Biggest U.S. sports team sales: How Lakers broke own record with new price of $12.5 billion

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Biggest U.S. sports team sales: How Lakers broke own record with new price of $12.5 billion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the second time in two years, the NBA's most glamorous franchise is being sold.

ESPN reported Wednesday that the Los Angeles Lakers are being sold to American businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Mark Walter, the CEO of holding company TWG Global, has been the controlling owner of the Lakers since taking over the franchise from the Buss family in 2025.

While Walter purchased his control over the Lakers last year for an 11-figure amount, the team is now surpassing its own record in U.S. sports franchise valuation history.

Here's where the Lakers' sale will rank among the largest in professional U.S. sports history.

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Lakers sale price

Per ESPN, the Lakers are being bought by Kushner and Iger for $12.5 billion.

It's a record-breaking team price once again being set by the franchise; Walter's 2025 purchase for $10 billion had already set a record, with the Lakers now valued even higher.

According to ESPN, Kushner and Iger were "involved in the expansion process in Las Vegas," but instead pivoted to make an aggressive offer to Walter to buy the Lakers.

“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. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss," Kushner and Iger said in a statement to ESPN. "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."