The owner of the Los Angeles Lakers is 63-year-old Jeanie Buss, who is also the only female owner in the NBA.
Despite her wealth of only $5 billion, which is comparatively modest among NBA owners, even LeBron James' fortune is three times hers.
Despite the limited personal wealth of the owner, the Lakers are the third most valuable team in the league, behind only the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks, with a staggering $7.34 billion valuation.
Due to her limited personal wealth, the Lakers have struggled in recent years to make big signings, even having to settle for players like DeAndre' Bembry, who was released by the Raptors, during trade deadlines.
Despite being 63, Jeanie Buss recently got married.
Last September, she tied the knot discreetly with comedian Jay Mohr.
Previously, she had a 17-year-long relationship with the renowned NBA coach Phil Jackson.
Jeanie Buss's first marriage was in 1990 to former world volleyball champion Steve Timmons.
That marriage lasted only three months before ending in divorce.
After her divorce, Jeanie Buss dated several figures in the sports world, the most notable being Dennis Rodman.
In 1999, Rodman joined the Lakers.
Rodman recalled that his attraction to the Lakers was primarily due to Jeanie Buss.
However, some of the Lakers' key members did not appreciate him, especially O'Neal.
Later, Jeanie Buss clarified that she did not date Rodman because the team needed to keep track of his whereabouts.
Although her relationship with Rodman is questionable, her relationship with Phil Jackson was genuine.
They began dating in 1999, got engaged in 2013, but broke up in 2016.
The reason for the breakup was Jackson's desire to join the Lakers' management, which was opposed by the Buss family.
Ultimately, Jackson accepted an invitation from the owner of the New York Knicks to become the Knicks' president.
Despite not being as wealthy as other NBA owners, Jeanie Buss's influence on the Lakers cannot be underestimated.
Her decisions in operations and management have kept the Lakers' valuation high, and her personal marital and emotional life has become the focus of media and fan attention.
As a female owner, her success has also provided more opportunities and role models for other women in the sports industry.
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