Lakers Sale Set at $12.5 Billion as Josh Kushner and Bob Iger Take Over

The Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of another ownership change, this time for a reported $12.5 billion - a price that eclipses the $10 billion Mark Walter paid just a year earlier. The prospective buyers, venture investor Josh Kushner and former Disney chief Bob Iger, announced their intent in a joint statement, emphasizing their lifelong fandom and commitment to the franchise’s legacy. The transaction does not include the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks or the Dodgers, and it still requires the NBA board of governors’ sign-off.

## Deal dynamics and background

Kushner, who previously held a minority stake in the Memphis Grizzlies and a sub-5 % share of the Miami Heat, entered the conversation after exploring a Las Vegas expansion team. Iger confirmed that the deal materialised within three days once they learned Walter might be willing to sell. In the span of 14 months, Walter’s purchase price has risen by $2.5 billion, marking a swift appreciation for the iconic brand.

## Ongoing investigations into Mark Walter

Walter, also the chief executive of Guggenheim Partners, faces a multi-agency probe into his broader business empire. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are reviewing Guggenheim’s $362 billion money-management division, while the FBI and SEC examine roughly $16 billion in loans tied to Walter’s insurance subsidiaries - Delaware Life Insurance Co. and Clear Spring Life and Annuity Co. A whistleblower complaint prompted regulators to question whether related-party transactions were properly disclosed. Walter’s representatives maintain that all dealings were conducted in good faith.

## Historical context of Lakers ownership

The franchise’s sale history provides perspective on the current headline-making figure. Comparable sale prices are outlined below:

| Year | Owner | Sale price | |---|---|---| | 1947 | Ben Berger & Morris Chalfen | $15,000 | | 1957 | Group led by Bob Short | $5.175 million | | 1965 | Jack Kent Cooke | $5.175 million | | 1979 | Dr. Jerry Buss (incl. Kings & Forum) | $67.5 million | | 2024 | Mark Walter | $10 billion | | 2025 | Josh Kushner & Bob Iger (proposed) | $12.5 billion |

These figures illustrate the exponential growth of franchise valuations, especially in recent decades.

## On-court outlook amid ownership shift

The Lakers are also navigating a roster overhaul. LeBron James departed in free agency after eight seasons, leaving Luka Dončić as the new focal point. Dončić, alongside Austin Reaves and recent acquisition Walker Kessler, is tasked with returning the team to championship contention. Since the 2020 title, the Lakers have secured only three playoff series wins and have a single appearance beyond the second round. FanDuel currently lists the team with the sixth-best odds to capture the Western Conference title.

## Reactions from Lakers figures

Former player Magic Johnson voiced confidence in the incoming owners, noting his long-standing relationship with Iger and expressing belief that the duo can restore glory. Dončić echoed this optimism, emphasizing his desire to build “something special” with Kushner and Iger and to bring a championship to Los Angeles.

The sale, if approved, will mark the latest chapter in a storied ownership lineage that began in Detroit as the Gems in 1946, moved to Minneapolis as the Lakers, and eventually settled in Los Angeles in 1960. The forthcoming transition underscores both the commercial magnitude of modern sports franchises and the on-court ambitions that accompany new stewardship.