Sports • Basketball

Jeanie Buss

Jeanie Marie Buss is an American sports executive best known as the governor and minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Jeanie Marie Buss is an American sports executive best known as the governor and minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). She is also a co-owner and promoter of Women of Wrestling (WOW). In 2020, she became the first female controlling owner to guide an NBA team to a championship.

Early life and education

Jeanie Marie Buss was born on September 26, 1961, in Los Angeles, California. She studied business at the University of Southern California.

Los Angeles Lakers leadership

Buss became a major figure in the Lakers organization through roles in business operations, presidency, and governance. She has been identified as the team’s governor and controlling owner, and she remained the franchise’s governor after the family sale of a majority stake in 2025.

2020 NBA championship

Under Buss’s leadership, the Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship. This made her the first female controlling owner to oversee an NBA title-winning team.

Other business interests

Beyond basketball, Buss is a co-owner and promoter of Women of Wrestling (WOW). She has also been associated with media and entertainment work, including production credits and sports-related projects.

Key facts

Jeanie Buss is the governor and minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
She is the daughter of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
In 2020, she became the first female controlling owner to guide an NBA team to a championship.
She is a co-owner and promoter of Women of Wrestling (WOW).
She studied business at the University of Southern California.

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Canadian context

Jeanie Buss is relevant to Canadian readers because the NBA is followed widely in Canada and the Lakers are one of the league’s most prominent franchises.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jeanie Buss?

She is an American sports executive best known for her leadership role with the Los Angeles Lakers and her ownership stake in Women of Wrestling (WOW).

What team does Jeanie Buss run?

She is the governor of the Los Angeles Lakers and has been described as the team’s controlling owner and president.

What is Jeanie Buss known for?

She is known for overseeing the Lakers and becoming the first female controlling owner to guide an NBA team to a championship in 2020.

Is Jeanie Buss related to Jerry Buss?

Yes. Jerry Buss was her father and former owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Does Jeanie Buss have interests outside basketball?

Yes. She is a co-owner and promoter of WOW, and she has also been involved in media and production work.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanie_Buss
Supports: Birth date, nationality, Lakers role, WOW role, 2020 championship milestone
MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference — https://www.sloansportsconference.com/people/jeanie-buss
Supports: Lakers governance role, board representation, business operations, USC affiliation
ESPN — https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47594947/inside-jeanie-jerry-buss-family-infighting-drove-10b-sale-los-angeles-lakers-mark-walter
Supports: Family ownership history, 2025 majority-stake sale, Jeanie remaining as governor
Los Angeles magazine — https://lamag.com/sports/los-angeles-lakers-jeanie-buss-interview-running-point-july-2026-l/
Supports: Current Lakers governor status, minority ownership after sale, WOW and Cincoro references
Forbes — https://www.forbes.com/profile/jeanie-buss/
Supports: Lakers ownership, 2020 championship milestone, WOW distribution agreement
IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2213540/bio/
Supports: Birth details, biography, production credits, marital information