Jeanie Buss cast the decisive vote to sell the Los Angeles Lakers, approving a record $10 billion deal that ends her family’s 46-year ownership. Her vote broke an internal deadlock, allowing the most expensive franchise sale in sports history to proceed.
Despite the historic $10 billion valuation, the sale faced strong opposition within the Buss family. According to ESPN, siblings Joey Buss and Jesse Buss, both deeply involved in team operations, voted against the transaction.
Jeanie Buss’s vote resolved the internal conflict, authorising the sale to a group led by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter. The NBA Board of Governors gave its unanimous final approval in October 2025.
The transaction provides each of the six Buss siblings with a reported payout of nearly $1 billion. The family will retain a minority stake of just over 15%, but full operational control shifts to Walter.
Staggering amount Jeanie Buss and each of her siblings got from Lakers' $10bn sale https://t.co/rrTw8yLsJw
— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) November 25, 2025The decision had immediate consequences for the dissenting brothers. Following the sale, Joey and Jesse Buss were removed from their front office roles, concluding the family’s day-to-day involvement with the franchise that their father, Jerry Buss, bought for $67.5 million in 1979.
With the sale complete, Mark Walter assumes majority control while Jeanie Buss remains as the team’s governor. This ensures leadership continuity despite the monumental change in ownership.
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The $10 billion price tag shatters previous sports franchise records, reflecting the immense value of the Lakers’ global brand, which the Buss family built into an 11-time NBA champion.
Walter’s ownership signals a new strategic direction, potentially involving major investments in global marketing and franchise development, while Jeanie Buss’s continued presence provides a bridge to the team’s legendary past.
