Buss Family Feud Reignites: Jeanie Buss Fights to Save Her Lakers Legacy
The Los Angeles Lakers are going through an ownership shakeup that feels more like an episode of Succession than a sports business transaction. When reports broke of a record $12.5 billion sale to a group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, most of the headlines focused on the money. But the real story is much more personal: a sibling vote that threatens to force Jeanie Buss out of the only job she’s ever really known.
To understand how the Jeanie Buss Lakers era reached this crisis point, you have to look past the valuation and into the mechanics of a family trust that has finally splintered.
The Blindside and the "Tag-Along" Move
The current friction traces back to 2025, when the Buss family sold a controlling interest in the franchise to Dodgers owner Mark Walter for $10 billion. The family held onto a 17.8% minority stake through the Buss Family Trust, a move that allowed Jeanie to maintain her position as the team's governor and controlling owner.
Recently, Walter moved to flip the franchise to the Iger-Kushner group at a massive $12.5 billion valuation. This triggered a "tag-along provision" for the Buss family. If four of the six siblings agreed, the trust could sell its remaining shares alongside Walter's.
Five of them—Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse—voted to cash out. Jeanie was the lone dissenting vote.
Instead of presenting a unified front, the siblings released a statement confirming their exit, noting: “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group... it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
Why the 15% Rule Changes Everything
Cashing out might seem like a logical business decision for the siblings, but for Jeanie, the stakes are existential.
NBA ownership bylaws strictly mandate that a team's controlling owner must personally hold at least a 15% equity stake in the franchise. If the trust's 17.8% share is sold off, Jeanie’s personal ownership percentage will drop well below that league-mandated threshold.
The math is unforgiving. If the sale goes through as voted, she loses her title, her operational control, and her direct daily connection to her father’s life's work. Her legal team is already pushing back on the vote, signaling a bitter court battle ahead.
A Decade-Long Cold War
This didn't happen overnight. The Lakers ownership history has been defined by internal fractures since Dr. Jerry Buss passed away in 2013. He left his 66% controlling stake split equally among his six children, hoping Jeanie would lead them.
By 2017, that trust had completely shattered. Jeanie fired her brother Jim from the front office, leading Jim and older brother Johnny to attempt a boardroom coup to oust her. Jeanie won that legal battle, securing a court agreement for lifetime operational control. But the resentment clearly lingered. When Walter bought the controlling stake in 2025, younger brothers Joey and Jesse were subsequently dismissed from their front-office roles.
For years, Jeanie managed to outmaneuver the internal chaos to keep her grip on the franchise. Now, her siblings have leveraged the Iger-Kushner sale to make their final move—what many in the sports world view as a long-awaited retaliation.
What Happens Next
The next chapter of the Buss family feud will likely play out in court. The siblings who were ousted over the years have found a highly lucrative way to answer back, while Jeanie is fighting to hold her ground against league bylaws and her own family trust.
Whether she finds a legal loophole or is ultimately forced to step down, the landscape of Lakers ownership has permanently shifted. The focus in Los Angeles usually sta
ys on the court, but right now, the most consequential fight is happening in the boardroom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is Jeanie Buss losing her role as Lakers governor?
Jeanie Buss is at risk of losing her title because of an NBA ownership mandate known as the "15% rule".
Did Jeanie Buss agree to the Lakers sale?
No. While five of the six Buss siblings voted in favor of selling the family's remaining shares to the new ownership group, Jeanie Buss was the sole dissenting vote.
Who is buying the Los Angeles Lakers and for how much?
A new ownership group led by former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and businessman Josh Kushner has agreed to purchase the team.
What did the Buss family say about the sale?
In response to the news, the family released a statement confirming their exit: “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group... we love the Lakers, Laker fans, and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can”.
When will the Lakers' sale become official?
The transaction is pending official approval from the NBA Board of Governors, which is scheduled to meet on September 15 and 16, 2026, in New York.
Comments
Post a Comment