Who Owns the Los Angeles Lakers?

By Jocelyn Alano June 25, 2024 04:51

Photo by Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Through years of experience and a winning tradition, the Los Angeles Lakers have set the bar at an extraordinary level, with 33 division and 32 conference titles. The Lakers hold 17 NBA championships, a figure matched only by the Boston Celtics, and are among the most successful teams in professional basketball history.

Jeanie Buss

Jeanie Buss owns the Los Angeles Lakers and has an impressive history in sports. Buss was born September 26, 1961, in Santa Monica, California, and grew up enveloped in the sports world as her father, Jerry Buss, owned the Lakers. 

After completing her education at the University of Southern California, Buss began working in the sports industry and learned a lot from her father, who guided her through the industry he loved and helped prepare her for the challenges she would later face. During the last decade, she served in many different capacities with the Los Angeles Lakers, excelling in overseeing business operations for the team. In 1999, she was named the team's executive vice president of business operations, a critical point in her career as one of the most powerful women in the NBA.

Jeanie Buss is one of the rare, powerful women in the NBA. She is a part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, which she acquired via her father's estate in 2013 after his passing. Buss is the president and controlling owner, giving her a large hand in what the Lakers do going forward.

Ownership Structure

Control of the Los Angeles Lakers rests with the Buss family, and Jeanie Buss is the controlling owner and president of the franchise. The family owns 66% of the team, the largest share held by Jeanie Buss.

Jeanie' Leadership

At the core of Jeanie Buss' leadership style is her unyielding loyalty to the Lakers and the idea that they can be championship contenders again. 

Buss, who has been very successful in her own right, has also become a mentor for women wanting to build their careers in sports. Her legacy includes speaking out for women in sports management, which has opened doors to future professionals in the field. Buss, herself perhaps the most powerful woman in a male-dominated industry, has helped to change the story around women working in professional sports.

Challenges and Successes

Jeanie has had her fair share of challenges since joining the club. The team suffered a dip in form during her tenure, consequently being viewed under greater scrutiny and criticism from some fans. But it is that fortitude and commitment to her team's success that has allowed Buss to weather the storm, lifting the Lakers out of these years of in-field misery and setting them back on a course familiar with splendor.

While they may have withstood all sorts of challenges, under Buss's command, the Lakers have compiled a rich history that ensures that they will remain one of the league's elite as an NBA entity. The team's successes and accolades are a testimony to Buss's determination, which will hopefully serve as an example and take Los Angeles' Lakers to bigger and brighter success points.

Legacy and Future

Jane Buss' legacy as the Los Angeles Lakers owner is marked by her transformational leadership, enduring commitment, and trailblazing impact in sports management. Her timeless influence on the Lakers and her commitment to preserving the team's tradition has the organization in a favorable place under her ongoing control.

Overall, Jeanie Buss is a trailblazing figure in sports ownership, synonymous with perseverance, empowerment, and staunch commitment to the Los Angeles Lakers. Her ownership of the Lakers for nearly four decades speaks to her historic legacy.

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