Billionaire investor Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger have agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for a record-setting price.
The acquisition represents a historic shift in sports valuation, marking the highest price ever paid for a U.S. sports franchise. By crossing this financial threshold, the deal resets the market for professional sports teams across all major leagues.
Reports on the final valuation vary slightly between sources. Multiple outlets, including Forbes, report the deal is valued at $12.5 billion [1]. Other reports place the valuation at $12 billion [2]. This figure represents a significant increase over the $10 billion valuation associated with the team when it was transferred from the Buss family [3].
The purchase brings together two high-profile figures from the worlds of finance and media. Kushner is a known billionaire investor, while Iger previously led The Walt Disney Company, the parent company of ESPN. Their partnership suggests a strategic intersection of sports ownership and media influence in the Los Angeles market.
The Los Angeles Lakers remain one of the most recognizable brands in global sports. The record valuation reflects the growing commercialization of the NBA and the increasing appeal of sports franchises as trophy assets for the world's wealthiest individuals.
This transaction follows a trend of escalating prices for professional sports teams. As media rights deals grow and international interest in the NBA expands, the baseline for franchise valuations continues to climb, often regardless of short-term on-court performance.
“The deal marks the highest price ever paid for a US sports franchise.”
This acquisition signals a new era of 'mega-valuations' in professional sports, where franchises are treated as diversified media assets rather than mere athletic clubs. The involvement of a former Disney CEO suggests that the new ownership may leverage deep ties to the entertainment and broadcasting industries to further monetize the Lakers brand globally.
