Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are buying the Los Angeles Lakers for a record-breaking price [1].
The acquisition represents a massive shift in the valuation of professional sports teams. By setting a new financial ceiling for franchise sales, the deal signals an era of unprecedented capital investment in the NBA.
The sale price is reported at $12.5 billion [1], although some reports place the figure at $12 billion [3]. This transaction is being billed as the most expensive sports-franchise sale in history [2].
The purchase comes shortly after the team changed hands previously. Mark Walter paid $10 billion [4] for the Lakers 14 months ago [5]. The rapid increase in valuation underscores the accelerating growth of the league's commercial appeal.
Iger and Kushner finalized the agreement on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026 [6]. The transaction takes place in Los Angeles, California, where the franchise is based [1].
While the NBA has seen steady growth in media rights and global branding, a $12.5 billion valuation pushes the Lakers into a new tier of corporate assets. The move combines the entertainment industry expertise of Iger with the investment background of Kushner.
“The most expensive sports-franchise sale in history”
The rapid jump in the Lakers' valuation—increasing by $2.5 billion in just over a year—indicates that top-tier sports franchises are now being treated as high-growth tech assets rather than traditional sports teams. The partnership between a media titan like Iger and an investor like Kushner suggests a strategy focused on maximizing the team's global brand and digital monetization beyond the basketball court.
