Business & Finance
Sports investor Josh Harris defends $12.5 billion Los Angeles Lakers valuation amid rising franchise prices
Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris dismissed concerns about a sports asset bubble, citing high demand for live content and scarcity.
The short version
- Sports investor Josh Harris stated the Los Angeles Lakers are worth their recent record-setting $12.5 billion valuation.
- Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger recently agreed to acquire majority equity in the franchise at the $12.5 billion figure, up from a $10 billion valuation in June 2025.
- Harris dismissed concerns of a valuation bubble, attributing the price growth to scarcity, strong demand for live media content, and expanding private equity involvement.
Key facts
- Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger agreed to acquire majority equity in the Los Angeles Lakers at a valuation of $12.5 billion.[CNBC]
- The $12.5 billion transaction follows a June 2025 deal that valued the Lakers at $10 billion when Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter agreed to buy a majority stake.[CNBC]
- CNBC estimates that the $12.5 billion valuation represents roughly 20 times the Lakers' projected revenue for the 2025-26 season.[CNBC]
- Josh Harris, who led a group that purchased the Washington Commanders for $6 billion in May 2023, publicly stated that the Lakers are worth the $12.5 billion price tag.[CNBC]