Many fans are curious about Jerry Buss's financial success in April 2026. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What was Jerry Buss' net worth?

Dr. Jerry Buss was an American entrepreneur, real estate investor, and legendary sports team owner who had a net worth of $700 million at the time of his death in 2013.

By age 24, Buss had earned both a master's degree and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from USC. His academic success provided stability and prestige, but it was not where his financial ambitions ultimately lay. While his scientific training sharpened his analytical thinking, Buss soon realized that real estate offered far greater upside than academia.

Jerry Buss / David Klein/Getty Images

While $700 million might seem surprisingly low for someone so closely tied to a billion-dollar team, Buss did not own 100% of the Lakers. At the time of his death in 2013, the Lakers were valued between $900 million and $1 billion. Buss owned 66% of the team. The remaining 34% was held by two minority investors: Ed Roski, a real estate billionaire who acquired an 8% stake in 1998, and Phil Anschutz, the founder of AEG, who held a 26% stake. (Anschutz later sold his share to Mark Walter and Todd Boehly in 2021.)

Jerry Buss was born on January 27, 1933, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and raised in the small mining town of Kemmerer, Wyoming, during the depths of the Great Depression. He was raised by his single mother, Jessie Buss, who worked as a waitress to support the family. Buss later recalled standing in bread lines as a child, an experience that left a lasting impression and shaped his lifelong drive for financial independence and security.

After his death, Jerry's 66% ownership was inherited equally by his six children through a family trust, giving each sibling an 11% stake. His daughterJeanie Bussbecame the team's governor and public representative. From 2013 to 2017, the siblings shared voting power. But after an attempted power grab by Johnny Buss, Jeanie secured full control of team operations in 2017.

In June 2025, the Buss family sold a controlling portion of their Lakers stake to billionaire investorMark Walterina deal that valued the Lakers at $10 billion. That transaction yielded a $6.15 billion windfall for the family, or roughly $1 billion per sibling, and marked the most expensive sale of a U.S. sports franchise in history. The family retained a collective 18% stake in the team, 3% per sibling.

Based on the team's valuation at the time, Buss's 66% stake was worth approximately $600 to $660 million, making up the bulk of his estate.

Jerry Buss built his first fortune in Southern California real estate before achieving global fame as the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic franchises in professional sports. Over the years, he also owned the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Los Angeles Lazers (indoor soccer), and the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA).

Despite the economic hardship of his upbringing, Buss excelled academically. He earned a scholarship to the University of Wyoming and graduated in just two and a half years. After completing his undergraduate degree, he moved to Los Angeles to continue his education at the University of Southern California.

Ultimately, Jerry Buss's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.