William Nylander
$20 million
Jeanie Buss’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1.3 billion as of 2026, following the landmark sale of the majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2025. Born Jeanie Marie Buss on September 26, 1961, she is the governor and minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and the first woman to serve as controlling owner of an NBA franchise that won a championship. Her fortune is primarily derived from her inherited ownership stake in the Lakers, which were valued at a record $10 billion in the 2025 transaction.
Updated March 2026: According to Forbes, the Buss family sold the majority of their Lakers stake to Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter for a record $10 billion valuation in June 2025. Jeanie Buss received approximately $1.025 billion from the sale of her personal shares and retained a roughly 3% stake valued at approximately $300 million, bringing her estimated total to $1.3 billion.
Jeanie Buss was born on September 26, 1961, in Santa Monica, California, as the third of four children born to Lakers owner Jerry Buss and his wife Joann. Her parents divorced in 1972. She became immersed in sports business at a remarkably young age — attending World TeamTennis events with her father at age 14, and living at the historic Pickfair estate in Beverly Hills at 17 after her father purchased it. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in business, graduating with honors. Her education was deeply practical, supplemented by direct involvement in sports operations from adolescence.
Jeanie Buss began her sports executive career in 1981 at age 19 when her father appointed her general manager of the LA Strings, a World TeamTennis franchise. She went on to own and operate the LA Blades roller hockey team in the 1990s, earning Executive of the Year recognition. In 1999, she joined the Lakers organization as Vice President of Business Operations, overseeing arena entertainment, marketing, and game-day operations.
Following Jerry Buss’s death in February 2013, the franchise entered a period of family dispute. In 2017, Jeanie outmaneuvered her brothers — Jim, Johnny, and Joey — in a governance dispute that sought to remove her, ultimately securing a trust arrangement that gave her lifetime controlling interest in the franchise. During her tenure, the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship, making her the first woman in NBA history to be the controlling owner of a championship-winning franchise, according to Wikipedia.
In June 2025, the Buss family agreed to sell the majority of their combined stake to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation, as reported by Reuters. Jeanie Buss fired several siblings following the sale and retained her role as team governor for at least five additional years.
Jeanie Buss married comedian and actor Jay Mohr in 2023. She was previously married to Olympic beach volleyball player Steve Timmons from 1990 to 1993. She had a highly publicized long-term relationship with Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson from approximately 1999 to 2016, during which Jackson coached the Lakers to five NBA Championships. Jeanie Buss has no children. She posed for Playboy in 1995 and has spoken openly about the complex family dynamics within the Buss organization, particularly following the family dispute of 2017 and the contentious dynamics surrounding the 2025 sale described by ESPN.
Jeanie Buss’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1.3 billion as of 2026, reflecting her approximately $1.025 billion in cash from the June 2025 Lakers majority sale plus her retained 3% equity stake worth roughly $300 million at the $10 billion transaction valuation per Forbes. Prior to the sale, her wealth was estimated at approximately $700 million based on her ownership percentage.
Jeanie Buss married Jay Mohr, a comedian and actor known for the films Jerry Maguire and Go and the TV series Gary Unmarried, in 2023. Prior to Mohr, Jeanie had a long-term relationship with Phil Jackson, the legendary NBA coach, from approximately 1999 to 2016. She was previously married to Olympic beach volleyball player Steve Timmons from 1990 to 1993.
Jeanie Buss was born on September 26, 1961, making her 64 years old as of 2026. She was born in Santa Monica, California, and grew up in the Los Angeles area as the daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss. She has spent the vast majority of her professional life in Los Angeles sports business, beginning with her general manager role at 19 in 1981.
Jeanie Buss stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall (1.70 meters). As a sports executive rather than an athlete, her height has not been a significant factor in her career trajectory; instead, her acumen in navigating complex organizational and business dynamics within the NBA has defined her legacy.
The Los Angeles Lakers were valued at a record $10 billion in June 2025 when the Buss family agreed to sell the majority of their combined stake to Mark Walter, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Reuters. The Buss family collectively retained approximately 15-18% of the franchise, and Jeanie Buss remained as team governor for at least five more years following the transaction.
Jeanie Buss has no children. She has spoken publicly about prioritizing her career and the Lakers organization throughout her adult life, maintaining a focus on sports business that has spanned more than four decades. Her relationship with Phil Jackson, which lasted approximately 17 years, did not result in children.