The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be acquired for $12.5 billion by an investment group led by entrepreneur Joshua Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger, according to reports by ESPN. The proposed transaction, detailed in media reports in August 2026, would establish a record in North American professional sports.
A Rapid Turnover in Ownership for a Historic Franchise
In June 2025, control was transferred to billionaire Mark Walter, head of the holding company TWG Global, which also controls the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. Walter’s tenure as primary owner lasted only a single season, concluding with a Western Conference semifinal playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Under Walter’s brief ownership, the franchise maintained its high valuation before entering negotiations for this latest multi-billion-dollar sale. The Buss family had guided the Lakers since 1979, establishing the iconic “showtime” era of the 1980s that fused competitive basketball with Hollywood glamour and entertainment.
Evaluating the Record-Breaking Valuation
The $12.5 billion price tag marks a staggering escalation in sports franchise values, arriving roughly one year after Mark Walter acquired the club for approximately $10 billion (Lesoir.be). That earlier transaction already represented a high-water mark for professional sports team evaluations.
To put the figure in perspective, the Lakers have secured 17 NBA championships throughout their history, trailing only the Boston Celtics for the most titles in league lore.
Meet the New Prospective Owners
Joshua Kushner heads the investment fund Thrive Eternal and is the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump. Bob Iger, 75, served as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company from 2005 to 2020 and returned for a subsequent stint from 2022 to 2026. Iger also holds ownership ties to Angel City FC, a professional women’s soccer franchise based in Los Angeles.
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“As fans of NBA since always, we are deeply honored by the opportunity to take the reins of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world,” Kushner and Iger said in a joint statement reported by European sports media outlets. “We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss.”
What Remains Before the Deal Closes
Despite the agreement between the outgoing ownership and the incoming buyers, the transaction is not yet finalized. According to ESPN’s reporting, the sale remains subject to formal review and approval by the NBA’s Board of Governors, a vetting procedure that typically requires several weeks to complete.
Mark Walter addressed the impending sale in a public statement, reflecting on his brief time at the helm. “Being an owner of the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the greatest honors of my life—an extraordinary investment, but what I will remember is the community, the supporters, and a city that considers this team its family,” Walter said.
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