Report suggests Abu Dhabi ties behind $12.5 billion Lakers sale

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to change hands as Mark Walter finalizes a $12.5 billion transaction with a group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. Their publicly disclosed wealth totals roughly $6 billion, raising questions about the source of the remaining funds. A report, referenced by investigative reporter Pablo Torre, suggests that Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, managing director of Mubadala Capital, may be providing financial backing through the Abu Dhabi sovereign-wealth fund.

Mubadala has previously done business with Walter and was linked to one of his companies before the sale. Although the claim remains unverified, the connection has drawn attention to possible Middle-East involvement in the deal. Torre’s amplification of the story is likely to increase public and regulatory interest in the ownership structure.