Totally Nuts': Mark Walter's Lightning-Fast Lakers Flip

Mark Walter’s Lakers deal may be the fastest modern franchise flip in NBA-era M&A. After buying the team last year at a $10 billion valuation, Walter agreed on Wednesday to sell the Lakers to a group led by Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation—just weeks after some media reports of a rapid process. One NBA co-owner called it “totally nuts,” while an ex-executive said it was a “not a bad day” for Walter and Todd Boehly. The purchase was announced in June 2025 and closed in October, meaning Walter controlled the Lakers for about 14 months. Experts cited by Front Office Sports say the $2.5 billion increase is less surprising given private equity interest and loosened ownership rules, while uncertainty remains around media and streaming. Sources also link the quick sale to Walter’s alleged “cash crunch” and a federal investigation involving his insurance empire’s reserves for financing the Lakers acquisition.