Lakers sold for $12.5 billion amid scrutiny over ownership change

6 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 13, 2026, 4:48 PM

Last updated Aug 13, 2026

Lakers sold for $12.5 billion amid scrutiny over ownership change
Summary

The Los Angeles Lakers were sold for $12.5 billion on Wednesday, transferring control from Mark Walter to a new group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. This sale is notable for its unprecedented value and the rapid turnover, occurring just 10 months after Walter purchased the team for $10 billion. Bill Plaschke raised concerns about the motivations behind the sale, suggesting it may be linked to a federal investigation involving Walter and expressing doubts about the capabilities of the new owners. The future of the Lakers under this ownership is uncertain as both Iger and Kushner lack experience in managing a professional sports franchise.

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Status Watch
  • •Mark Walter sold the Lakers after owning them for just 10 months.
  • •The new ownership group includes billionaire Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
  • •Concerns have arisen regarding the reasons behind the sale.
  • •Plaschke questions the experience of the new ownership.
  • •The sale coincides with an ongoing federal investigation related to Walter.
Latest Updates
  • 4:48 PMYahoo Sports — The Los Angeles Lakers’ Record $12.5 Billion Sale Resets The Market For Sports Teams
  • 4:32 PMESPN — 'The news shocked all of us': NBA execs, agents react to the Lakers getting flipped for $12.5 billion
  • 6:16 AMYahoo Sports — The alleged reason Mark Walter made $12.5 billion Los Angeles Lakers deal ‘in just 72 hours’ revealed
  • 5:48 AMYahoo Sports — NBA owners reportedly shocked by ‘bizarre’ $12.5 billion Los Angeles Lakers sale
  • 1:00 AMYahoo Sports — Bill Plaschke on shocking Lakers sale: ‘Something stinks’
What they're saying
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The sports world was stunned on Wednesday when out of nowhere the Los Angeles Lakers were sold for $12.5 billion. Mark Walter transferred controlling interest of the team to a new ownership group consisting of billionaire private equity heir Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger. It’s the largest sale price for an American…

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Less than a year after Mark Walter paid $10 billion for the team, he flipped it like a piece of real estate. But if there is a bubble for professional sports team ownership, it hasn’t shown any signs of popping yet.

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After the stunning sale, ESPN spoke to more than a dozen NBA sources to find out why, what it could mean for the league and more.

— ESPNby Dave McMenamin
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