A Billion-Dollar Fortune Forged in Legacy and Leadership
When Jeanie Buss walks into the Crypto.com Arena, she carries more than just the weight of one of basketball’s most storied franchises. She carries a billion-dollar empire built on shrewd business decisions, unwavering determination, and a legacy that began long before she took control. As the controlling owner and governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jeanie Buss has transformed her inheritance into a financial powerhouse that extends far beyond the hardwood.
Her journey from a young woman learning the ropes of sports management to becoming one of the wealthiest figures in professional basketball tells a story that few can match. The numbers speak for themselves, but the path to reaching them reveals something far more compelling.
The Making of a Billionaire: Jeanie Buss’s Current Net Worth
Jeanie Buss’s net worth stands at an impressive one billion dollars as of 2025. This figure represents a significant leap from earlier estimates that placed her wealth at around 700 million dollars. The dramatic increase came courtesy of a landmark transaction that reshaped the landscape of professional sports ownership.
The bulk of her fortune stems from her stake in the Lakers, though her financial portfolio extends into multiple ventures. Real estate holdings across California, equity in entertainment properties, and strategic investments in various business sectors all contribute to her overall wealth. Yet it was a single deal in June 2025 that catapulted her into the billionaire ranks.
The 2025 Lakers Sale: A Game-Changing Deal
In June 2025, the Buss family reached an agreement that would go down in history as the largest sale of a professional sports franchise in the United States. Mark Walter, the CEO of TWG Global and owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, purchased a majority stake in the Lakers at a staggering ten billion dollar valuation.
The transaction saw Walter increase his ownership from 27 percent to 75 percent by acquiring 48 percent from the Buss family. Each of the six Buss siblings walked away with approximately 1.025 billion dollars in cash before taxes. They also retained three percent stakes valued at 300 million dollars each. For Jeanie, this meant maintaining her role as team governor while securing financial independence that few could imagine.
Beyond the Court: Diversified Income Streams
While the Lakers represent the cornerstone of her wealth, Jeanie has never placed all her eggs in one basket. Her business acumen extends to Women of Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion she co-owns. The organization secured a major syndication deal with ViacomCBS in 2021, expanding its reach and profitability.
She also holds a stake in Cincoro Tequila, a premium spirits brand she co-founded alongside Michael Jordan and several other NBA team owners. The venture taps into the lucrative celebrity spirits market, adding another revenue stream to her portfolio. Real estate investments, media appearances, and endorsement deals round out her diverse income sources.
From Inheritance to Empire: The Buss Family Dynasty
Dr. Jerry Buss’s Visionary Purchase
The foundation of the Buss family fortune was laid in 1979 when Dr. Jerry Buss made what many considered a risky gamble. He purchased the Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, and the Great Western Forum for 67.5 million dollars. At the time, critics questioned the wisdom of such an investment. History would prove them spectacularly wrong.
Jerry Buss transformed the Lakers from a basketball team into a cultural phenomenon. Under his stewardship, the franchise won ten NBA championships and became synonymous with Hollywood glamour and sporting excellence. Stars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant wore the purple and gold, cementing the Lakers’ place in basketball history.
A Legacy Divided: The 2013 Inheritance
When Jerry Buss passed away in 2013, he left behind a family trust that owned 66 percent of the Lakers. His six children each inherited an 11 percent stake in the franchise. At that time, the team was valued at approximately 1.35 billion dollars, making each share worth roughly 150 million dollars.
Jeanie was positioned to lead the organization, but the path forward was far from smooth. Family dynamics, competing visions for the team’s future, and the pressure of maintaining a championship-caliber franchise created challenges that would test her resolve in ways her father never anticipated.
A Trailblazing Career in Sports Management
Early Beginnings and Proving Grounds
Jeanie Buss didn’t wait for an inheritance to start building her career. At just 19 years old, her father appointed her as general manager of the Los Angeles Strings, a professional tennis team. The role thrust her into the deep end of sports management, forcing her to learn quickly or sink.
She thrived. After proving herself with the Strings, she took on the presidency of the Great Western Forum, the Lakers’ home arena at the time. For five years, she managed every aspect of the venue’s operations, from booking events to overseeing staff. The experience burned her out, as her father had warned it might, but it also equipped her with skills that would prove invaluable later.
Taking the Helm of the Lakers
Following her father’s death, Jeanie assumed the role of Lakers president and controlling owner. She inherited a franchise in transition, one that had recently lost Kobe Bryant to retirement and was struggling to find its identity. The pressure to maintain the Lakers’ winning tradition while navigating the modern NBA landscape fell squarely on her shoulders.
Under her leadership, the Lakers made bold moves. She orchestrated the signing of LeBron James in 2018, a decision that would pay dividends when the team captured the NBA championship in 2020. That title, won during the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, validated her approach and silenced many of her critics.
Expanding the Empire: Ventures Beyond Basketball
Women of Wrestling (WOW)
Jeanie’s commitment to creating opportunities for women in sports extends beyond her role with the Lakers. In 2017, she became co-owner of Women of Wrestling, a promotion inspired by the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling that had captured public imagination in the 1980s. The organization focuses on showcasing female athletes in a male-dominated industry.
The venture has grown steadily, securing television deals and building a dedicated fanbase. For Jeanie, it represents more than just another business investment. It embodies her belief that women deserve prominent platforms in professional sports, both as executives and as athletes.
Cincoro Tequila and Other Investments
When Jeanie partnered with Michael Jordan and fellow NBA owners to launch Cincoro Tequila, she entered a market already crowded with celebrity-backed spirits brands. The company differentiated itself through quality, positioning its products in the premium and ultra-premium segments.
Her real estate portfolio, inherited in part from her father’s savvy investments, includes residential and commercial properties throughout California. While she maintains a relatively modest lifestyle compared to some billionaires, her property holdings reflect both good taste and sound financial planning.
Overcoming Adversity: The 2017 Power Struggle
In 2017, Jeanie faced her greatest professional challenge when her brothers Jim and Johnny attempted to wrest control of the Lakers from her. The family dispute played out in public, threatening to tear apart the organization their father had built. Jim, who had been serving as executive vice president of basketball operations, disagreed with Jeanie’s vision for the team’s future.
Jeanie responded decisively. She fired both Jim and longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak, then took legal action to solidify her control. Her remaining siblings sided with her, formally granting her 100 percent authority over Lakers decisions. The power struggle tested her leadership and resolve, but she emerged stronger and more firmly in command than ever before.
The Woman Behind the Title
Personal Sacrifices for a Professional Dream
Success at the highest levels of sports management has required sacrifices that Jeanie has spoken about candidly. She made the conscious decision not to have children, recognizing that her ambitions and the demands of running a billion-dollar franchise would make balancing both nearly impossible.
When her father offered her the opportunity to run the Forum in the 1990s, he warned her that accepting would kill her social life. She took the job anyway, driven by an ambition she describes as almost detrimental. That same drive has defined her career, pushing her to excel in an industry where women remain vastly underrepresented in ownership and executive roles.
A Lasting Impact on the NBA
Jeanie Buss has become one of the most influential women in professional sports. Forbes regularly recognizes her as a power player in the industry, and her success has opened doors for other women aspiring to leadership positions in sports management. She remains accessible to players and coaches, maintaining the personal touch that her father valued.
Her 2023 Sports Emmy Award for executive producing the documentary series about the Lakers’ history demonstrated her commitment to preserving and promoting the franchise’s legacy. She understands that the Lakers represent more than just a basketball team. They embody a cultural institution that spans generations of fans.
The Future of the Buss Legacy
Even with reduced ownership following the 2025 sale, Jeanie Buss remains the face of the Lakers franchise. Her continued role as team governor ensures that the Buss family name will remain synonymous with Lakers basketball for years to come. The billion dollars she received from the sale provides financial security and the freedom to pursue new ventures.
The Lakers’ valuation at ten billion dollars represents a remarkable return on her father’s original 67.5 million dollar investment. That growth reflects not just the rising value of NBA franchises, but also the careful stewardship of multiple generations of the Buss family. Jeanie has honored her father’s legacy while putting her own stamp on the organization.
As she looks to the future, Jeanie Buss stands as proof that inherited wealth, when combined with business acumen and relentless determination, can grow into something far greater than the sum of its parts. Her net worth of one billion dollars tells only part of the story. The rest is written in championships won, barriers broken, and a legacy that continues to evolve with each passing season.
