The Los Angeles Lakers are changing hands in a blockbuster transaction that shatters professional sports valuation records. According to reports from Bloomberg and Reuters, former Walt Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and Thrive Capital co-founder Josh Kushner have agreed to acquire a controlling stake in the historic NBA franchise from Mark Walter for $125억달러(약 17조7375억원).
A Record-Breaking Valuation Outpacing NFL and NBA Peers
According to financial reports, the $125억달러(약 17조7375억원) purchase price eclipses the previous high-water mark for a professional sports franchise sale, which was set just a month prior when the National Football League’s Seattle Seahawks sold for 96억달러. The deal also represents a massive return for Walter, who bought the controlling stake from the Buss family only a year prior in October 2025 for 100억달러—marking a 25% increase in value in a 12-month span. LHB sports media consultant Lee Burke described the scale of the transaction as extraordinary.
Lightning-Fast Negotiations and Ownership Shift
According to Bloomberg, Iger and Kushner initially targeted a prospective NBA expansion team in Las Vegas before pivoting swiftly to pursue the storied Los Angeles franchise. Iger noted in an interview that the high-stakes negotiations accelerated rapidly over the course of three or four days, with the final agreement coming together within a tight 24-hour window. Walter, the Chief Executive Officer of Guggenheim Partners who retains holdings in Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and English Premier League side Chelsea, saw his holding firm TWG Global face recent federal inquiries involving loans linked to affiliated insurance firms. However, Walter’s representatives issued a statement maintaining that their business dealings have consistently been conducted in good faith and are entirely separate from the franchise sale.
Political Connections and Front Office Realities
Josh Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump. Kushner’s newly formed investment vehicle, Thrive Eternal, previously attempted to back a 42억달러 commercial stake acquisition proposed by FIFA before facing heavy pushback from European football governing bodies. Having previously acquired a stake in Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants, Kushner will now be required to divest his existing minority stake in the Miami Heat to complete the Lakers transaction. The sale remains subject to formal approval by the NBA Board of Governors and standard due diligence by the incoming ownership group.
On-Court Legacy and Roster Transition
Founded in 1947, the Lakers boast 17 championships across 32 NBA Finals appearances. The franchise’s iconic 1980s “Showtime” era under legendary figures Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson transformed the aesthetic and pace of basketball globally, laying the groundwork for subsequent generations of superstars including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Magic Johnson expressed public support for the incoming ownership on social media, writing that Iger is a long-standing acquaintance of over 40 years with a deep passion for the sport who aims to bring another title back to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the roster faces a significant turning point following the departure of all-time leading scorer LeBron James, who left the franchise via free agency during the offseason to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. The team now enters a new competitive chapter centered around Slovenian star Luka Dončić.
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