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Bob Iger, Thrive Capital reportedly buy Los Angeles Lakers for $12 billion
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Aug 12, 11:08 AM EDT

Bob Iger, Thrive Capital reportedly buy Los Angeles Lakers for $12 billion

Deadline reports that former Disney CEO Bob Iger, backed by Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital, has agreed to purchase the L.A. Lakers in a deal valued at $12 billion.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Bob Iger and investment partner Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital have reached an agreement to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for $12 billion, Deadline reported on Aug. 12, 2026. The purchase marks a major ownership change for one of the NBA’s most prominent franchises, placing Iger, a longtime entertainment executive, in the role of lead steward for the team, according to the report.

Deadline said the deal follows Iger’s “post-Disney slam dunk” era after his departure from The Walt Disney Company. The article frames the transaction as a lifelong sports ambition for Iger, and describes the prospective new ownership group as stepping into a high-profile cultural and local sports institution in Los Angeles.

In the Deadline report, Iger is described as a longtime NBA supporter and as expressing being “deeply honored” for the opportunity to become stewards of the Lakers. The report includes a quote from Iger characterizing the responsibility as an ongoing one for the Los Angeles franchise, connecting the purchase to stewardship rather than a short-term financial move.

Thrive Capital is also identified in the report as part of the ownership effort. The article attributes the participation to Josh Kushner’s firm and describes the Lakers transaction as a “big city sports franchise” investment by the group, combining venture and media-industry experience under a single ownership umbrella.

The Deadline report does not, in the portion provided with this discovery packet, set out detailed financing structures, the closing timeline, or the full terms governing management of the team after the sale. It also does not specify whether the price reflects assumptions about future operations, arena-related obligations, or other components beyond the headline valuation.

For fans and the Lakers’ broader community, the reported ownership shift is likely to be closely watched, given the franchise’s outsized footprint in Los Angeles entertainment culture and the NBA’s role as both a sports property and a content business. The deal also underscores how high-profile entertainment executives and major capital firms continue to target legacy sports brands as platform assets.

As with other high-value sports ownership transfers, the practical next steps would typically involve final confirmation and compliance steps required before control can legally change hands. Deadline’s report, however, is the central published account in this packet, and additional details beyond the reported $12 billion figure are not included here.

Why It Matters

  • A $12 billion reported valuation places the Lakers ownership deal among the largest transactions in American sports, reflecting sustained investor demand for major league franchises.
  • Because the Lakers are a central cultural institution in Los Angeles, a change in ownership can influence how the team is managed across branding, entertainment partnerships, and community outreach.
  • The reported involvement of a top entertainment executive highlights the continuing convergence of media leadership and sports content as an economic driver.
  • The deal’s closing and governance details are not provided in this packet, meaning fans and stakeholders will likely look for subsequent confirmation and timelines before control changes hands.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Deadline reported on Aug. 12, 2026 that Bob Iger and Thrive Capital reached an agreement to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for $12 billion.
  • The report identifies Josh Kushner’s Thrive Capital as part of the ownership group.
  • Deadline describes Iger as a longtime Lakers and NBA fan and includes a quote from Iger emphasizing stewardship of the franchise.
  • The transaction is presented as a major post-Disney ownership move for Iger.