Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner Buy Into LA Lakers at $12.5B
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Joshua Kushner have acquired Mark Walter's stake in the Los Angeles Lakers at a $12.5 billion valuation.
Former Disney chief executive Bob Iger and venture capital founder Joshua Kushner have purchased a stake in the Los Angeles Lakers from part-owner Mark Walter, according to a source familiar with the deal. The transaction values the storied NBA franchise at more than $12.5 billion, making it one of the most significant professional sports ownership deals in recent memory.
The sale represents a major reshuffling at the top of one of basketball's most iconic franchises. Walter, who also co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea FC, had been among a consortium of high-profile investors holding equity in the Lakers. His decision to offload his stake attracted two of the most recognizable names in American business and media.
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Iger, who spent decades steering Disney through blockbuster acquisitions and the launch of its streaming empire, brings deep entertainment industry credibility to the ownership group. Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital and a prominent figure in Silicon Valley venture circles, adds a tech-forward investment perspective to the franchise's leadership structure.
A $12.5 billion valuation would place the Lakers among the most valuable sports franchises on the planet, reflecting the broader surge in professional sports team valuations driven by lucrative media rights deals, global fan bases, and growing institutional investor appetite for sports assets. The NBA itself has benefited from a new national broadcast agreement that has dramatically raised the league's financial profile.
The deal underscores how elite sports franchises have become coveted hard assets for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and institutional players alike, blending prestige with financial upside. Continue reading at US Top News and Analysis.
