Owners Of The La Lakers

Lakers' Ownership: A Tale of Billionaires, Basketball, and Bizarre Buying Sprees

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to spin about the real power players behind the Los Angeles Lakers. No, I'm not talking about LeBron or Magic (though they're pretty powerful too). I'm talking about the folks with the deepest pockets and the biggest egos - the owners.

Enter the Buss Dynasty

Let's rewind to the '70s. The Lakers were bought by a man named Jerry Buss. Now, Jerry wasn't your average Joe. He was a mathematician, a physicist, and a poker player. Yep, you heard it right. He bought the Lakers with his poker winnings. I mean, who needs a day job when you can buy an NBA team with your weekend hobby?

Jerry's kids - Jim, Jeanie, and Johnny - took over the reins after their dad's passing. Jeanie, the youngest, is now the controlling owner. She's the one who traded for Pau Gasol, so she's got some serious basketball IQ. And she's not afraid to show off her dance moves at games. I mean, who needs a mascot when you've got Jeanie Buss busting a move?

Enter the Billionaires' Club

Now, the Buss kids aren't the only ones with a piece of the Lakers pie. There's a whole crew of billionaires sitting pretty in the owner's box. We're talking about the likes of Phil Anschutz, who made his fortune in media and telecommunications. He's worth more than the GDP of some small countries, and he's using some of that cash to own a piece of the Lakers.

Then there's Peter Guber, who's made a killing in the movie business. He's produced films like "The Color Purple" and "Batman". Now, he's producing Lakers wins (well, hopefully). And let's not forget Patrick Soon-Shiong, a billionaire doctor and tech entrepreneur. He's worth around $7.2 billion, which is roughly the same amount the Lakers spend on Kobe Bryant's jerseys every year (just kidding, Kobe!).

Lakers news: Why Jeanie Buss’ sale is different than Mark Cuban and

When Billionaires Go Shopping

You might think that owning an NBA team is just a hobby for these folks. But when billionaires go shopping, they don't mess around. Remember when Jeanie Buss and her crew dropped $300 million on a new training facility? That's like you and me spending $100 on a new pair of sneakers. No big deal, right?

And let's not forget the time they signed LeBron James. The contract was so big, they had to print it on a scroll. I mean, it was so long, it took LeBron three days just to sign his name. But hey, when you've got deep pockets, you can afford to make some noise in free agency.

Lakers' Owners: More Than Just Cheese

So there you have it, folks. The Lakers' owners are more than just a bunch of billionaires sitting pretty in their courtside seats. They're the ones pulling the strings, making the big decisions, and (hopefully) leading the Lakers to another championship. And who knows? Maybe one day, they'll use their poker winnings to buy another team. After all, when you're a billionaire, every day is a good day to make a new bet.