Jeanie Buss vs LeBron James net worth: Comparing the financial empires of the Lakers boss and the NBA superstar

LeBron James and Jeanie Buss are in the headlines as reports of the conflict between the Lakers' boss and NBA icon went viral. The report from ESPN claimed that the duo reportedly had a conflict over several issues.

Buss, however, dismissed all the claims, stating that her relationship with the Lakers veteran is solid as ever.Of course, the two figures who shaped modern Lakers history now stand as financial heavyweights in very different ways.Both built influence over decades, though through separate paths. Buss inherited responsibility, then expanded it through her hard work and vision. James, on the other hand, turned generational talent into a global business machine.

What is Jeanie Buss' net worth?

Jeanie Buss holds an estimated net worth of around $1 billion (per Celebrity Net Worth), built largely through ownership equity and executive leadership. As president and longtime governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, she controlled one of sports’ most valuable franchises during a historic rise in valuations.Her financial foundation traces back to the Buss family trust, which owned 66 percent of the Lakers after Jerry Buss passed away in 2013.

Each sibling held an equal stake, though control shifted fully to Jeanie in 2017 following an internal power struggle. That decision placed her in charge of all team operations while ownership remained divided.In June 2025, the Buss family agreed to sell a major portion of its stake to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation. The deal delivered each sibling roughly $1.025 billion in cash while retaining minority equity valued near $300 million per person.

Jeanie continues as team governor and represents the franchise on the NBA Board of Governors.Also, Buss is a co-owner of Women of Wrestling and received a 2023 Sports Emmy as an executive producer of Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers. She has several properties in Playa Vista and Playa del Rey, as well as a waterfront home that she purchased in 2020.Key Jeanie Buss assets

What is LeBron James' net worth?

LeBron James’ net worth estimates range widely. Forbes places him at $1.3 billion, while other trackers including Celebrity Net Worth list figures closer to $800 million. James earned over 580 million in NBA salary alone. His contracts had encompassed Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles, where he used constant short-term deals to use increasing salary limits to the maximum.His portfolio has a lifetime Nike deal that is estimated to be worth more than $1 billion. He also created equity stakes as opposed to a single payout, most prominently in Beats by Dre, which provided a $30 million windfall when Apple bought the company.James co-founded SpringHill Entertainment. He is also a co-owner in the Fenway Sports Group that owns Liverpool FC, Boston Red Sox, and New England Patriots.Key LeBron James assets

Obviously, both Buss and James are over or close to the billion-dollar mark. Also, their empires are on the rise.