Lakers Ownership Changes Hands in Billion Dollar Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers have been acquired for $12.5 billion by an ownership group that includes Bob Iger, former Disney CEO, and Josh Kushner. This is notable given Iger’s past affinity for the Clippers, the Lakers’ city rivals.

In January 2021, during an episode of The Old Man and the Three podcast hosted by current Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Iger discussed his long-standing reluctance to support the Lakers. Upon moving to California in 2000, Iger, a lifelong New York Knicks fan, found supporting the Lakers difficult. He opted for the Clippers due to personal preference and more affordable ticket prices.

I couldn’t root for the Lakers very easily. It just was not in my DNA.

The revelation that Iger, previously vocal about his Clippers support, is now a Lakers co-owner adds unexpected intrigue to his sports affiliations.

The sale’s timing further intrigues observers. In June 2025, businessman Mark Walter bought the Buss family’s controlling stake at a $10 billion valuation. Fourteen months later, the team sold for $12.5 billion, raising questions about Walter’s rapid turnover of the stake, especially amidst reported federal scrutiny of his business dealings.

Although the investigation’s impact on the sale remains unclear, the rapid ownership transition has sparked curiosity. Meanwhile, Iger’s role in the purchase highlights the financial capability to enter such high-stakes ventures, despite his previously declared allegiance to the Clippers.