Jeanie Marie Buss has carved out her own unique legacy in the world of professional sports, stepping out from the formidable shadow of her father, Jerry Buss. Born on September 26, 1961, in Santa Monica, California, Jeanie grew up with basketball in her blood. Her father’s purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 put her at the center of one of the NBA’s most storied franchises – but Jeanie’s rise to the top was anything but automatic.
She began her career in the family business in her twenties, determined to prove herself rather than simply inherit her role. From managing minor league hockey teams to serving as the Lakers’ executive vice president of business operations, Jeanie worked her way up every rung, demonstrating a combination of business savvy and unflappable resolve. As president and controlling owner, she’s overseen both championship celebrations and the tough, uncertain years of rebuilding, guiding the franchise with a calm decisiveness. Her reputation for direct communication and making the hard calls is well known – most notably when she made the painful decision to restructure the Lakers’ front office in 2017 to redirect the team’s course.
Love Life & Relationships
Jeanie’s personal life has sometimes played out in the spotlight, particularly during her long tenure alongside former Lakers coach Phil Jackson. The two met around 1999, and their relationship became something of a basketball fairy tale, persisting through years marked by both immense achievements and intense pressure. When their romance came to an end in 2016, it was with a mutual respect that echoed in how they’d always handled themselves – balancing personal feelings with professional responsibilities.
Before Phil Jackson, Jeanie was briefly married to volleyball star Steve Timmons from 1990 to 1993 – a stretch where she was laser-focused on building her own place in the world of sports. After their split, Jeanie poured much of her energy into her work, remaining largely single as she grew into her leadership roles.
More recently, Jeanie has found a surprising new chapter with comedian and actor Jay Mohr. The two began dating in 2017, and their relationship has brought a different rhythm and humor into her life. They got engaged in December 2022, and while the tabloids occasionally speculate, the two have not yet tied the knot. Friends and colleagues have noticed that Jay, though outside the sports world, seems to understand not just Jeanie herself but the unique demands that come with her very public, very pressured role.
Of course, rumors have always swirled around Jeanie – nothing unusual for someone in her position. Whispered tabloid stories have linked her to NBA icons like Magic Johnson, which both she and Magic have laughed off. Internet speculation about her dating Dennis Rodman or Patrick Swayze was just that – speculation, never grounded in reality.
In a rare candid interview in 2021, Jeanie reflected on the challenges of relationships in her world: “When you’re in a position like mine, you need someone who gets that some days, you just can’t leave work behind. They have to understand your world without trying to compete with it.” That need for understanding and partnership seems to be a throughline in her personal life.
Despite the scrutiny, Jeanie has always handled transitions – whether professional or personal – with unshakeable poise, choosing to keep the more intimate details behind closed doors. That same sense of professionalism that marks her leadership style extends to her most private moments.
Past Relationships
Jay Mohr
Phil Jackson
Steve Timmons
Dennis Rodman
What truly sets Jeanie Buss apart isn’t just her status as one of the most influential women in sports. It’s her authenticity. Through every triumph and heartbreak, both in the arena and outside of it, Jeanie Buss remains steadfastly herself – a quality that’s earned her admiration across the NBA and far beyond.
