Jeanie Buss

Jeanie Buss
Buss in 2016
Born
Jeanie Marie Buss

(1961-09-26) September 26, 1961 (age 62)
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
Occupation(s)President of the Los Angeles Lakers
Co-owner of the Women of Wrestling promotion.
Spouses
  • (m. 1990; div. 1993)
  • (m. 2023)
Partner(s)Phil Jackson
(1999–2016)
Parent
AwardsSix-time NBA champion
NBA Cup (2023)
2023 Sports Emmy Award

Jeanie Marie Buss (born September 26, 1961)[1] is an American sports executive who is the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA),[2][3] and co-owner and promoter of the U.S. women's professional wrestling promotion Women of Wrestling (WOW).

A daughter of Jerry Buss, who owned the Lakers and other sports businesses, she entered the family business as general manager of the Los Angeles Strings professional tennis team at 19. She later bought the Los Angeles Blades professional roller hockey team. She served as president of the Great Western Forum before becoming vice president of the Lakers. After her father died in 2013, his controlling ownership of the Lakers passed to his six children via a family trust, with each sibling receiving an equal vote. Buss took over as team president and as the Lakers representative on the NBA Board of Governors. In 2020, she became the first female controlling owner to guide her team to an NBA championship, giving her six NBA titles overall as an owner/executive.[4]

  1. ^ Buss, Jeanie; Springer, Steve (2010). Laker Girl. Triumph Books. p. 24. ISBN 9781600785115.
  2. ^ Perez, A. J.; Zillgitt, Jeff (March 27, 2017). "Lakers' family feud ends with Jeanie Buss as controlling owner". USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  3. ^ Fenno, Nathan (July 3, 2018). "It was 16 months ago when Jeanie Buss made a daring move to seize control of the Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Plaschke, Bill (October 11, 2020). "Kobe Bryant's spirit is present in Lakers' NBA championship triumph". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 12, 2020.