Lakers Dynasty, Family Feud: The Buss Ownership Battle Heats Up

Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 and turned them into a Showtime dynasty, but his 2013 death unleashed a long-running family power struggle among his six children. Jeanie Buss emerged as the successor and governor, while siblings clashed, fired executives and pursued control through courts and trusts. The saga intensified as the family moved from internal battles to a broader sale: the majority stake was sold to Mark Walter in 2025, and in 2026 the remaining Buss Family Trust minority stake was set to be sold to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner, a move that would remove Jeanie from the governor role and likely spur new lawsuits to resolve ownership and governance.