Jeanie Buss, who has been the public face and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers since her father Jerry Buss's passing in 2013, is reportedly challenging the proposed sale of her family's remaining 18% ownership in the esteemed NBA team. Her siblings had reportedly approved the sale to investors Bob Iger, former Disney CEO, and Josh Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital.
Reports from ESPN and other news outlets on Monday indicated that Buss is contesting her siblings' authority to greenlight the transaction. Her legal team asserts that she possesses the sole right to approve any such sale, referencing a 2017 court decision that solidified her position as the team's controlling owner through 2030. Interestingly, Iger had apparently met with Jeanie Buss previously, reportedly promising to uphold her existing agreement with Mark Walter, which ensures her leadership until 2030.
This dispute follows a series of significant ownership changes for the Lakers. Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, initially acquired the team from the Buss family in June 2025, with the deal finalizing in October of the same year. Just last month, on August 12, Iger and Kushner made headlines with their acquisition of the Lakers from Walter for a substantial $12.5 billion, a notable increase from the $10 billion Walter paid just a year prior. Furthermore, recent reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal suggest Walter is now under federal investigation regarding his sports investment practices.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities of family succession and corporate ownership in professional sports. Jeanie Buss's resolve to maintain control underscores the personal and historical ties she has to the Lakers franchise, seeking to protect her legacy and the team's future direction amidst shifting ownership dynamics. The outcome of this challenge will undoubtedly shape the future leadership and trajectory of one of the NBA's most iconic teams.
