The Los Angeles Lakers are about to change hands once again. Just over a year after Mark Walter announced their acquisition, the iconic NBA franchise is set to be sold to a group led by investor Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, former head of Disney. The deal values the Lakers at $12,5 billion , a new record for a North American sports franchise. The agreement involves a majority stake in the team. It still requires approval from the NBA before being finalized.
Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger take control of the Lakers
The two main figures behind the new group are Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger. Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, is notably the founder of the investment firm Thrive Capital. Bob Iger, for his part, led Disney for many years and has long-standing ties to Los Angeles. The announced amount immediately propels this transaction to the top of the list of deals in American professional sports. The valuation of $12,5 billion surpasses the $10 billion valuation used during the previous change of ownership of the Lakers.
Mark Walter sells barely more than a year after his arrival
The change is particularly striking due to its speed. In June 2025, the Buss family agreed to sell its majority stake to Mark Walter in a transaction that valued the Lakers at $10 billion . The NBA officially approved this sale in October 2025. Mark Walter had already been a shareholder in the Lakers since 2021. A businessman particularly active in sports, he also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB and has interests in several other sports organizations. With this new $12,5 billion transaction, the Lakers' valuation has increased by $2,5 billion compared to the deal concluded with the Buss family.
A new record for a sports franchise
The announced $12,5 billion represents an unprecedented sum for the acquisition of a North American sports franchise. The Lakers' value has increased dramatically over the long term. Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Forum, and several real estate assets in 1979 for a total of $67,5 million. The Lakers' share was then estimated at approximately $16 million. Nearly half a century later, the franchise is valued at $12,5 billion.
The Buss family retains a stake
This latest sale does not mean the complete disappearance of the Buss family from the Lakers' ownership. The family retains a minority stake in the franchise. Jeanie Buss will also continue to hold a position in the club's governance. The transition is therefore gradual for a franchise that has remained closely associated with the name of Jerry Buss and his children for several decades. The Buss family had controlled the Lakers since 1979. During this era, the club became one of the most famous and successful franchises in world sports, with generations of stars ranging from Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James.
The Lakers are entering a new era
For the Lakers, this sale represents the second major change in their ownership structure in just over a year. Mark Walter ended more than four decades of Buss family control in 2025. Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger are now preparing to take over the reins of the franchise. A new chapter is about to begin in Los Angeles for a team whose value has now reached an unprecedented level: $12,5 billion.
