The path to the Los Angeles Lakers' recent $12.5 billion sale was significantly influenced by a personal connection between the wives of two prominent figures: model Karlie Kloss and Willow Bay.
Kloss, wife of investor Josh Kushner, initiated contact with Bay, wife of Disney CEO Bob Iger, several years ago. At the time, Kloss was preparing to become a spokesperson for Estée Lauder and sought Bay's insights, as Bay had prior experience with the cosmetics company. This interaction sparked a friendship between Kloss and Bay, which in turn brought Iger and Kushner together.
Iger recounted to The Seattle Times that Kloss asked him to connect with Kushner, believing Kushner would benefit from his advice. Iger stated he quickly found common ground with Kushner, describing him as "humble, extremely smart, easy to connect with." This initial meeting evolved their relationship from acquaintances to friends and eventually business partners.
The deal for Iger and Kushner to acquire the Lakers from Mark Walter reportedly began last Friday, culminating in the purchase on Wednesday. As lifelong NBA fans, Iger and Kushner expressed their honor in becoming stewards of the iconic franchise.