Los Angeles Lakers Sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for Record Price Over $12 Billion
The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold to American businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a transaction price exceeding $12 billion, setting a record for sports franchise sales. Multiple sources have confirmed this information to ESPN.
The deal is valued at approximately $12.5 billion, with buyers being Thrive Capital founder Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger. The two issued a statement expressing their honor in becoming the managers of the Lakers as lifelong NBA fans.
Mark Walter previously acquired a controlling stake about 14 months ago at an estimated valuation of around $10 billion. The transaction still requires NBA board approval. Jeanie Buss is expected to continue in a management role related to the team.
Kushner previously held a minority stake in the Miami Heat, and Iger recently joined Thrive Capital. The deal was reached quickly.
From a market mechanism perspective, this event-driven high-priced acquisition highlights the scarcity and brand premium of top sports assets, with capital flowing towards iconic NBA teams. Beneficiaries are the sellers and financially strong buyers, while potential investors seeking entry face increased valuation thresholds.
Source: Public Information
ABAB AI Insight
After being controlled by the Buss family for a long time, the Lakers were sold to Mark Walter in 2025 at a record valuation, and just over a year later, they are being resold at a significantly higher price, reflecting the continued appreciation of top NBA teams as cultural and commercial assets, as well as the entry of buyers from media and technology backgrounds.
On the capital path, Kushner and Iger are teaming up to acquire at a record price, motivated by the desire to obtain iconic sports IP and long-term brand value, strategically combining venture capital and media operation experience to enhance the team's commercialization and global influence.
Similar cases can be seen in other high-premium transactions involving NBA and major league teams, as well as the trend of technology and entertainment giants entering sports ownership, currently in a phase where sports franchise valuations are rapidly rising and attracting cross-industry capital.
The structural judgment indicates capital concentration: top sports assets are being further locked in by high-net-worth and institutional capital, driven by scarcity and media exposure that boosts valuations, concentrating ownership among buyers with resource integration capabilities.
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