Jeanie Buss

Jeanie Buss is a pioneering sports executive, best known as the president of the Los Angeles Lakers. She is also the co-owner and promoter of Women of Wrestling (WOW), a U.S. women’s professional wrestling promotion.

Born in Santa Monica, California, she is the third of four children of JoAnn and Dr. Jerry Buss, the legendary owner of the Lakers. After her parents' divorce in 1972, she moved in with her father at age 17 and became immersed in the world of sports business. She attended the University of Southern California (USC), where she majored in business and graduated with honors.

At the age of 19, while still a student at USC, Buss was appointed general manager of the Los Angeles Strings, a professional tennis team owned by her father. She later became president of the Great Western Forum, the Lakers' former home arena, and owned the Los Angeles Blades, a professional roller hockey team. Her leadership in these roles earned her recognition, including being named Executive of the Year by Roller Hockey International.

Following her father's passing in 2013, Buss assumed the role of controlling owner and president of the Lakers. In 2017, she made decisive leadership changes by appointing Magic Johnson as President of Basketball Operations and Rob Pelinka as General Manager, marking a new era for the franchise. Under her stewardship, the Lakers secured their 17th NBA championship in 2020, making Buss the first female controlling owner to lead a team to an NBA title. In 2025, the Buss family sold their majority ownership, but Jeanie remains the president of the organization.

Buss also serves as an executive producer for the Netflix series "Running Point," a comedy inspired by her experiences as a female executive in a male-dominated industry. The show offers a fictionalized portrayal of the challenges and triumphs she has faced in her career.

Buss is married to comedian Jay Mohr.