Lakers’ new owners project $30 billion value in 10 years

NBA Lakers’ new owners project $30 billion value in 10 years

By Nemanja Milosavljević

September 18, 2026 • 9:02 PM EDT

Updated 3 hours ago

Lakers’ new owners project $30 billion value in 10 years

The Los Angeles Lakers just set a new benchmark for sports franchise value, selling for an unbelievable $12.5 billion. The group led by Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger now owns the most expensive team in sports history. But here’s the kicker: they’re not stopping there. The new Lakers regime is telling investors that within the next decade, the Lakers could be worth a staggering $30 billion.

That’s right, the numbers coming out of the Kushner-Iger presentation make that $12.5 billion look almost tame. According to a presentation obtained by the Wall Street Journal, the owners’ pitch, put together by Thrive Capital, paints a jaw-dropping financial future. The Lakers’ path to $30 billion is built on a few aggressive bets, mainly that broadcast and streaming rights will double in value over the coming decade and that the team’s revenues can skyrocket from $681 million projected in 2026 to at least $1.6 billion by 2037.

Even more ambitious, if everything breaks their way, Kushner and Iger’s group has floated a potential $62 billion long-term figure. If you’re betting on the business of basketball, those are almost otherworldly numbers. And to put it in perspective, a $30 billion tag is more than what seven entire current NBA franchises are worth when combined, based on recent outside valuations. Reaching $62 billion would mean the Lakers would be bigger than half the league put together.

According to Yahoo Sports, none of this happens by accident. Thrive’s plan is direct: make more money, cut costs, and flex the Lakers’ brand for all it’s worth. That’s why they’re eyeing an extra $150 million by 2028, mostly by reclaiming about 6,000 season tickets from brokers and selling those seats as single-game tickets—increasing average prices from $217 to $361. Fans aren’t likely to be thrilled about more expensive tickets, and the plan includes more sponsorship cash and a $20 million-plus efficiency drive. The big money, though, comes from those looming TV deals. Thrive expects NBA broadcast rights, now worth $77 billion over 11 years, to double at renewal.

Key developments with the Lakers’ new ownership

Record-breaking $12.5 billion sale led by Kushner and Iger.
Internal investor pitch projects $30 billion valuation by 2037.
Aggressive revenue growth estimates, with a $1.6 billion annual revenue target in 10 years.
Plans to squeeze $150 million extra by making tickets pricier and reducing broker influence.
More sponsorship and brand deals, plus significant cost-cutting initiatives.
TV and streaming rights are central to the valuation surge, expected to double in value with a new NBA deal.
Wild card: a possible $62 billion long-term win if every assumption breaks their way.

Inside ownership drama and the Buss family legacy

While the financial talk is wild, the Lakers’ ownership story is still playing out behind the scenes. The Kushner-Iger group bought their controlling stake from Mark Walter, not the Buss family. The Buss siblings, though, still own 17.8 percent via the late Jerry Buss’s trust. A messy family fight is running in the background: the non-Jeanie siblings all want to sell their stake to the new regime, while Jeanie is in court fighting to stop that sale and keep her grip on the family’s Lakers legacy. She argues that the constantly rising value means it makes no sense to cash out now—and Thrive’s projections would seem to back her up.

What matters for fans and bettors?

So why do you care about the Lakers’ valuation drama? Because every move here will ripple into the team’s spending on roster, facilities, and even ticket prices. If Thrive Capital’s plans hit their marks, expect a more commercial, more expensive fan experience, but potentially deeper pockets driving competitive ambition. And in a league where financial muscle leads to star signings, every extra billion could keep the Lakers right in the mix for years to come.

Key takeaways for Lakers fans and bettors

The $12.5 billion sale is already a milestone; new owners see even bigger gains ahead.
Ambitious $30 billion target is based on bold TV and revenue projections.
Fans will feel it: higher ticket prices, tighter season-ticket access, more sponsorships.
Efficiency cuts and fresh commercial deals may mean change at every level, not just on the court.
If the TV rights bet pays off, the Lakers could lap the rest of the league in value.
Ongoing Buss family dispute means ownership stability is still in flux.
Every dollar of increased value potentially gives the Lakers more leverage to invest back into elite talent and marketing.
As the business side soars, expect more focus on the Lakers’ influence off the court as much as on it.

More coverage: latest NBA news, NBA betting hub and NBA expert picks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger’s group bought the Lakers for a record-breaking $12.5 billion, the highest price ever paid for any professional sports franchise.

The new ownership group is telling investors that the Lakers could be worth at least $30 billion by 2037, with even higher long-term projections if everything aligns.

Plans include doubling the value of TV and streaming rights, increasing ticket prices, reclaiming ticket inventory from brokers, adding more sponsorships, and finding cost-efficiencies across operations.

A $30 billion Lakers valuation is more than the combined reported values of several entire NBA franchises. If the most ambitious projections hold, the Lakers could be worth more than half the league together.

Fans may see higher ticket prices, more expensive single-game options, and an increase in sponsorships. Operational changes could make some fan experiences more costly or commercial.

The Buss family retains a 17.8% stake. Most siblings want to sell to the Kushner-Iger group, but Jeanie Buss is in court trying to block the sale and keep control of the family’s share.

They believe the NBA’s next broadcast deal will double in value, raising the Lakers’ revenue significantly due to the team’s brand appeal and global following.