The family dispute surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers ownership structure stems from the 2013 death of longtime patriarch Jerry Buss, whose estate plan divided the controlling ownership shares among his six children, according to public franchise records and league history. While Jeanie Buss assumed day-to-day operational control as controlling owner and president, the distribution of voting trust power among siblings Johnny, Jim, Jeanie, Janie, Joey, and Jesse has periodically generated high-stakes boardroom friction within one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
The Legacy of Jerry Buss and the 2013 Ownership Transition
When Jerry Buss passed away on Feb. 18, 2013, at the age of 79, he left behind an empire that captured 10 NBA championships under his ownership. According to franchise filings, his 66 percent controlling ownership stake in the team was placed into a family trust, with each of his six children receiving an equal 11 percent share. The succession plan stipulated that all six siblings would hold seats on the Lakers’ board of directors, designed to keep the franchise under family stewardship.
That governance model, however, immediately embedded a delicate balance of power. While Jeanie Buss took over the role of Lakers governor and representative at league meetings, her brothers Jim and Johnny held significant influence, with Jim serving as executive vice president of basketball operations. The structural division set the stage for competing visions over roster management, front office direction, and ultimate authority.
Boardroom Clashes and the 2017 Front Office Shakeup
Tensions within the family hierarchy reached a boiling point in early 2017. Prior to the mounting pressure, brothers Johnny and Jim Buss attempted to oust Jeanie Buss from her leadership position, calling for a special board meeting to reshape the franchise’s executive leadership. Public court filings and media reports from February 2017 documented the legal maneuvering as Jeanie Buss sought and obtained a temporary restraining order to block her brothers’ efforts to alter the board.
The internal crisis was swiftly resolved when a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued rulings protecting the established trust structure, prompting Johnny and Jim Buss to drop their legal challenge. Shortly thereafter, Jeanie Buss executed a decisive front office restructuring, removing Jim Buss as executive vice president of basketball operations and hiring former Laker great Magic Johnson as president of basketball operations, alongside general manager Rob Pelinka.
Current Governance and Franchise Stability
In the years following the 2017 corporate restructure, the Lakers front office transitioned into a more unified operational era. Magic Johnson stepped down abruptly in April 2019, leaving Rob Pelinka to direct basketball operations. Pelinka subsequently constructed the roster that secured the franchise’s 17th NBA championship at the AdventHealth Arena near Orlando, Florida, during the 2020 league restart.
Today, Jeanie Buss remains the team’s controlling governor, representing the organization on the NBA Board of Governors. While the six Buss siblings retain their underlying equity stakes in the organization, league observers and franchise communications emphasize that operational decision-making rests firmly with Jeanie Buss and her executive team, maintaining the stability envisioned by Jerry Buss when he structured the family trust over a decade ago.
