6 burning questions for Lakers fans amid shocking $12.5 billion sale

The Lakers’ path was certain after Mark Walter agreed to buy the Lakers at a valuation of $10 billion in June 2025. They were going to be built in the likeness of the Dodgers, who have won three World Series championships since Walter and Guggenheim Baseball Management took over ownership in 2012. But just 14 months later, the Lakers have been sold once again to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner at a valuation of $12.5 billion.You probably have questions.Here’s what we know. Apparently with whiplash-inducing speed.

Iger and Kushner were pursuing a majority stake in a potential NBA expansion team in Las Vegas through Thrive Eternal, which is the permanent capital holding company launched by Thrive Capital, which Kushner founded. The decision to pivot and buy the Lakers happened over a three-day period, the California Post learned in an exclusive interview with Iger.“As you may have read or heard, we were involved in pursuing the new franchise in Vegas,” Iger told Khobi Price of the California Post.“And while that happened, it was suggested to us that maybe Mark Walter would be interested in selling his stake in the Lakers.

And we immediately decided that given the value of the franchise and the iconic nature of the team that we would be really smart to pursue it.And we did.”“The deal came together in three days.

It’s that simple.”We’re not sure. Was it because he could make a $2.5 billion profit? Did it have anything to do with the fact that insurance companies he owned are being investigated by the U.S.Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission? According to Bloomberg, Walter’s holding company, TWG Global, was seeking fresh capital to reduce loans held by those insurance companies .What we do know is that Walter is not expected to sell the Dodgers, which his ownership group purchased for $2.15 billion in 2012. Doncic wanted to retire with the Dallas Mavericks before he was stun...