It was the messiest breakup in NBA history that didn't involve a player demanding a trade. For a while there, if you asked who owns the Minnesota Timberwolves, you’d get a different answer depending on which day of the week it was. On one side, you had Glen Taylor, the billionaire who kept the team in Minnesota when it nearly bailed for New Orleans in the 90s. On the other, you had Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, the flashy duo with big dreams and, apparently, a very different interpretation of contract deadlines.
Honestly, the whole thing felt like a high-stakes soap opera played out in corporate boardrooms and leaked press releases.
But as of right now, in early 2026, the dust has finally settled. The lawyers have gone home. The checks have cleared. The Minnesota Timberwolves are officially under the control of Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore.
The Wild Road to 2026 Ownership
You can't really talk about the current ownership without looking at the absolute chaos of the last few years. It started back in 2021. Taylor agreed to sell the team for $1.5 billion—a price that looks like a total bargain today given how team valuations have skyrocketed. The deal was structured in "tranches," which is basically a fancy way of saying "layaway for billionaires."
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Rodriguez and Lore bought chunks of the team over time. Everything seemed fine until March 2024. Suddenly, Glen Taylor announced the deal was off. He claimed the duo missed a critical payment deadline.
A-Rod and Lore were livid. They claimed they had the money ready and were just waiting on NBA paperwork. They accused Taylor of "seller's remorse" because the team was suddenly worth way more than $1.5 billion thanks to the rise of Anthony Edwards and a deep playoff run. It went to arbitration, and for nearly a year, the franchise was in a weird kind of limbo.
The Arbitration Ruling That Changed Everything
In February 2025, a three-person arbitration panel handed down the verdict that effectively ended the Glen Taylor era. In a 2-1 decision, the panel ruled that Taylor didn't have the right to cancel the sale. They gave Rodriguez and Lore a 90-day window to finalize the remaining payment.
By June 24, 2025, the NBA Board of Governors gave the official thumbs up. It was a unanimous vote. Taylor, who had owned the team since 1994, was out as the controlling owner.
Who is Marc Lore?
If you’re a sports fan, you know A-Rod. You know the home runs, the Yankees, and the tabloid headlines. But Marc Lore is the engine behind the money. He's an e-commerce heavyweight who founded Diapers.com (sold to Amazon) and Jet.com (sold to Walmart for $3.3 billion).
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Lore isn't just a "money guy." He’s a "vision guy." He’s the one talking about building a "city of the future" called Telosa and reinventing how fans experience games. He’s often seen sitting courtside with Rodriguez, usually in more casual gear than the pinstriped legend next to him.
"I’m flush with cash. I’ve got literally hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank, ready to invest in the Wolves and bring home a championship." — Marc Lore, during the height of the 2025 ownership dispute.
The Michael Bloomberg Factor
One of the biggest turning points in the ownership saga was when the duo brought in Michael Bloomberg. Yes, that Michael Bloomberg. The former New York City mayor and media mogul joined the investment group in late 2024.
His involvement did two things:
- It silenced any whispers that A-Rod and Lore were "short on cash."
- It gave the NBA's other owners peace of mind that there was serious, institutional wealth backing the franchise.
While Bloomberg isn't the "face" of the team, his capital was the final piece of the puzzle that allowed the group to buy out Taylor's remaining stake.
What This Change Means for the Fans
For decades, the Timberwolves were defined by "the Glen Taylor way." It was stable, sure, but it was also conservative. Taylor was often criticized for being too loyal to the wrong people or too hesitant to spend into the luxury tax.
The new era under Rodriguez and Lore feels different. It’s aggressive.
They’ve already made it a priority to keep Tim Connelly, the President of Basketball Operations who built the current roster. There’s constant talk about a new arena to replace the Target Center, which is currently the second-oldest arena in the NBA. They’ve also leaned heavily into the "nostalgia" factor, repairing the relationship with Kevin Garnett—something Taylor never quite managed to do.
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Priorities for the New Owners
- A New Arena: Expect a push for a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Minneapolis.
- The Luxury Tax: They've shown a willingness to pay the steep penalties required to keep a championship-caliber roster together.
- Global Branding: Using A-Rod's celebrity to turn the Wolves into a global brand, not just a "small market" team.
Why the Sale Price Was Such a Steal
Looking back, Glen Taylor’s frustration makes sense from a purely financial standpoint. In 2021, $1.5 billion felt fair. By late 2025, Forbes valued the Timberwolves at over **$3.6 billion**.
Because A-Rod and Lore locked in that 2021 price, they essentially walked into $2 billion of "instant equity." It’s one of the greatest business moves in the history of professional sports. Taylor felt he was getting robbed; the new guys felt they were just following the contract.
Practical Next Steps for Timberwolves Fans
If you're following the team's trajectory under this new ownership, here is what you should be watching for over the next 12 months:
- Monitor the "New Arena" Political Climate: Ownership will likely begin seeking public-private partnerships for a new stadium soon. This is always a contentious issue in local politics.
- Watch the Trade Deadline: Under Taylor, the Wolves often avoided the luxury tax. Watch how Lore and Rodriguez handle the "second apron" of the salary cap to see if they are truly willing to outspend the competition.
- The KG Return: Look for an official announcement regarding Kevin Garnett's jersey retirement. This will be the symbolic "opening" of the new era.
- Jersey Rebranding: There are strong rumors of a "return to the trees"—a rebrand that incorporates the classic 90s evergreen aesthetic that fans have been begging for.
The question of who owns the Minnesota Timberwolves is no longer a legal debate. It's a settled reality. Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have the keys, and the franchise is currently navigating its most successful and relevant period in its 37-year history.