A member of the Kushner family has stepped into the spotlight with a reported $12.5 billion transaction involving the Los Angeles Lakers, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The deal, if finalized at that valuation, would rank among the largest in the history of professional sports ownership, underscoring the extraordinary rise in value of top-tier franchises across the National Basketball Association.
The report signals a generational shift in one of American sports’ most storied franchises, with a Kushner family member other than Jared Kushner—known internationally for his business and political roles—emerging as a central figure in the transaction. While full details of the deal’s structure, financing, and regulatory timeline have not been disclosed, the reported valuation places the Lakers firmly among the most valuable sports properties in the world, alongside marquee European football clubs and other elite American franchises.
The Lakers, one of the NBA’s most recognizable and commercially successful teams, have long been held up as a benchmark for franchise valuation growth. A deal of this size would reflect the broader trajectory of professional sports ownership, where media rights, global fan engagement, and real estate assets tied to stadiums and training facilities have driven valuations far beyond historical norms over the past decade.
Why Gulf Investors Are Watching Sports Valuations Closely
While the source reporting does not indicate any direct involvement of UAE or wider Gulf capital in this specific transaction, the deal arrives at a moment when sovereign wealth funds and private investors from the region have been steadily expanding their footprint in global sports. Gulf-based entities have in recent years pursued stakes and sponsorship deals across football, motorsport, golf, and other high-profile sporting properties, viewing sports assets as a vehicle for portfolio diversification, soft power, and long-term brand building.
For institutional investors and family offices in the UAE and broader GCC, transactions of this scale serve as a reference point for how sports franchise valuations continue to climb in mature Western markets, particularly in the United States, where the NBA has cultivated a growing international fan base, including a substantial following across the Middle East. The league’s efforts to expand its presence in the region, including exhibition games and marketing partnerships, have contributed to a steady increase in the commercial appeal of NBA franchises among global investors.
Analysts tracking sports investment trends note that mega-valuations of this nature tend to accelerate interest from a wider pool of capital, including sovereign funds, private equity firms, and high-net-worth individuals seeking exposure to scarce, trophy-asset investments. Should Gulf-based investors eventually seek entry into top-tier American sports ownership, deals of this magnitude are likely to shape expectations around pricing and structure.
The transaction also highlights the increasingly prominent role that family offices and privately held investment vehicles play in high-value sports deals, often operating with less public disclosure than publicly traded entities. As details of the Lakers transaction continue to emerge, market observers will be watching for confirmation of financing sources, any co-investors, and the timeline for league approval, which is typically required for ownership changes of this scale within the NBA.
For now, the reported $12.5 billion figure stands as a marker of how far franchise valuations in major American sports leagues have travelled, and a reminder of the growing intersection between global capital, including interest from the Gulf, and the business of professional sports ownership.
