Lakers to be sold in record-breaking £9bn deal

Los Angeles Lakers sale: Mark Walter agrees record-breaking £9bn deal to sell franchise to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold in a record-breaking deal worth £9bn; Chelsea co-owner Mark Walter sells the franchise just 14 months after buying it for a then-record $10bn (£7.4bn); the buyers are Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Wednesday 12 August 2026 16:37, UK The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be sold for a record-breaking $12.5bn (£9.25bn) to Josh Kushner, the venture capitalist who was at the centre of FIFA's proposed new commercial structure. Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger are set to buy the NBA franchise from Chelsea co-owner Mark Walter. Walter only bought the team last year for a valuation of $10bn (£7.4bn) - at the time the highest ever fee for a sports franchise. He is now already set to see a big return on that investment as a new record is set. - LeBron James faces the New York Knicks on NBA opening night - Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract - Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want - Listen to Sky Sports' podcasts "As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honoured for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world," Kushner and Iger said in a statement to Sky Sports News. "We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of [former Lakers owners] Jerry and Jeanie Buss. "Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles." Walter, who also owns a stake in the LA Dodgers with Todd Boehly, bought a 27 percent stake in the Lakers in 2021 before increasing that to 85 per cent last year. The Buss family held 15 per cent and it is uncertain whether that stake, too, has been sold to Kushner and Iger. The takeover would require approval from the NBA Board of Governors and comes a month after Kushner's Thrive Capital found itself at the centre of a plan to sell of a stake in the World Cup. Kushner's older brother Jared is married to Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump. Iger was CEO of Walt Disney until earlier this year. Watch the NBA regular season and playoffs live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺