Who is Jeanie Buss?

Jeanie Marie Buss is an American sports executive best known for her leadership role with the Los Angeles Lakers. She was born on September 26, 1961, in Santa Monica, California.
She entered professional sports at a remarkably young age. At 19, Buss became general manager of the Los Angeles Strings, her father’s World Team Tennis franchise. Her early experience eventually led to senior positions connected with the Lakers and the Great Western Forum.
Buss later became one of the most influential women in American professional sports. Her leadership became particularly important after her father died in 2013.
Jeanie Buss young: What was her early life like?
Jeanie Buss grew up in a family closely connected to sports and business. Her father, Jerry Buss, became a hugely successful real-estate investor before purchasing the Lakers and other Los Angeles sports properties.
As a young teenager, Jeanie was already exposed to the family business. She attended World Team Tennis meetings with her father when she was 14. Later, she chose to live with Jerry Buss, which further strengthened their relationship and gave her an unusually close look at his business operations.
Her father encouraged his children to learn through experience. That approach helped Jeanie develop an understanding of sports management long before she became the Lakers’ top executive.
While attending the University of Southern California, Buss continued working in sports. Her appointment with the Los Angeles Strings at 19 became an important first step in her professional career.
How old is Jeanie Buss?
Jeanie Buss was born on September 26, 1961.
As of August 2026, Jeanie Buss is 64 years old. She will turn 65 on September 26, 2026.
Her decades-long career is notable because she began working in professional sports while still a teenager and continued rising through the business side of the industry.
Who are Jeanie Buss’ siblings?
Jeanie Buss is one of the children of Jerry Buss. The Buss family has played an enormous role in Lakers history.
Her siblings include:
- Johnny Buss
- Jim Buss
- Janie Buss
- Joey Buss
- Jesse Buss
Jerry Buss also had an older son, Lee Buss, who was given up for adoption as an infant. The family structure has therefore been discussed differently depending on whether sources focus on Jerry Buss’ children who were involved in the Lakers family trust or all of his known children.
The six Buss children involved in the family trust that controlled a major Lakers stake were Jeanie, Johnny, Jim, Janie, Joey and Jesse. After Jerry Buss died in 2013, those six children each had an equal vote in the family trust’s Lakers ownership structure.
Jeanie Buss and her siblings
The relationship between Jeanie and her siblings has been complicated by disagreements over control of the Lakers.
One of the biggest family disputes occurred in 2017, when Jeanie removed her brother Jim Buss from his basketball-operations role. The disagreement developed into a larger power struggle, but Jeanie ultimately secured control over the franchise’s operations.
That history has become relevant again in 2026.
Recent reports say Jeanie is opposing her siblings’ effort to sell the Buss family’s remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers. Her attorney has argued that the transaction requires the approval of the relevant co-trustees and that the attempted sale should not proceed without that approval.
What is the latest Jeanie Buss news?
The biggest Jeanie Buss news in August 2026 concerns the future of the Buss family’s remaining Lakers ownership.
The Lakers have gone through an extraordinary ownership transition. In 2025, the Buss family agreed to sell a controlling portion of its Lakers interest to Mark Walter in a deal valuing the franchise at approximately $10 billion. The transaction reduced the family’s collective stake substantially while Jeanie remained in her leadership position.
In August 2026, Bob Iger and Josh Kushner were reported to be acquiring the Lakers at a valuation of roughly $12.5 billion. That development has created another major change in the ownership picture.
Jeanie’s position is complicated because she has challenged her siblings’ attempt to sell the family’s remaining interest. Reuters reported on August 17 that Buss was contesting the planned sale and that her lawyer argued she had approval rights under the trust arrangement.
Therefore, readers should be cautious with headlines claiming that every detail of Jeanie Buss’ Lakers role is already settled. The ownership transition and her legal challenge are still developing.
Is Jeanie Buss married?
Yes. Jeanie Buss is married.
She previously married professional volleyball player Steve Timmons in 1990. Their marriage lasted approximately three years before they divorced.
Buss later had a long-term relationship with former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. The pair began dating in 1999 and became engaged in 2013. However, they ended their engagement in December 2016.
Buss subsequently became involved with comedian and actor Jay Mohr. The couple announced their engagement in 2022 and married in Malibu in September 2023, according to biographical reports.
Does Jeanie Buss have children?
Jeanie Buss has not had children.
She has previously explained that her demanding career was a major consideration in her decision not to become a parent. Her professional life has involved significant responsibilities with the Lakers and other sports businesses.
Career
Buss’ career began well before she became the public face of the Lakers.
At 19, she was placed in charge of the Los Angeles Strings. She later became involved with the Los Angeles Blades roller-hockey organization and served as president of the Great Western Forum.
Her work at the Forum gave her experience in venue management, entertainment and sports business. She eventually became increasingly involved in the Lakers’ business operations.
Her father’s succession plan positioned Jeanie as a key figure in the organization’s future. After Jerry Buss died in 2013, that plan was tested by disagreements among his children.
In 2017, Jeanie consolidated operational control of the Lakers after a highly publicized family dispute.
Jeanie Buss and the Lakers
Jeanie’s tenure has included some of the most important moments in modern Lakers history.
Under her leadership, the Lakers eventually won the 2020 NBA championship. The organization also navigated major roster changes, coaching decisions and front-office transitions.
Her role was significant beyond basketball because she represented the Lakers at the ownership level and became one of the most prominent female executives in professional sports.
She also received a Sports Emmy Award in 2023 as an executive producer of the documentary series Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers.
What is Jeanie Buss’ net worth?
Jeanie Buss’ estimated net worth is around $1 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Her wealth has primarily been associated with her family’s Lakers ownership, business interests and her long career as a sports executive.
The exact figure is difficult to establish because private sports ownership interests, trust arrangements and transactions can change an individual’s assets substantially.
The Lakers’ enormous valuation has also made the Buss family’s ownership stakes extremely valuable. In the 2025 transaction, reports indicated that each of the six Buss siblings received approximately $1.025 billion in cash while retaining a smaller interest valued at roughly $300 million at the time.
Because the ownership structure is changing again in 2026, estimates of Buss’ current wealth should be treated as approximate rather than an audited figure.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jeanie Marie Buss |
| Born | September 26, 1961 |
| Age | 64 |
| Birthplace | Santa Monica, California |
| Father | Jerry Buss |
| Profession | Sports executive |
| Best known for | Los Angeles Lakers |
| College | University of Southern California |
| First major sports role | Los Angeles Strings |
| First husband | Steve Timmons |
| Current husband | Jay Mohr |
| Former partner | Phil Jackson |
| Children | None |
| Estimated net worth | Around $1 billion |
Why is Jeanie Buss important to the Lakers?
Jeanie Buss is important because her connection to the Lakers extends beyond simply being the daughter of a former owner.
She spent decades learning the sports business from Jerry Buss, eventually taking on executive responsibilities herself. Her leadership helped preserve the family’s influence over the Lakers for years after her father’s death.
Her 2017 power struggle with her siblings also established her as the central decision-maker within the franchise.
Now, the 2026 ownership dispute could represent another major turning point in the Buss family’s relationship with the Lakers.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Jeanie Buss?
She is 64 years old as of August 2026. She was born September 26, 1961.
Who are Jeanie Buss’ siblings?
Her siblings involved in the Buss family’s Lakers trust include Johnny, Jim, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss.
Is Jeanie Buss married?
Yes. Jeanie Buss married comedian Jay Mohr in 2023. She was previously married to volleyball player Steve Timmons.
Was Jeanie Buss married to Phil Jackson?
No. Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson were engaged but never married. They ended their engagement in 2016.
What is Jeanie Buss’ net worth?
Her net worth is commonly estimated at approximately $1 billion, although the precise figure can change with ownership transactions and private assets.
Does Jeanie Buss have children?
No. Buss has not had children.
What is the latest news about Jeanie Buss?
The latest major story concerns her dispute with her siblings over the Buss family’s remaining stake in the Lakers. Reuters reported that Buss is challenging the proposed sale and arguing that the trust’s approval requirements have not been satisfied.
Conclusion
Jeanie Buss has built a remarkable career from her early days working for her father’s sports businesses to becoming one of the most influential executives in the NBA. Her age, young life, siblings, marriage and estimated net worth continue to attract interest because of her unique position in Lakers history.
At 64, Buss remains at the center of one of the biggest ownership stories in professional sports. The latest dispute involving her siblings and the Buss family’s remaining Lakers stake could determine whether her family’s direct connection to the franchise finally comes to an end.
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