LA Lakers Sold Again at Record $12.5 Billion Valuation

The Los Angeles Lakers — one of the most famous basketball teams in the world — have been sold again, and for a staggering price.

Two well-known businessmen, Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner, are buying the majority ownership of the NBA's Lakers. The deal values the team at a record $12.5 billion.

Here are the key facts:

• $12.5 billion — the team's new valuation (the estimated total worth of the business).
• $10 billion — what the previous owner, Mark Walter, paid just in October (less than a year ago).
• The sale includes only Walter's stake in the Lakers, not his other sports teams.

Who are the buyers? Bob Iger, 75, is the former CEO (Chief Executive Officer — the top boss) of Disney, where he worked for about 20 years. Joshua Kushner runs Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm (a company that invests money into businesses hoping they'll grow and become valuable). The two are already business partners — Iger joined Thrive Capital earlier this year.

Why is the seller stepping away? Mark Walter, 66, only recently bought the Lakers. But he's facing challenges:

• The SEC (the U.S. government agency that polices financial markets) and federal prosecutors are investigating possible financial wrongdoing at some of his companies.
• Reports say Walter suffered a stroke in 2024, raising concerns inside his business empire about his health.

Walter still owns other big sports teams, including baseball's LA Dodgers and English soccer club Chelsea.

Why does this matter? The eye-popping price shows how much value top sports teams now hold as investments — the Lakers' worth jumped $2.5 billion in under a year. For everyday fans, the promise from the new owners is simple: keep the team competing and winning at the highest level.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/12/bob-iger-joshua-kushner-buy-los-angeles-lakers-from-mark-walter.html