What's happened
The Buss brothers have reached a deal to become minority owners of the San Diego Padres, about 5% stake, via Buss Sports Capital, after the Lakers sale. They join the Padres’ advisory board and plan to leverage their sports experience across franchises.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The timing aligns with new Padres ownership under Jones and Feliciano, signaling a push to deepen local and global fan engagement.
- The move mirrors broader trends of tech-savvy, younger investor groups entering traditional sports ownership, potentially shifting governance dynamics.
- The stake is minority but advisory board presence could shape strategy and branding, especially in San Diego’s vibrant sports culture.
Forecast: Expect closer collaboration with existing owners and expansion planning, possibly informing future sponsorship and media rights discussions.
How we got here
The Buss family sold the Lakers’ majority stake to Mark Walter, while Kwanza Jones and Feliciano now control the Padres. The Buss brothers, Joey and Jesse, launched Buss Sports Capital in 2025 and are pursuing an NBA Europe franchise alongside the Padres investment.
Our analysis
AP News reports on Buss siblings’ involvement with Padres; New York Post coverage confirms 5% stake and advisory board role; both note Lakers stake sale and broader family investments.
Go deeper
- Will the Buss brothers use this as a stepping stone to a larger Padres stake?
- How will their Lakers connection influence Padres branding and partnerships?
- What does this signal for investor activity in MLB ownership?
More on these topics
-
Los Angeles - Sport
Test cricket is the form of the sport of cricket with the longest match duration, and is considered the game's highest standard.
-
Los Angeles Lakers - Basketball team
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division.
-
Jeanie Buss - American sports executive
Jeanie Marie Buss (born September 26, 1961) is an American sports executive who is the governor and minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and co-owner and promoter of the U.S. women's professional wrestling promotion Women of Wrestling (WOW). A daughter of Jerry Buss, who owned the Lakers and other sports businesses, she entered the family business as general manager of the Los Angeles Strings professional tennis team at 19. She later bought the Los Angeles Blades professional roller hockey team. She served as president of the Great Western Forum before becoming vice president of the Lakers. After her father died in 2013, his controlling ownership of the Lakers passed to his six children via a family trust, with each sibling receiving an equal vote. Buss took over as team president and as the Lakers representative on the NBA Board of Governors. In 2020, she became the first female controlling owner to guide her team to an NBA championship, giving her six NBA titles overall as an owner/executive.
-
Mark Walter - CEO of Guggenheim Partners
Mark Richard Walter is an American businessman and the chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a privately held global financial services firm with more than $325 billion in assets under management.
-
San Diego Padres - Baseball team
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego, California. They compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division.