The Los Angeles Lakers’ sale at a record-setting $10 billion valuation didn’t just make sports business history — it also exposed long-running Buss family tensions behind the scenes. Members of the family, which had owned the franchise since Jerry Buss bought it in 1979, profited greatly from the deal, but the lead-up involved disagreements and emotional friction, according to reporting from ESPN and Bleacher Report.
The sale to Mark Walter, CEO of TWG Global and part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was announced on June 18, 2025, and would mark the largest valuation ever for a U.S. professional sports franchise. Jeanie Buss agreed to the deal and will remain as team governor for at least five years under terms agreed with Walter.
Post-Jerry Buss Era Fueled Strife
After patriarch Jerry Buss died in 2013, his six children inherited majority control of the Lakers. Jeanie Buss became the public face of the franchise as governor, but siblings soon fell into disagreements. ESPN’s Baxter Holmes described a period defined by sibling infighting, attempted coups, distrust, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. That discord didn’t disappear as sale talks gained traction; it intensified.
One painful moment reportedly came from a 2019 conversation between Jeanie and younger brother Jesse Buss, which insiders said revealed long-buried resentment. The friction laid bare how strained relationships had become during a decade in which the Lakers won just one championship since 2020.
The Road to a $10B Valuation
By late 2024 and early 2025, talks shifted from selling minority shares to a full majority sale to Walter. Some siblings explored selling small portions to provide cash now while retaining control. But the prospect of a historic payout and financial incentives eventually united the family on the deal.
The vote in June 2025 was unanimous in favor of the sale, even though some Buss members expressed private confusion or reservations about Jeanie’s sudden shift toward selling. After the sale closed, internal changes followed, including the removal of siblings from basketball operations roles.
What It Means for Lakers Fans
For Lakers fans, the sale ends a 46-year era of family ownership that saw the franchise win 11 championships under Jerry and Jeanie Buss leadership. While Jeanie remains in a leadership position, the internal strife revealed in the reporting underscores how emotional and complex the transition was. The Lakers now enter a new chapter under majority ownership with financial firepower but also a reminder that big business and family legacies can clash.
