By Variety | Created at 2026-08-12 14:55:41 | Updated at 2026-08-12 16:16:06
1 hour ago
Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are buying the Los Angeles Lakers.
The deal values the NBA team at more than $12 billion, sources told ESPN and The New York Times. The purchase, from the former Disney CEO and the Thrive Capital founder, comes just 14 months after the Lakers sold to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation.
“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world,” Iger and Kushner said in a statement to the Times. “We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of 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.”
Kushner, the younger brother of White House adviser Jared Kushner, also has a minority stake in the Miami Heat. Iger, who stepped down from the top post at the Mouse House in March, took on an advisory role at Thrive Capital. Iger had previously served as a venture partner at Josh Kushner’s firm, before he was called back to Disney in 2022 to replace his successor, Bob Chapek, as CEO.
Thrive recently raised $10 billion for a new set of funds. Its portfolio of investments has included Instagram, Spotify, Patreon, Robinhood, OpenAI and A24.
More to come…
