LA Lakers to be sold in record $12.5bn deal

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be sold for a record-breaking $12.5 billion in a deal announced this week. The purchase is being made by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, with Kushner being the brother of Donald Trump's daughter-in-law and Iger formerly the CEO of Disney. Kushner's share in the purchase was reportedly valued at $10 billion, a record for a single share of an NBA team. The acquisition was unanimously approved by the NBA Board of Governors.

Mark Walter, who currently owns a majority stake in the Lakers, bought his share from the Buss family in a deal worth an estimated $10 billion. The Buss family had previously sold the team to Walter for $67.5 million in 1979, which included the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, and the Los Angeles arena, known as the Kia Forum. Walter's ownership of the team was passed to his six children in a Trust after his death in 2013.

The Lakers have 17 NBA titles, one less than the Boston Celtics' record of 18. The sale comes after the Lakers lost LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this year. Luka Doncic, who joined the team in February 2025, expressed excitement about the new ownership, stating that he is ready to compete for another championship with the Lakers.