Sports
Walmart Heir Buys Minority Stake in Chicago Bulls, United Center
A rendering of a redeveloped United Center area. (Provided by 1901 Project)
The Chicago Bulls announced Friday that an heir to the Walmart fortune has acquired a minority stake in the team and the United Center.
Lukas and Samantha Walton purchased stakes from limited partners in the team and stadium, according to a news release. The Reinsdorf family will continue to hold the controlling interest in the team and remains “steadfast in its long-term commitment to the organization.”
The Wirtz family, which owns the Blackhawks, and Reinsdorfs will also continue to hold the controlling interests in the United Center and the now-underway 1901 Project, which aims to develop the area around the stadium into an entertainment district with 9,500 new residential units.
“We are pleased to welcome Lukas and Samantha, who share our deep-seated belief in Chicago and our commitment to the institutions that make this city strong,” Michael Reinsdorf, president and CEO of the Chicago Bulls, said in a statement. “Together with our partners at the United Center, the Wirtz family, we are fully aligned in our vision for the Bulls, the United Center campus, and the future of the West Side.”
Lukas Walton, 39, is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. Along with other members of his family, he is an heir to the mega-retailer. This year, Forbes estimated he was the 40th wealthiest person in America with a net worth of $48.9 billion.
“The Chicago Bulls are as iconic as the city itself, and this transaction reflects our dedication to the city’s future,” Lukas and Samantha Walton said in a statement. “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 Reinsdorfs also own the Chicago White Sox. In June 2025, Jerry Reinsdorf, 90, reached an agreement with Justin Ishbia under which he will obtain a future controlling interest in the baseball team. Ishbia came aboard as an investor and Reinsdorf will have the option to sell the controlling interest sometime between 2029 and 2033. After that, Ishbia would be able to acquire control of the team, the team said.
The Chicago Bulls ended the season with a 31-51 record and have not won a championship since 1998. After a rough few years, the White Sox are rebounding this season and have a 41-38 record, tied for the lead atop the American League Central.
