Jeanie Buss became the first woman to own a championship NBA team after the LA Lakers won back in 2020. However, Buss was just a teenager when she stepped into the world of sports management, when she was just 19 her father Dr. Jerry Buss handed her a tennis team called the LA Strings.

Her first experience managing a team taught her fearlessness, as she shared, “I think that it made me fearless” and added, “It made me get comfortable with maybe failing.” For a young Buss, it was a learning curve, and in a business defined by wins and losses, she’s since shown she can get the job done.

She even faced the difficult decision of firing her brother from the Lakers, underscoring her commitment to the team’s success.As she stated, “My dad had his children, but the Lakers were his baby. He expected me to protect the baby,” talking about her dad Dr. Jerry Buss who was the former owner of the Lakers until he passed away in 2013.

Jeanie added “I had to let my brother go when he was overseeing the basketball operations. Year after year, not making the playoffs — that was not the brand of Laker basketball that Dr. Buss had created.” explaining her father’s legacy and how he would’ve done things if he was still around. Let’s take a look at how the ownership has been structured since the passing away of Jeanie’s dad.

What percent of the Lakers does the Buss Family Trust own? A detailed look into Jeanie Buss’ journey as a team president

In the wake of Jerry Buss’ demise in 2013, his six children inherited his controlling portion of 66% of the Lakers, with each of them getting around 11% stake in the organization. But, in 2017, following a battle with her brothers, Jeanie gained greater control of the Lakers. In addition to being the CEO of the Lakers, Buss is also the head of all aspects including basketball operations, marketing, sponsorships, and broadcasting partner relationships.

She is also the Lakers’ Governor and represents the team on the NBA Board of Governors. She thinks of herself as very similar to her father as she said, “I’m kind of like my dad, where it’s kind of like, let the players let the team, be the focus, not me” stating that the players should be the center of the organization, not her.

In addition to her role with the Lakers, Jeanie Buss is also the co-owner and chief advocate for Women of Wrestling (WOW), the U.S. women’s professional wrestling league. The Buss family trust holds a 66% stake in WOW, and Jeanie has made it clear that the Lakers will never be sold. The team holds immense personal significance for her, both as a legacy of her father’s wishes and as a symbol of her dedication to honoring his vision.

Who are the minority owners of the Los Angeles Lakers?

Apart from the Buss family, several minority owners hold stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers. First are Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, who together own 27% of the franchise. The co-owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired their stake from Philip Anschutz in 2021. Walter is the co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, a global financial services firm, while Boehly is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Eldridge.

Next is Ed Roski Jr., who has been a minority owner since 1998, with a 3% share. Roski is the president of Majestic Realty, one of the largest privately-held real estate development firms in the U.S., owning over 83 million square feet of real estate across the country.

Lastly, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong holds a 4.5% stake in the Lakers. A billionaire businessman and doctor, Dr. Soon-Shiong made a significant portion of his wealth by selling his companies Abraxis and American Pharmaceutical Partners for a combined $9.1 billion. He has been a longtime Lakers fan and season ticket holder for over 25 years. He purchased his share from Magic Johnson.