Joe Lacob ran the Golden State Warriors along with Peter Guber on a unique approach inspired by Silicon Valley principles. Unlike past generations’ rigid, single-focus management styles, he emphasizes agile management, transparent communication, and regularly reassessing goals and methods with insights from external advisors. In contrast, most traditional team owners became wealthy by excelling in one industry and ran their franchises with the same top-down approach they applied to their companies. Lacob, however, surrounds himself with specialists and values tapping into their expertise to manage the Warriors effectively.

From $450 million to $8.2 billion! Joe Lacob’s takeover of the Warriors has made it one of the most valuable franchises in the world. This team once struggled financially, missing the playoffs 17 of 18 seasons until their 2013 return. In 2010, Warriors owner Chris Cohan hired Galatioto Sports Partners, a firm with expertise in sports team sales. Joe Lacob, with the majority stake, and Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber ultimately acquired the Warriors from Cohan. If it was someone else, who knows what would’ve happened?

Who are the owners of the Golden State Warriors? A look into the pillars behind the famous NBA dynasty

Lacob, as majority owner, oversees the Warriors’ day-to-day operations, while Peter Guber continues as the franchise’s executive chairman. Since they took charge, the Warriors have claimed four championships, starting from the 2014-15 season and the latest in 2021-22. Impressively, they also tied the record with 73 wins in the 2015-16 season.

Lacob wasn’t the first venture capitalist to own an NBA team. Over the past few years, venture capitalists, hedge fund managers, and private equity investors have increasingly acquired NBA franchises. Teams like the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Atlanta Hawks now belong to this newer group of buyers. Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies are owned by Silicon Valley engineers. Counting Lacob’s Warriors, these investors now control over a quarter of the league.

Did Joe Lacob own the Celtics before purchasing ownership with the Warriors?

It’s no fluke that Lacob can manage the Warriors so well, because he does have prior experience with a successful franchise. Joe Lacob was a minority owner of the Boston Celtics from 2006 until 2010, when he moved on to buy the Golden State Warriors for $450 million. Hailing from New Bedford, Lacob joined the Celtics as a co-investor in January 2006, teaming up with H. Irving Grousbeck, Wyc Grousbeck, and Steve Pagliuca. During his time with Boston, the team made a strong comeback, capturing the NBA title in 2008.

The Warriors lead the NBA in nearly all revenue categories, although their RSN deal ranks in the league’s second quartile, according to Sportico. Despite this, they’ve topped TV ratings for seven of the last eight seasons through 2022-23. Since 2010, the franchise’s revenue has multiplied sevenfold, and last season’s earnings were 37% higher than those of the Lakers after revenue sharing. Sponsorships have surged from a single million to $150 million, with premium seating at $250 million. The Warriors have secured 37 sponsors, each contributing at least $1 million, bolstered by an Instagram following of 32.6 million—surpassing even the Lakers. Rakuten’s jersey patch renewal brings in $45 million annually.

Chase Center’s versatile development has added to Golden State’s value, with initiatives like Golden State Entertainment and a WNBA expansion team set for 2025 extending their brand. “Our basketball team will always be our primary focus,” Lacob told Sportico in December 2022, comparing the Warriors’ evolution to Disney’s expansion into broader entertainment sectors.

The Warriors have faced setbacks, including the NBA’s worst record in 2019-20 when Stephen Curry was sidelined. They missed the playoffs again in 2020-21. To ensure success, the team is grooming young talent with a “two-timeline” strategy. Financially, Chase Center’s $3 billion in contractual revenue offers security. Their stability also comes from sponsorship deals averaging nine years and decade-long suite leases, even in lean years.

Curry remains a fan favorite, ensuring the Warriors stay a top draw as long as he’s on the court. Lacob’s readiness to exceed the luxury tax has kept the roster competitive, with a tax bill totaling over $500 million across six years. While he aims to avoid future tax penalties, Lacob has shown he’ll invest heavily if it fuels a title chase, noting, “The value of the brand building is worth the massive expense.”

What are the four other sports teams owned by Peter Guber?

Celebritynetworth pegs Peter Guber’s 2024 net worth at a remarkable $800 million—a testament to his long-standing impact on the entertainment industry since the 1970s. He’s the Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group, which he founded in 1995. Under Guber’s leadership, Mandalay has become a major film, TV, and sports player, producing acclaimed titles like The Kids Are All Right, Bernie, and Soul Surfer.

Guber’s earlier career is packed with influential roles. He served as Chairman and CEO at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Polygram Entertainment, co-founded Casablanca Record & Filmworks, and led Columbia Pictures as President. Beyond Mandalay, his work as a producer and executive producer includes classics like Rain Man, Batman, and The Color Purple, films that have collectively raked in over $3 billion worldwide and nearly 50 Academy Award nominations. What does a man do with so much wealth? He buys sports teams!

Guber holds a co-ownership stake in five major sports teams. He’s part of the ownership groups for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA, the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in MLS, and aXiomatic Gaming, where he controls one of the top eSports teams, Team Liquid. Quite an impressive portfolio across various sports and entertainment industries!