Jerry Buss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Buss
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Buss at the 2009 World Series of Poker
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| Born |
Gerald Hatten Buss
January 27, 1933 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
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| Died | February 18, 2013 (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles, California |
| Alma mater | University of Wyoming (BS) University of Southern California (MS, PhD) |
| Occupation |
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| Known for | Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Sparks |
| Spouse(s) | JoAnn Mueller (divorced) |
| Partner(s) | Karen Demel |
| Children | 6, including
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Gerald Hatten Buss (born January 27, 1933 – died February 18, 2013) was an American businessman and investor. He was also a chemist and someone who gave a lot to charity. Jerry Buss was best known as the main owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, a famous basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Under his leadership, the Lakers won 10 NBA championships. Many of these wins happened during the exciting "Showtime era" in the 1980s. Because of his huge impact on basketball, he was added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Buss also owned other professional sports teams in Southern California.
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Early Life and Career
Jerry Buss was born in Salt Lake City. He was raised by his mother, Jessie. When he was nine, he moved to Los Angeles. Three years later, they moved to Kemmerer, Wyoming, after his mother remarried.
Buss was very smart and earned a scholarship to the University of Wyoming. He finished his college degree in just two and a half years in 1953. Then, he went back to Los Angeles to study at the University of Southern California (USC). By the age of 24, in 1957, he had earned two more advanced degrees in physical chemistry.
Jerry Buss first worked as a chemist. He then briefly worked in the aerospace industry. He also taught chemistry at USC.
Investing in Real Estate
Buss started investing in real estate to earn money so he could keep teaching. His first investment was in the 1960s. He put $1,000 into an apartment building in West Los Angeles. He found great success in real estate. He and his business partner, Frank Mariani, created a company called Mariani-Buss Associates.
In 1979, Buss bought Pickfair, a famous estate in Beverly Hills. It used to belong to movie stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. He sold it in 1987.
Sports Team Ownership
Jerry Buss loved sports and became an owner of the Los Angeles Strings tennis team. In 1979, he made a huge deal. He bought the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA basketball team), the Los Angeles Kings (NHL hockey team), and The Forum arena. He bought all three from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million, which was a record amount at the time.
Buss later sold his share of the Kings hockey team in 1988. He kept ownership of the Lakers and The Forum. He also made a big deal with Great Western Bank. This deal changed the arena's name to the Great Western Forum.
Lakers and Sparks Success
When the WNBA started in 1996, Buss also took charge of the Los Angeles Sparks team. Eventually, all three teams moved to a new, modern arena in downtown Los Angeles called the Staples Center, which opened in 1999. As part of this move, Buss sold the Great Western Forum.
The Lakers were incredibly successful under Buss's ownership. They won 10 NBA championships! Famous players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal played for the Lakers during his time. Coaches Pat Riley and Phil Jackson also led the team to many victories. Buss wanted basketball games to be entertaining, which led to the Lakers' exciting "Showtime era."
The Sparks also did very well, winning two WNBA championships. Players like Lisa Leslie helped them achieve this success. In 2002, Buss became the official owner of the Sparks, but he sold the team in 2006.
Buss also owned the Los Angeles Lazers, an indoor soccer team that played at The Forum. The team stopped playing in 1989.
In 2010, Jerry Buss was recognized for his contributions to basketball. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Poker Playing
Jerry Buss enjoyed playing poker, especially high-stakes games. Later in his life, he played more in tournaments. He finished third in a major poker event in 1991. He also came in second in a World Poker Tour invitational in 2003. Buss appeared on TV shows about poker, like High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark.
Giving Back (Philanthropy)
Jerry Buss was also known for his generosity. In 2008, he gave $7.5 million to the chemistry department at USC. This money helped create special teaching positions and scholarships for chemistry students.
He also helped people connected to the Lakers. For example, when former Lakers player Walt Hazzard became very ill in 1996, Buss made sure Hazzard stayed on the Lakers' payroll. Hazzard remained an employee until Buss passed away in 2013.
Family and Legacy
Jerry Buss had six children. Many of them worked for the Lakers organization when he passed away. His children include Johnny, Jim, and Jeanie.
Death and Impact
In 2012, Jerry Buss became ill and spent several months in the hospital. He had been battling cancer since 2012. He passed away on February 18, 2013, at the age of 80, due to kidney failure.
Many people honored Jerry Buss after his death. NBA commissioner David Stern said Buss was "a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable." Lakers star Kobe Bryant called Buss "the greatest owner in sports ever."
Buss's ownership of the Lakers (66%) was passed down to his six children through a trust. Each child received an equal share. His daughter, Jeanie, took over his role as the Lakers' governor. She became the team's main representative in 2017.
The 2013 World Series of Poker even held a special tournament in his memory.
See also
In Spanish: Jerry Buss para niños
