Lakers valuation hits $12.5 billion with new sale agreement

The Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of a historic sale, with former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner reportedly agreeing to purchase the iconic NBA franchise for $12.5 billion. This valuation would set a new record for the sale of a U.S. professional sports team.

The deal, initially reported by the Financial Times, was later confirmed by AP and Reuters with the final figure. The transaction is still subject to approval from the NBA's Board of Governors, meaning the change in ownership is not yet official. The speed at which the Lakers' valuation has surged is particularly noteworthy.

In June 2025, the Buss family sold a majority stake to Mark Walter based on a valuation of approximately $10 billion, a transaction formally approved by the NBA in October 2025. Now, less than a year later, the proposed deal with Iger and Kushner pushes the valuation to $12.5 billion, marking an approximately 25% increase, or about $2.5 billion, in an extraordinarily short period.

Bob Iger is a titan of the entertainment industry, known for overseeing major acquisitions like Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm during his tenure at Disney. Joshua Kushner, founder of the venture capital firm Thrive Capital, brings experience in tech investments and has a notable political connection as the brother of Jared Kushner, husband of Ivanka Trump and son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. The pair had previously explored entering the NBA, reportedly hiring advisors to consider an expansion franchise in Las Vegas, but this acquisition of the Lakers redirects their focus to controlling one of the world's most recognized sports brands.