Josh Kushner has rapidly moved on from the collapse of his multibillion-dollar FIFA bid by agreeing to one of many greatest offers in sports activities historical past.
The 41-year-old enterprise capitalist and former Disney CEO Bob Iger agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for a document $12.5 billion, giving them management of one of many NBA’s most dear franchises.
Kushner already has NBA possession expertise. He beforehand held a minority stake within the Memphis Grizzlies earlier than buying a 5% curiosity within the Miami Warmth. His spouse, Karlie Kloss, can be a restricted companion within the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
The Lakers deal comes only a 12 months after Mark Walter bought the franchise from the Buss household for roughly $10 billion. Walter is now promoting at a considerably increased valuation.
For Kushner, the acquisition follows the failure of Thrive Capital’s $4.2 billion proposal involving FIFA’s business rights. The plan confronted sturdy opposition from European soccer officers and was finally deserted.
Kushner based Thrive Capital in 2009 and constructed his fortune by investments in corporations together with Instagram, Spotify, Stripe, Slack and OpenAI. Forbes estimates his internet price at about $5.2 billion.
Kushner and Iger had beforehand thought-about pursuing an NBA enlargement franchise in Las Vegas earlier than shifting their consideration to the Lakers.
The acquisition will contain Thrive Everlasting, Kushner’s permanent-capital funding firm.
As a part of the transition, Jeanie Buss is reportedly anticipated to stay the Lakers’ controlling governor for at the least 5 years.
Bouncing again from FIFA fiasco, Josh Kushner’s Lakers purchase continues lengthy profitable streak https://t.co/hKzdM09CvU pic.twitter.com/2XpL5UT6LE
— New York Put up (@nypost) August 12, 2026
