Jesse and Joey Buss, the youngest sons of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss, have acquired roughly a 5% stake in the San Diego Padres ownership group as of August 2026. Their investment firm Buss Sports Capital, founded in September 2025, joins controlling owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones in pursuing the franchise’s first World Series title. This marks the brothers’ first major investment outside basketball operations after their departure from the Lakers organization.
What happened with the Buss brothers and the Padres?
Buss Sports Capital, founded by Jesse and Joey Buss, purchased approximately 5% of the San Diego Padres in a deal reported by multiple media outlets. Neither the team nor the firm disclosed financial details, but the stake aligns with the brothers’ strategy to apply two decades of basketball operations experience to baseball. Joey Buss, 41, said they are honored to contribute to a team they’ve loved since growing up in San Diego, aiming to help build a winner capable of grasping a World Series title.
Why it matters for Los Angeles Lakers
The investment comes amid ongoing legal and familial conflict over the Lakers’ future. Earlier in August 2026, Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger agreed to buy the majority stake from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion, prompting the Buss siblings to sell their remaining 17.8% share. Jeanie Buss filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to block the sale, seeking to retain minority control. Jesse and Joey had previously served as assistant general manager and vice president of research and development before being let go in November 2025, along with most siblings except Jeanie.
What comes next for the Buss family in sports
The Padres investment represents the brothers’ first major acquisition through Buss Sports Capital, signaling a potential shift in their sports investment focus. While the Lakers remain embroiled in ownership disputes, the Buss brothers are now aligned with an ownership group targeting playoff contention and a deep postseason run. Their background in player evaluation, analytics, and team-building could influence San Diego’s approach to roster construction and long-term competitiveness in the National League West.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ most recent result was a 110-115 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 12, 2026, continuing a recent form of 1W-0D-4L over their last five games, including four consecutive losses. Fans can monitor upcoming [fixtures](/fixtures) and review player [stats](/stats) as the franchise navigates this transitional period.
