Metta World Peace attempted to become a Lakers investor with a $100 million commitment after Mark Walter acquired control of the franchise, but his proposal was rejected, according to the California Post. The former Los Angeles forward said he reached out to Walter immediately after the 2025 transaction because he believed the team’s value would continue to rise.

“I sent the email the next day, I tried to get in at $100 [million], and they didn’t let me in,” Sandiford-Artest told the California Post. “But I wish he had let me in. That would’ve been great to have a former Laker as an owner, especially with the Buss family gone.”

World Peace, who was known as Ron Artest during his Lakers playing career, said he was particularly interested in becoming part of the franchise because of his history with the organization.

“It would’ve been great to have a Laker, a champion like Metta World Peace,” he told the California Post. “They didn’t respond, and then they were like no.”

The timing of his proposed investment became more significant as the Lakers’ valuation subsequently climbed. Walter purchased the Buss family’s controlling interest in 2025 at a $10 billion valuation before selling his majority equity in August 2026 at a reported $12.5 billion valuation.

World Peace said he recognized the potential increase in the franchise’s value when he made his offer. “The reason why I tried to is I knew the value was going to go up, so I missed out,” he said. “I was kind of bummed about it. You have a former player who wants to put in $100 [million].”

The reported $12.5 billion valuation represents a $2.5 billion increase from the valuation attached to Walter’s 2025 acquisition. The subsequent transaction involved Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, while the Buss family’s remaining 17.8 percent stake was also agreed to be sold.

World Peace’s connection to the Lakers dates to the franchise’s 2009-10 championship team. He played four seasons in Los Angeles from 2009-10 through 2012-13 and averaged 9.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists during that span, according to the statistics provided.

His final Lakers season came more than a decade before the franchise’s latest ownership transition, which followed a 2025-26 season in which Los Angeles went 53-29 and won the Pacific Division. Luka Doncic led the team with 33.5 points and 8.3 assists per game, while Austin Reaves averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists.

The Lakers subsequently lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in four games in the Western Conference semifinals. LeBron James then left Los Angeles for Philadelphia, while the Lakers reshaped their roster around Doncic and Reaves.