The Los Angeles Lakers have been sold to American businessman Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion, establishing a new record for the most expensive franchise sale in sports history. This landmark deal comes just 14 months after the team was last purchased by Mark Walter for a then-record $10 billion.
The sale price of the Lakers more than doubles that of any other American sports franchise. Prior to this transaction, the next highest sales included the Boston Celtics at $6.1 billion and the Washington Commanders at $6.05 billion. Other high-value sales include the Denver Broncos ($4.65 billion), the Phoenix Suns and Mercury ($4 billion), and the Dallas Mavericks ($3.5 billion).
The Lakers franchise has a long history of ownership changes. Before Mark Walter's acquisition, the team was sold by the Buss family. Jerry Buss originally acquired the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million as part of a larger package deal from Jack Kent Cooke.
In a joint statement, Iger and Kushner expressed their enthusiasm for the acquisition. "As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world," they said. "We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles."