Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion. Here’s who they are and what happens next.
The Los Angeles Lakers are about to enter another extraordinary chapter.
In a stunning development, venture capitalist Josh Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger have agreed to purchase the Lakers from billionaire Mark Walter for a reported $12.5 billion, according to Reuters and The Associated Press. If approved, the transaction would establish a new record valuation for a U.S. professional sports team.
The news is especially remarkable because Walter only took control of the Lakers’ majority stake in 2025 after the NBA approved his purchase from the Buss family.
Now, barely a year later, the franchise is poised for another ownership change.
There is, however, one important caveat: the Lakers sale has not yet officially closed. The proposed transaction still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors, along with completion of due diligence involving Kushner’s investment group.
That means the question isn’t simply “Who bought the Lakers?”
For now, the more accurate question is: Who is buying the Lakers — and why did this deal happen so quickly?
Who Bought the Lakers?
The proposed new ownership group is led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
Kushner is the founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital, a major venture-capital firm that has invested in companies including Instagram, Spotify, Stripe and OpenAI. Forbes currently estimates Kushner’s real-time net worth at approximately $5.2 billion, as of July 28, 2026.
Iger, meanwhile, is one of the most recognizable executives in the entertainment industry.
He spent years at the top of Disney, overseeing a period that included major acquisitions such as Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox. He stepped down from Disney’s CEO position in 2026 after returning to the role for a second stint.
Together, Kushner and Iger bring two very different areas of expertise: technology and venture capital on one side, and global entertainment and media on the other.
That combination could make the Lakers’ next era particularly interesting.
Why Did the Lakers Get Sold Again So Quickly?
This is perhaps the biggest surprise surrounding the announcement.
In October 2025, the NBA officially approved Mark Walter’s acquisition of a majority interest in the Lakers. The Buss family retained an ongoing interest, while Jeanie Buss remained the team’s governor under the arrangement.
At the time, the transaction represented a major change for one of the NBA’s most recognizable franchises.
Walter’s group had purchased the Lakers at a valuation of approximately $10 billion.
Now, only months later, Walter has agreed to sell the franchise to Kushner and Iger for $12.5 billion.
That represents an enormous increase in valuation in a remarkably short period.
Reuters reported that the sudden transaction caught many people in the sports business by surprise.
The speed of the agreement is one reason the Lakers sale has become one of the biggest stories in professional sports.
The $12.5 Billion Price Tag
The proposed $12.5 billion valuation would make the Lakers the most expensive U.S. professional sports franchise ever sold.
It would also eclipse Walter’s own transaction from 2025.
The figure illustrates how valuable the Lakers brand has become.
The franchise isn’t simply an NBA team. It is one of the world’s most recognizable sports properties, with a history that includes 17 NBA championships and generations of iconic players.
The Lakers’ global popularity gives the franchise enormous commercial value through:
- Television rights
- Sponsorships
- Merchandise
- Ticket sales
- International audiences
- Digital media
- Arena revenue
- Licensing
- Global brand partnerships
Consequently, ownership of the Lakers represents something much larger than owning a basketball team.
It means controlling one of the most powerful sports brands in the world.
Who Is Josh Kushner?
So, who is Josh Kushner?
Joshua Kushner is an American businessman and venture capitalist best known as the founder of Thrive Capital.
He built Thrive into a major technology investment firm by backing high-growth companies at different stages of development. Forbes says the firm manages roughly $25 billion in assets and that Kushner owns an estimated 66% stake in Thrive.
Kushner has also had a connection to professional basketball for years.
He previously became a minority investor in the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, reflecting his longstanding interest in the sport.
The Lakers agreement, therefore, is not his first involvement in NBA ownership.
But it would represent an enormous step up.
Moving from a minority stake in a smaller NBA franchise to potentially becoming one of the principal owners of the Los Angeles Lakers would place Kushner among the most influential figures in American professional sports.
Josh Kushner and Jared Kushner: Are They Brothers?
Yes.
Josh Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who served as a senior White House adviser during Donald Trump’s first presidency and is married to Ivanka Trump.
The family connection has inevitably attracted attention following the Lakers announcement.
However, Josh Kushner has built his own career primarily through venture capital and technology investing.
Forbes describes him as the founder and leader of Thrive Capital, whose investments include some of the most prominent technology companies of the past decade.
Josh and Jared have therefore followed different professional paths, despite sharing the same family background.
Josh Kushner and Karlie Kloss
Another reason the Lakers announcement has generated widespread interest is Kushner’s marriage to model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss.
Kushner and Kloss married in 2018 and have built a high-profile family while maintaining substantial business interests of their own.
Kloss is known for her modeling career as well as entrepreneurial and technology-focused initiatives.
Her connection to Kushner has made the proposed Lakers ownership group a subject of interest far beyond the traditional sports audience.
Suddenly, searches for “Josh Kushner,” “Karlie Kloss,” “Lakers sale” and “who bought the Lakers” are appearing alongside one another.
What Is Josh Kushner’s Net Worth?
This is another question attracting significant attention.
According to Forbes, Josh Kushner’s estimated real-time net worth was $5.2 billion as of July 28, 2026. The estimate is largely connected to his ownership and interests in Thrive Capital and his other investments.
However, net-worth estimates are not the same as cash available for an acquisition.
That distinction is important.
Billionaires typically hold much of their wealth through ownership stakes in companies and investments rather than sitting on billions of dollars in cash.
The proposed Lakers purchase is therefore expected to involve an ownership group and financing structure rather than simply Kushner writing a personal $12.5 billion check.
What About Bob Iger’s Net Worth?
Searches for Bob Iger net worth have also surged following the Lakers announcement.
Iger accumulated substantial wealth during his long career at Disney, but reliable current estimates vary depending on the valuation method and the assets included.
For that reason, it is better to avoid presenting an exact figure as fact without a current, authoritative financial disclosure.
What is clear is that Iger has extensive experience managing one of the world’s largest entertainment companies.
That experience could become particularly valuable as the Lakers expand their media, streaming, sponsorship and global entertainment opportunities.
Why Bob Iger Is Such an Interesting Choice
Iger’s connection to the Lakers isn’t difficult to understand.
He has spent much of his professional life operating at the intersection of entertainment, sports and media.
During his Disney career, he helped transform the company into a global entertainment powerhouse.
He also has a longstanding interest in basketball and sports ownership.
Before pursuing the Lakers, Iger and Kushner had been exploring an NBA expansion opportunity in Las Vegas, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Instead of waiting for a new franchise to become available, they now appear to have found an opportunity that was considerably more immediate — and much more prestigious.
Mark Walter’s Short Lakers Era
For Mark Walter, the proposed transaction would bring an unexpectedly short ownership period to an end.
Walter finalized his majority acquisition of the Lakers in October 2025 following unanimous approval by the NBA Board of Governors.
His ownership group had inherited a franchise with enormous expectations.
Yet the opportunity to sell at a significantly higher valuation appears to have changed the equation.
Reuters reported that the proposed transaction values the Lakers at $12.5 billion, compared with the approximately $10 billion valuation associated with Walter’s acquisition.
The sale therefore represents one of the most dramatic ownership reversals in recent NBA history.
What Happens to Jeanie Buss?
The future role of Jeanie Buss is another major question.
Buss had been the Lakers’ governor and the most visible member of the Buss family during its decades-long ownership of the franchise.
When Walter acquired the majority stake in 2025, the NBA announced that Buss would remain governor for at least five years following the closing of that transaction.
The new agreement raises questions about how that previous arrangement will interact with the proposed ownership change.
As of the latest reports, the details of Buss’s future role under Kushner and Iger have not been fully resolved publicly.
That could become one of the most closely watched aspects of the transition.
What Will Josh Kushner and Bob Iger Do With the Lakers?
The proposed new owners have indicated that they want to respect the franchise’s existing legacy while competing at the highest level.
In a statement reported by AP, Kushner and Iger described themselves as lifelong NBA fans and said they intended to build on the foundation established by Jerry and Jeanie Buss.
That message will matter to Lakers supporters.
The franchise has a unique identity built over decades, and any new ownership group must balance business expansion with basketball tradition.
Iger’s entertainment background could also lead to an increased focus on the Lakers as a global media property.
Meanwhile, Kushner’s technology-investment background could create opportunities involving digital platforms, data, artificial intelligence and new forms of fan engagement.
What Does the Lakers Sale Mean for Fans?
For fans, the biggest question is simple:
Will the Lakers become better on the court?
Ownership changes do not automatically translate into championships.
The Lakers’ basketball operations remain separate from the ownership group’s broader financial interests, and success will ultimately depend on decisions involving players, coaches, executives and roster construction.
Nevertheless, the new ownership group could provide substantial resources.
The Lakers are already one of the most valuable teams in sports, but the $12.5 billion valuation shows how much the franchise’s commercial potential has expanded.
The next challenge will be turning that financial strength into sustained basketball success.
Lakers Sale Still Needs NBA Approval
Despite headlines saying the Lakers have been sold, the transaction is not yet fully completed.
This is an important distinction for readers.
The deal still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors and must pass through due diligence connected to Kushner’s investment group.
Until those steps are completed, Kushner and Iger should be described as the prospective new owners rather than finalized owners.
That process could take time.
Nevertheless, the agreement represents a dramatic shift in the future ownership of one of basketball’s most famous franchises.
Who Owns the Lakers Right Now?
As of the latest reports, Mark Walter remains the current majority owner pending completion of the announced transaction.
Walter acquired majority control from the Buss family in 2025 after NBA approval.
If the new transaction receives league approval and closes, control would move to the ownership group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
The Buss family’s long-running majority ownership era would then officially come to an end.
Google FAQ
Did Josh Kushner buy the Lakers?
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers, but the transaction still requires NBA approval and due diligence before it can officially close.
How much are Josh Kushner and Bob Iger paying for the Lakers?
The proposed purchase values the Lakers at $12.5 billion, according to Reuters and AP.
Who owns the Lakers now?
Mark Walter is the current majority owner while the proposed transaction with Kushner and Iger awaits completion. Walter’s acquisition was approved by the NBA in October 2025.
Who is Josh Kushner?
Josh Kushner is a billionaire venture capitalist and founder of Thrive Capital. Forbes estimated his real-time net worth at $5.2 billion as of July 28, 2026.
Is Josh Kushner Jared Kushner’s brother?
Yes. Josh Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner.
Is Josh Kushner married to Karlie Kloss?
Yes. Josh Kushner and model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss married in 2018.
What is Josh Kushner’s net worth?
Forbes’ July 28, 2026 real-time estimate put Josh Kushner’s net worth at approximately $5.2 billion.
Who is Bob Iger?
Bob Iger is the former CEO of Disney and one of the most prominent executives in the global entertainment industry.
What is Bob Iger’s net worth?
Current estimates vary, and an exact up-to-date figure should not be treated as definitive without a current authoritative source.
Why did Mark Walter sell the Lakers?
The proposed transaction came after Kushner and Iger made an aggressive offer to acquire the franchise. The reported $12.5 billion valuation would represent a substantial increase over Walter’s roughly $10 billion acquisition valuation.
Has the Lakers sale been finalized?
Not yet. NBA Board of Governors approval and additional due diligence are still required.
What will happen to the Lakers under Josh Kushner and Bob Iger?
The prospective owners have said they intend to honor the Lakers’ legacy while competing at the highest level. Specific changes to basketball operations and the front office have not been fully announced.
Final Takeaway
The Lakers sale is one of the biggest stories in professional sports this year, but the most important detail is easy to miss.
Josh Kushner has not yet officially completed the purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Instead, Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to acquire the franchise from Mark Walter for a record $12.5 billion, with NBA approval and due diligence still ahead.
If completed, the deal would bring a new generation of ownership to one of the most recognizable franchises in sports.
For Kushner, it would transform him from a prominent venture capitalist and minority NBA investor into a central figure in one of the world’s biggest sports brands.
For Iger, it would add another major chapter to an extraordinary career in entertainment and media.
And for Lakers fans, it raises a much bigger question:
Can a $12.5 billion ownership change turn the next Lakers era into another championship era?
That answer, unlike the sale itself, will have to be earned on the basketball court.
