The Los Angeles Lakers are set to change hands in a transaction that values the franchise at over $12 billion, marking the most expensive sale of a sports team to date.
Joshua Kushner, a venture‑capitalist whose firm Thrive Capital has been linked to a controversial FIFA equity sale, will partner with Bob Iger, the former chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, to complete the purchase.
The deal follows Mark Walter’s acquisition of a controlling interest in the team for $10 billion two years ago, a transaction that was approved by the NBA’s board of governors in October 2023.
A Controversial Backdrop
Iger’s involvement adds a notable dimension, given his previous minority stake in Angel City FC, a women’s professional soccer club, and his reputation for expanding Disney’s sports portfolio.
The purchase also surfaces amid heightened scrutiny of FIFA’s recent effort to sell $20 billion of minority stakes, a move that has drawn criticism from investors and fans alike.
While the NBA has yet to comment publicly, analysts expect the league to closely monitor the transaction, given its potential to reshape ownership structures across the league.