LA Lakers to be sold in record $12.5bn deal

What the report says

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be sold in a reported $12.5bn deal, which would be a record valuation for a sports franchise, according to BBC World News. The transaction comes less than a year after Mark Walter took a majority stake in the NBA team through a deal involving the Buss family that was approved by the league’s Board of Governors in October 2025.

BBC reported that Josh Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger are buying the controlling interest in the club. Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump. The report places the sale among the highest-profile ownership changes in professional sports, reflecting the Lakers’ long-standing status as one of basketball’s most recognisable teams.

In a statement carried by BBC, Kushner and Iger said they were honoured to take on stewardship of the Lakers and expressed respect for Jerry and Jeanie Buss. They said they aimed to build on the team’s existing foundation and remain competitive at the highest level. The sale matters not only because of its scale, but also because the Lakers are one of the NBA’s most influential clubs, with strong ties to Los Angeles and a global fan base.