Jeanie Buss’s Family Affair: Turning Down a $10 Billion Lakers Sale to Mark Walter
In a move that captivated the sports world, the Buss family—custodians of the Los Angeles Lakers since 1979—has agreed to sell majority control of the franchise to billionaire investor Mark Walter at a historic $10 billion valuation. Yet, the headlines only tell half the story. At the center of this seismic deal stands Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ controlling owner, governor, and steward of her late father Jerry Buss’s legacy. Despite the deal’s completion, Jeanie’s decision to stay on as franchise governor—and the remarkable family deliberations behind the scenes—reflect a fiercely personal narrative of loyalty, leadership, and a hard-won decision echoing decades of trust and tradition.
The Groundbreaking Deal
On June 18, 2025, media outlets reported that Jeanie Buss finalized a deal to transfer majority ownership of the Lakers to Mark Walter—already a 20–27 percent minority owner since 2021—for an estimated $10 billion, now the most valuable sale in American sports history (washingtonpost.com). Under terms of the agreement, Walter gains controlling interest, while the Buss family retains a roughly 15 percent stake, and critically, Jeanie Buss remains at the helm as governor (reuters.com). Final approval will be subject to NBA Board of Governors endorsement, a process expected to wrap up over the next few months (reddit.com).
⚖️ Jeanie Buss: A Determined Guardian
Jeanie Buss’s stewardship stems from her father’s blueprint. Upon inheriting the team post-Jerry Buss’s death in 2013, she emerged as the effective arbiter of both business and basketball operations, and was officially recognized by the NBA as controlling owner in 2017 following a carefully negotiated accord with her brothers (apnews.com).
Throughout the past decade, Jeanie has steadfastly rejected calls to sell. “There’s no reason for us to ever sell the Lakers,” she said as recently as 2019—and continued reinforcing the sentiment in 2022: “The team is not for sale… my dad wanted me to keep the Lakers in the family.” (silverscreenandroll.com). A passionate voice among players and fans, she’s known to sit courtside, exchanging smiles with families and even cradling their infants—a rare display that underlines the bond she shares with the Lakers faithful .
From Billion-Dollar Offers to Unwavering Commitment
In a revealing throwback, Jeanie shared that her father once turned down a staggering $1 billion offer in the early 2000s. “He said, ‘If I took that money, the first thing I’d want to do is buy the Lakers back.’” That moment illustrates just how deeply the team resonates beyond financial calculus (silverscreenandroll.com).
But why sell now? With JWalter in the mix, Jeanie seized an opportunity to secure the financial foundation of the Lakers’ future while preserving operational control. Walter, celebrated for energizing the Dodgers into consistent championship contention, is known for a collaborative yet hands-off approach—a style that appealed to Jeanie’s belief in balancing ownership vision with expert leadership (houstonchronicle.com).
Inside the Familial Chessboard
Behind closed doors, the transaction was anything but simple. The Buss family trust, which collectively owned about 66 percent of the Lakers as of 2024, required agreement from at least four of Jerry Buss’s six children to authorize any sale (essentiallysports.com). Thanks to years of negotiation—some marked by public court filings—the siblings emerged unified in supporting Jeanie as controlling owner and this landmark sale (apnews.com).
Jeanie later reflected that absent her leadership, the family “probably would have been forced to sell the team” owing to internal strife and lack of centralized direction (thesportsrush.com). Her firmness helped avert potential drift or fractionation of ownership—threats she foresaw if control became diluted or contested.
A New Chapter for the Lakers
Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners and major stakeholder in Dodgers, Sparks, Chelsea FC, and Andretti Global, brings deep pockets and big dreams. His tenure at the Dodgers has yielded two World Series, underscoring his capacity to foster winning cultures (en.wikipedia.org). Lakers fans and analysts alike hope the same symbiosis emerges here: Walter offers the capital and strategic ambition, while Jeanie ensures the Lakers identity and day-to-day operations are stewardship-led, not bottom-line driven.
Luka Dončić’s blockbuster trade earlier this year showcased Jeanie’s appetite for bold moves; Walter’s investment signals that the Lakers aren’t stopping at making headlines—they’re aiming for sustained hegemony.
In Sum: A Family, A Franchise, A Future
- A Legacy Honored: Jeanie Buss remains true to her father’s vision—Lakers remaining family-run and connected to their fans.
- Strategic Partnership: Partnering with Walter gives operational latitude to compete financially with the league’s heaviest hitters.
- A Unified Front: After years of internal friction, the Buss family emerged united—solidifying Jeanie’s leadership and commitment to ongoing stewardship.
- Watching the Transition: NBA approval is the last piece. If granted, it marks a powerful fusion of legacy loyalty and global ambition.
Epilogue: The Journey Ahead
Jeanie Buss’s refusal to step away even while approving the largest sale in NBA history underscores her ethos: this isn’t a business—it’s a living legacy. Approaching 46 years under the Buss clan, the Lakers are set on a course that embraces new investment without surrendering the ownership heart. Whether under Jeanie’s watchful eye or Walter’s financial muscle, the Lakers will stride into their next era armed with history’s weight and future’s promise.
In a moment when ownership transitions often carry impersonal momentum, the Lakers illustrate another path: preserving soul while scaling strength. For Jeanie and her family, the goal remains unchanged: guarding Showtime’s legacy, guiding its future—and ensuring that, whatever headlines come next, this isn’t a sale—it’s a strategic evolution.
Jeanie Buss once declared, “The team is not for sale.” Today, that statement proves true—not through defiance, but by choosing a path that secures the Lakers heritage in perpetuity.
