Los Angeles — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the world of professional sports, billionaire Joshua Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger have agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12 billion, a price that eclipses every previous NBA franchise transaction.
The transaction builds on a foundation laid just months earlier, when media magnate Mark Walter secured a majority interest in the franchise for $10 billion, a deal that received the green light from the Lakers' board of governors in October.
A New Era for the Lakers
Central to the latest agreement is the involvement of Kushner's venture firm Thrive Capital, which had previously been entangled in a $20 billion equity transaction with FIFA that sparked global criticism and threatened the presidency of Gianni Infantino, the organization's long‑standing leader.
Iger, who stepped down as Disney's chief executive in 2020, is no stranger to sports ownership; he once held a stake in Angel City FC, a women's soccer team in the National Women's Soccer League, underscoring his growing portfolio of athletic investments.
The convergence of these high‑profile figures illustrates how the business of sports is being reshaped by capital from technology, media and private equity, a trend that promises to redefine valuation standards and ownership dynamics across leagues.
Implications for the NBA and Beyond
Analysts predict that the record‑setting price will set a new benchmark for franchise valuations, prompting other owners to reconsider their own exit strategies. At the same time, the FIFA controversy adds a layer of geopolitical scrutiny to the deal, reminding investors that off‑court narratives can have as much weight as financial metrics.
As the league prepares for a formal transfer of ownership, the Lakers' storied legacy now rests in the hands of a coalition that blends tech‑savvy capital with entertainment industry experience, a combination that could influence everything from fan engagement to global branding initiatives.