The Los Angeles Lakers are changing hands again, and somehow the price tag just became even more ridiculous.
Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger have agreed to purchase the Lakers for a staggering $12.5 billion, according to ESPN, setting a new record for the largest sale price of a professional sports franchise. The deal still requires approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors.
What’s crazy is how quickly the Lakers’ value has exploded.
Mark Walter purchased a controlling interest in the franchise from the Buss family last year at an approximately $10 billion valuation. Now, less than a year later, Kushner and Iger are paying $12.5 billion. That represents a roughly 25% increase from an already historic valuation.
The Lakers now own the top two spots among the largest franchise sales in professional sports history: $12.5 billion in 2026 and $10 billion in 2025. For comparison, the Seattle Seahawks recently sold for $9.6 billion, while the Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion in 2025.
Kushner and Iger weren’t originally expected to land the Lakers, either. The two had been involved in efforts surrounding a potential NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas before pivoting and making an aggressive offer for Los Angeles.
It’s difficult to imagine a bigger sports property becoming available. The Lakers are one of basketball’s most recognizable brands, with generations of superstars and championships turning the franchise into something much larger than an NBA team.
And apparently, owning that brand now costs $12.5 billion.
The deal also signals another massive shift for the Lakers as they enter a new era. After decades of the Buss family’s influence and Walter’s remarkably short run as majority owner, Kushner and Iger now have the opportunity to shape what comes next for arguably the NBA’s most famous franchise.
One thing is certain: professional sports franchises aren’t getting any cheaper.
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