Joey and Jesse Buss Bring Their Lakers Front Office Expertise to the Padres’ New Ownership Group

Joey and Jesse Buss are taking their experience from the Los Angeles Lakers into Major League Baseball. The sons of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss have joined the new ownership group behind the San Diego Padres, giving the brothers a fresh role in professional sports.

The move also brings the Buss family name back to San Diego in a meaningful way. Joey and Jesse grew up in San Diego County and followed the Padres as children, so their investment carries a personal connection that goes beyond business.

The brothers confirmed their involvement in the Padres deal in a statement to ESPN. Their investment comes through Buss Sports Capital, the sports investment company they created to pursue ownership opportunities and partnerships across the industry. This marks a major step for the young firm. After spending years inside one of basketball’s most famous organizations, Joey and Jesse are now using that experience to build a sports investment business of their own.

Joey and Jesse Buss Join a Record Padres Deal

Buss / IG / The Padres’ new ownership group is led by private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones. The group is acquiring the franchise in a deal reportedly valued at $3.9 billion, which would set a record for a Major League Baseball team sale.

The size of the transaction shows how quickly the value of major sports franchises continues to rise. For Joey and Jesse, joining a deal of this scale gives Buss Sports Capital an immediate position inside one of baseball’s most closely watched organizations.

However, the brothers have not publicly disclosed the exact financial size of their investment. Reports have placed their Padres stake at roughly 5 percent, although the final ownership breakdown has not been fully detailed publicly.

Even a minority position could give the brothers meaningful influence because their role extends beyond providing capital. Joey and Jesse are expected to serve on the ownership group’s advisory board and contribute ideas shaped by their years with the Lakers.

Joey said his family grew up in San Diego County and developed a love for the Padres long before this investment became possible. Buss Sports Capital is still a relatively young company. Joey and Jesse founded the firm in September 2025 with plans to pursue investments, acquisitions, and partnerships across the global sports market.

Lakers Experience Could Give the Padres an Extra Edge

Joey and Jesse did much more with the Lakers than carry a famous last name. Both brothers held front office positions that gave them direct experience with player evaluation, development, payroll decisions, and long-term roster planning.

Joey served as the Lakers’ vice president of research and development. His work placed him close to the organization’s efforts to identify talent and improve the systems used to build and maintain a competitive roster.

Jesse developed his own reputation inside the Lakers organization. He served as assistant general manager and worked extensively in scouting, helping the franchise evaluate players who could contribute immediately or develop into valuable pieces.

The Padres have already shown a willingness to spend heavily in pursuit of a championship. That ambition creates opportunities, but it also makes payroll management and player development especially important for maintaining success over several seasons.

However, their strongest value may come from offering a different perspective. Years spent inside an NBA front office gave them experience with analytics, scouting systems, organizational structure, and the difficult balance between star talent and sustainable roster building.

The Buss Family Enters a New Sports Era

Buss / IG / For decades, the Buss family name was almost impossible to separate from the Lakers because Jerry Buss purchased the franchise in 1979 and turned it into one of global sports’ most recognizable brands.

Jerry Buss died in 2013, leaving control of the Lakers to his children through a family trust. Eventually, Jeanie Buss became the team’s controlling governor, while other family members held ownership interests and worked in different parts of the organization.

That structure began changing as the Buss family moved away from majority ownership. The family’s controlling interest in the Lakers was sold to billionaire Mark Walter, marking a historic change for a franchise that had remained under Buss control for decades.