Inside Jeanie Buss’ Feud With Her Siblings as Lakers Sell for $12.5 Billion
Joshua Kushner, Bob Iger Buy Los Angeles Lakers in Record-Breaking $12 Billion Deal
Jerry Buss‘ six children seemingly haven’t agreed on much since their dad died in 2013, and they ended up selling their family’s majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers last summer.
After the $10 billion deal was done, the siblings collectively retained 17.8 percent of the storied NBA franchise, more than the 15 percent required for controlling owner Jeanie Buss to remain as team governor until at least 2030.
Her sister Janie Buss, 62, and brothers Joey Buss, 41, and Jesse Buss, 38, were fired from their front office roles months later. (Johnny Buss, 69, pursued other ventures after Jerry’s death, while Jim Buss, 66, was ousted in 2017.)
“I don’t think my dad would be happy with the way things just went down,” Janie told ESPN in January. “Not at all.”
Jeanie, however, maintained that Jerry—the architect of the championship-amassing “Showtime” Lakers—would have approved of selling to Guggenheim Partners CEO (and L.A. Dodgers owner) Mark Walter.
“My siblings were involved in the decision that was made,” the 64-year-old told CNBC in February. “It’s about the Lakers and the greatness and what the fans expect, and you need resources and you need a direction. I think it’s fair to say that my family—we all have our different opinions and [are] living our lives, choosing what we want to do with our time, and this was the best decision for all six of us.”
But it’s possible that Jeanie’s opinion won’t be able to carry the day this time.
