Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are buying the Lakers

Aug 12, 2026 09:57 PM - 1 hour ago 1

One of Hollywood's biggest names is making a historical scatter for 1 of Los Angeles astir iconic brands.

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and Thrive Capital laminitis Josh Kushner are buying the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA's Board of Governors must motion connected the deal. Kushner and Iger confirmed the news successful a connection shared pinch Business Insider. News of the woody was first reported by ESPN.

"As lifelong NBA fans, we are profoundly honored for the opportunity to go stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, 1 of the astir iconic sports franchises successful the world," the brace said. "We person immense respect for the activity and imagination of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our semipermanent committedness is to build connected that foundation, compete astatine the highest level, and service this bonzer team, its fans, and the metropolis of Los Angeles."

Billionaire Mark Walter, who besides owns the MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers, purchased a controlling liking successful the Lakers from the Buss family conscionable past year.

With 17 NBA titles and a foothold successful the US's second-largest city, the Lakers are a world media icon. In December, Forbes estimated the Lakers astatine $10 billion, making them the fifth-most valuable sports franchise successful the world.

Kushner, whose relative Jared is President Donald Trump's son-in-law, has precocious made waves pinch his moves into sports. Thrive Capital, Josh Kushner's VC firm, was astatine the halfway of a arguable $20 cardinal finance connection for FIFA, soccer's world governing assemblage responsible for the World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is now facing scrutiny for his handling of the full episode.

The acquisition locks up 1 of the biggest names successful sports, whose history spans from Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, and, astir recently, "The King" himself, LeBron James. Following James' departure to Philadelphia via free agency, the Lakers are looking to build astir NBA All-Star Luka Dončić.

This is developing…

Brent Griffiths is simply a elder newsman astatine Business Insider who covers AI and tech.Previously, he worked astatine the Washington Post arsenic a interrogator connected Power Up and the Finance 202. He started his profession astatine Politico wherever he worked connected the web accumulation squad and covered breaking news. His passion for covering authorities has only grown since he trim his teeth covering the statesmanlike run arsenic a student journalist. He's besides contributed to the Almanac of American Politics.