For Glen Taylor, the Minnesota Timberwolves represented a long-term investment that eventually became one of the more valuable transactions in professional basketball. He acquired the franchise in 1994 for $88 million, initially stepping in to prevent the team from relocating to New Orleans. More than three decades later, the ownership changed hands following a complicated agreement involving two high-profile investors.

The transaction began in May 2021, when Taylor agreed to sell the franchise to Marc Lore and former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. However, the deal encountered several delays and legal disagreements before reaching its final stages.

The agreement also faced arbitration after Taylor attempted to withdraw from the transaction in 2024, arguing that Lore and Rodriguez had missed a payment. An arbitration panel ultimately ruled in favor of the buyers in February 2025, allowing the purchase to proceed.

Under the new arrangement, Lore became the Timberwolves’ governor, with Rodriguez serving as alternate governor. Their roles were reversed for the Lynx, with Rodriguez taking the governor position.

Taylor’s original $88 million investment and the eventual $1.5 billion valuation illustrate the dramatic growth in professional basketball franchise values. The difference between the two figures is approximately $1.412 billion, representing a substantial increase in the value of the organization.

For Lore and Rodriguez, the acquisition marked the beginning of a new ownership era for two established Minnesota sports franchises.