Done in a weekend – the $12.5bn LA Lakers sale that shocked the NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines this week when they announced a record-breaking $12.5bn (£9.3bn) sale, completed over the course of a single weekend. Josh Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared, and Bob Iger, former Disney CEO, have agreed to purchase the controlling interest in the iconic team. Kushner, who moved quickly to finalize the deal, approached Mark Walter, who had recently purchased a majority stake in the Lakers, with the offer only last Friday.

If the sale is approved by the NBA's board of governors, it will be the most expensive sports team sale ever reported, with Walter set to make a $2.5bn (£1.9bn) profit on his investment within a short period of time. Walter had not been actively looking to sell his stake in the NBA franchise, and Kushner's decision was not influenced by the collapse of Fifa's controversial World Cup investment plan.

The speed of the deal has left the NBA world shocked, as the Lakers were valued at $10bn (£7.4bn) in June 2025, making it the priciest team sale in sports history. The deal's success has been praised by basketball legend Magic Johnson, who believes Kushner and Iger are the best owners for the Lakers, stating that they have always loved basketball and will bring championships back to LA.