Jeanie Buss, Jerry Buss (Credits: Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers (16-14) are standing at No. 9 in the Western Conference after a stellar win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 23, 2023. There’s no doubt that the franchise is the most storied organization in the league. The reasons for this fame are innumerable, starting with the number of championships the team has won. With a tally of 17 championships, the Lakers currently stand on par with the Celtics in the league.

While the team is currently in the headlines revolving around its interest in the Chicago Bulls’ star player, Zach LaVine, the dominance has always been there. As Forbes estimated in 2023, the team was valued at a whopping $6.4 billion. This number directly raises curiosity about the ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers. Following the trend in the NBA, Dr. Jerry Buss passed on the possession of the team to the next generation.

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Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the team in 1979, as he was very fond of Los Angeles City. Using every bit of his wealth, the legend purchased the Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, the Forum, and many other private lands. All these possessions made his total net worth around $67.5 million. Since he bought the team, it has only seen better days.

While he ran ‘The Showtime Era’ as the controlling owner, the man alerted his offspring about his grave health. Buss breathed his last in 2013, and he transferred his 66% controlling shares to his six children in equal parts. While the Buss family trust now owns the Lakers, there are three other minority owners.

Co-owners of MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers, Todd Boehly and Mark Walter hold a 27% stake, Edward P. Roski holds 3%, while Patrick Soon-Shiong owns 4.5% that he acquired former basketball player Magic Johnson.

Jeanie Buss is the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers

While the Lakers witnessed the three-peat sensation under Jerry Buss, they couldn’t perform at par under Jeanie Buss in the initial years. After taking the reign of the team into her own hands in 2013, Jeanie seemed to remove the glory period from the franchise. Although she was the first female NBA owner to win a championship later, the initial years were tough.

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She now holds the position of co-owner and chief advocate for the U.S. women’s professional wrestling promotion, Women of Wrestling, along with representing the Lakers. An alumnus of the University of South California, she also won the 2023 Sports Emmy Award for her exceptional career trajectory in sports.