not alone. The Minnesota Timberwolves' ownership saga has been one of the NBA's most talked‑about off‑court stories. Below, we unpack exactly who owns the Timberwolves today, how the franchise got here, how much the team is worth, and why the next chapter matters for fans across Minnesota—and the league.
Quick Answer – Who Owns the Timberwolves in 2026?
As of 2026, billionaire entrepreneur Marc Lore and baseball legend Alex Rodriguez are the controlling owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves (and WNBA sister club Minnesota Lynx). On June 24, 2025, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the transfer of the controlling interests in both clubs from Glen Taylor to Lore and Rodriguez, ending the multi-year legal standoff. The two serve as Co-Chairmen: Lore is the Timberwolves Governor with Rodriguez as Alternate Governor, and for the Lynx those roles flip, with Rodriguez as Governor and Lore as Alternate. pr.nba.com
The deal was priced off the $1.5 billion franchise valuation the two sides agreed in 2021, a number Forbes also carries on its Timberwolves page. forbes.com
In short: if you are wondering who owns the Timberwolves, the answer is now firmly the Marc Lore/Alex Rodriguez consortium.
The Timberwolves' Ownership Timeline (1989 – 2026)
Understanding who owns the Timberwolves right now is easier when you see the 36‑year journey that led to the June 2025 hand‑off.
1. Expansion Birth & Early Turbulence (1989–1994)
1989: The NBA awards Minneapolis an expansion franchise owned by local businessmen Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner.
1994: Financial struggles spark rumors of a move to New Orleans. League owners block relocation, opening the door for Mankato publishing magnate Glen Taylor.
2. Glen Taylor's Era (1994–2021)
Taylor acquires the Wolves in 1994 for $88 million, keeping the team from a move to New Orleans. He hires Kevin McHale, drafts Kevin Garnett, and by 2004 the club reaches the Western Conference finals. Yet over the next decade playoff droughts and front‑office churn define his tenure. Taylor also buys the Minnesota Lynx, who win four WNBA titles under his watch. nbcsports.com
3. Enter Marc Lore & Alex Rodriguez (2021–2023)
2021: Taylor agrees to sell the teams to Lore and Rodriguez in four stages over four years — 20 percent, then 20 percent, then 40 percent, then the final 20 percent — at a $1.5 billion valuation for the first payment, with small increases at each successive stage. sportico.com
The first two payments went through, taking the pair to roughly 40 percent of both franchises.
4. Arbitration, Deadlines & Drama (2024)
In March 2024, around the time the third payment fell due, Taylor called the rest of the deal off and said the buyers had breached the contract. Lore and Rodriguez disputed that reading, arguing the agreement allowed a 90‑day extension so long as their financing was in place — which they said it was. After a mediation session failed, hearings opened in November 2024 and ran into the new year. A three‑person arbitration panel ruled 2‑1 in February 2025 that the pair had not violated the 2021 purchase agreement and should be allowed to complete the acquisition. At that point they owed Taylor roughly $942 million for the outstanding stake, money already sitting in escrow. sportico.com
5. Final Agreement & NBA Approval (2025)
In early April 2025 Taylor confirmed he would not appeal, and agreed to sell 100 percent of the franchise at the $1.5 billion valuation set in 2021. nbcsports.com
On June 24, 2025 the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the transfer, and the league said the transaction was expected to close that week. The buyers' backers include Michael Bloomberg, Eric Schmidt and the private equity firm Blue Owl. pr.nba.com · sportico.com
Minnesota Timberwolves Ownership (2026)
Ownership as of June 24, 2025 NBA Board of Governors approval. Glen Taylor exited at the $1.5B valuation lock-in.
The Staggered Sale Strategy
The Timberwolves ownership transition was one of the NBA's most complex franchise sales. No filings exist to read: the NBA is a private league and none of its clubs report to the SEC, so everything below is reconstructed from the league's own announcements and contemporaneous reporting on the arbitration.
The Valuation Lock-In
By locking in the $1.5 billion valuation in 2021, Glen Taylor secured a price that now looks like a significant discount, even allowing for the small step-ups written into each successive tranche. NBA franchise values have soared since. The staggered structure did, however, let Lore and Rodriguez acquire the team gradually, reducing their initial capital requirements while giving them time to prove their operational capabilities.
The Arbitration Outcome
The arbitration panel's 2-1 decision turned on whether the buyers had actually breached the 2021 purchase agreement when Taylor called the deal off in March 2024. The panel found they had not, and that the transaction should be allowed to proceed. The award is a reminder that in private-league franchise sales the contract, not the league office, decides who ends up holding the team.
The Strategic Partnership
Lore and Rodriguez bring complementary strengths: Lore's tech and e-commerce expertise combined with Rodriguez's sports industry connections and media presence. This partnership model—combining business acumen with sports credibility—may become more common as franchise values rise and require larger capital commitments. The evidence suggests this structure allows for better risk distribution while leveraging each partner's unique advantages.
What The Timberwolves Sale Reveals
1. The Staggered Sale Model
The Timberwolves sale demonstrates how staggered transactions can benefit both buyers and sellers. Buyers can acquire franchises gradually, reducing initial capital requirements, while sellers can mentor new owners and ensure smooth transitions. This model may become more common as franchise values continue rising and require larger capital commitments.
2. Deadlines Are Not Self-Executing
Taylor's position was that a missed payment date killed the deal outright. The panel disagreed by 2-1, finding the buyers had not breached the agreement. For anyone structuring a multi-stage franchise sale, the lesson is that a payment deadline only ends a contract if the contract clearly says it does.
3. The Tech-Sports Convergence
Marc Lore's background in e-commerce and technology represents a new type of NBA owner. His plans for data-driven fan experiences and digital innovation reflect how tech entrepreneurs are bringing new approaches to sports ownership. This convergence of tech and sports may reshape how franchises operate and engage with fans.
4. The Valuation Gap
The $1.5 billion valuation, locked in 2021, sits well below where Forbes marks the club today. That gap is the most plausible explanation for the legal fight: Taylor was contractually bound to sell at a price the market had left behind. It highlights the difficulty of multi-year sale agreements in a rapidly appreciating market.
Meet the New Owners
Knowing who owns the Timberwolves is only half the story—fans also want to know who Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are and what they plan to do.
Marc Lore at a Glance
- Background: Serial entrepreneur. Walmart agreed in August 2016 to buy his company Jet.com for approximately $3 billion in cash plus $300 million in Walmart shares paid over time, and he went on to run Walmart eCommerce.
- Net worth: Forbes puts him at $4 billion.
- Vision: Has publicly floated "city‑of‑the‑future" concepts and talks about deploying analytics, e‑commerce style customer data and more fan‑friendly digital experiences inside Target Center.
corporate.walmart.com · forbes.com
Alex Rodriguez at a Glance
- Background: 22‑season MLB superstar, World Series champion, now investor and media personality.
- Role: Face‑of‑the‑franchise partner, using broadcast visibility and athlete networks to attract sponsors and free agents. He is Governor of the Lynx and Alternate Governor of the Timberwolves.
Who Else Is In The Group
The consortium's full cap table has not been published. The backers reported during the arbitration include Michael Bloomberg, Eric Schmidt and the private equity firm Blue Owl. Figures circulating elsewhere for individual partners' percentages are not disclosed by the league or the club and should not be treated as fact. sportico.com
Why Did Glen Taylor Decide to Sell?
Taylor was 83 at the time of the handover and, though emotionally tied to the franchise he rescued, soaring NBA valuations made a sale attractive. The arithmetic is straightforward: he paid $88 million in 1994 and exited at a $1.5 billion valuation, roughly seventeen times his money before tax. The staggered structure also let him hand over gradually rather than in a single break. nbcsports.com
How Much Are the Timberwolves Worth Today?
The $1.5 billion valuation locked in back in 2021 now looks like a discount. Forbes valued the Timberwolves at $3.6 billion in its October 2025 list, 28th of 30 NBA clubs, on revenue of $320 million and a $41 million operating loss. Sportico separately marked the Wolves at $3.29 billion in February 2025, with the Lynx worth a further $85 million. That gap between contract price and market price is a large part of why who owns the Timberwolves turned into a contested legal drama. forbes.com · sportico.com
What Happens Next for Fans?
- Basketball Operations: Tim Connelly, hired as president of basketball operations in 2022, was expected to stay on under the new owners.
- Arena: The Timberwolves and Lynx play at Target Center, which opened in October 1990 and is owned by the City of Minneapolis, not by the team. Its last big overhaul, a $145 million project completed in 2017, was a joint venture between the clubs, the city and the arena operator - so any future renovation needs the city at the table too. (targetcenter.com)
- Fan Experience: Lore has consistently pointed to data-driven ticketing and digital experiences as his first area of focus; no specific spending commitments have been published.
FAQ – Who Owns the Timberwolves? Your Top Questions Answered
Q: Who owns the Timberwolves right now?
A: The Marc Lore / Alex Rodriguez consortium, formally approved by the NBA Board of Governors on June 24, 2025. Glen Taylor has fully exited equity.
Q: Did Alex Rodriguez buy the Timberwolves by himself?
A: No. Rodriguez is co‑owner alongside Marc Lore, and the group's reported backers include Michael Bloomberg, Eric Schmidt and Blue Owl. The full investor list and the split between them have not been made public.
Q: Does Glen Taylor still keep a stake?
A: No. Taylor agreed in April 2025 to sell 100 percent of the franchise, and the NBA approved the transfer of the controlling interests in both the Timberwolves and the Lynx that June.
Q: When did the sale become 100% final?
A: The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the transfer on June 24, 2025, and the league said the transaction was expected to close that week.
Q: Are the Wolves or Lynx moving to another city?
A: There is no public indication that either club is moving. Any relocation terms in the purchase agreement are private and have not been disclosed, so treat specific dates or penalty figures you see quoted elsewhere with caution.
Q: Who owns the Minnesota Lynx?
A: The same Lore‑Rodriguez consortium. The roles flip: Rodriguez serves as the Lynx Governor with Lore as Alternate.
Final Thoughts
The answer to who owns the Timberwolves is now settled: the franchise has formally passed from long‑time steward Glen Taylor to the fresh‑thinking partnership of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. The June 2025 NBA approval ended years of speculation and positions Minnesota for an exciting, tech‑forward future—just in time for Anthony Edwards' prime and a rejuvenated fan base hungry for more playoff runs.
Sources
- NBA Communications, "NBA Board of Governors approves sale of Timberwolves and Lynx to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez," June 24, 2025. pr.nba.com
- Sportico, "A-Rod, Lore Win Timberwolves, Lynx Arbitration Ruling Over Glen Taylor," February 2025. sportico.com
- NBC Sports, "Timberwolves sale from Glen Taylor to Marc Lore, Alex Rodriguez agreed to, moving forward," April 3, 2025. nbcsports.com
- Forbes, "The Most Valuable NBA Teams 2025," October 23, 2025. forbes.com