Lakers Set for Another Stunning Sale After Mark Walter’s Abrupt Reversal

Just 14 months after agreeing to buy the Los Angeles Lakers at a record $10 billion valuation, Walter is reportedly moving on in a deal worth more than $12 billion.

Mar 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers majority owner Mark Walter and team executive Jeannie Buss in attendance at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, the Buss family decided to sell the Los Angeles Lakers to Los Angeles Dodgers majority owner Mark Walter for a record-setting $10 billion, marking a drastic shift for the storied franchise.

A little over a year later, Walter has shockingly decided to move on, agreeing to sell the team for a $2 billion profit.

Mark Walter to Sell Lakers for $12 Billion

Mark Walter has reportedly agreed to sell the Lakers to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner for $12 billion, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.

Only 14 months after agreeing to purchase the Lakers at a record-setting $10 billion valuation, Mark Walter is selling the team to Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO, and Joshua Kushner at a valuation of more than $12 billion, according to a source with knowledge of the deal on a condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sale. Kushner has a minority stake in the Miami Heat and is the younger brother of Jared Kushner.

As if the Buss family selling the team they owned since 1979 wasn’t shocking enough, Walter selling the team after making drastic changes to the franchise over the past year is surprising on another level entirely. 

The goal was to follow in the footsteps of the Dodgers franchise, which has been incredibly successful under Walter, but now the future seems as uncertain as ever, with no telling where the Lakers go from here with Iger and Kushner at the helm.

What Does This Mean for the Lakers?

After seemingly having a bright future ahead with Walter calling the shots and installing plenty of Dodgers executives into the mix to provide some much-needed stability for the Lakers, there's no telling what happens next for one of the prestigious franchises in professional sports.

So many changes were made over the past year to put the right pieces in place to follow the Dodgers' blueprint that has led to three World Series titles under Walter. By all accounts, the Lakers seemed to be headed in the right direction with a new superstar, Luka Doncic, to build around for the foreseeable future.

Uncertainty now looms over the Lakers franchise, as it remains to be seen what Iger and Kushner intend to do with the team. The new ownership duo could elect to continue on Walter's path and keep the same people in place or there could be another front office overhaul incoming, which could get messy and derail the team's plans.

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