Walt Disney CEO, Jared Kushner to buy Lakers for $12.5 billion
Record deal would make the NBA franchise the most expensive sports team ever acquired, pending league approval.
A group led by Walt Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger and Jared Kushner has agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The proposed acquisition, if approved by NBA owners, would surpass the $4.6 billion paid for the Denver Broncos in 2022 and set a new benchmark for sports franchise valuations. The Lakers, one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, have been on the market since the death of owner Jeanie Buss’s father, Jerry Buss, in 2013.
The buyer group includes Iger, the former Disney CEO who returned to the role in late 2022, and Kushner, a businessman and former senior advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Financial terms were not disclosed beyond the $12.5 billion valuation, and the deal remains subject to league and regulatory approvals.
NBA teams are typically valued at a premium due to league revenue-sharing and media rights, which have surged in recent years. The Lakers’ valuation reflects their global brand, historic success, and lucrative sponsorship deals.
The transaction would mark a significant shift in sports ownership, with Iger and Kushner joining a growing list of high-profile investors entering professional sports. The NBA has historically favored ownership groups with deep pockets and a commitment to league growth.
No further details on financing or the structure of the buyer group were immediately available.
Helena covers corporate news for listed and private companies across Europe, from strategy shifts to leadership changes, with an eye for what a story signals about the broader market.
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