Jerry Buss Forgotten Daughter, Lee Klose, Who Was Put For Adoption, When He Was Poor, Has No Legal Say In Lakers Sale

For years, the family held a majority share of ownership, but that era seems to be coming to an end.

June 19, 2026

This article was last updated by Manoj Gadtaula on June 19, 2026

The Buss family has been closely tied to the Los Angeles Lakers since the 1970s, when Dr. Jerry Buss first bought the team.

Although the sale isn’t fully finalized yet, it’s a clear sign that the Buss family may no longer be the main owners of the Lakers.

The team’s ownership was split evenly among Jerry Buss’s six children.

Reports from Wednesday night, on 18 June, revealed that while they reached the necessary majority to approve the sale, not all six siblings were on the same page.

However, the six siblings Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Jesse, and Joey have had a complicated history with the Lakers.

Jeanie, who’s currently the team’s controlling owner, removed her brother Jim from his role as President of Basketball Operations back in 2017.

Jim and Johnny even tried to push Jeanie out as the team’s top executive, but failed. In the end, Jeanie was officially named controlling owner for life.

Joey and Jesse are actively involved in the Lakers’ front office and have built strong reputations.

On the other hand, Johnny and Janie have mostly stayed out of team operations.

Although we don’t know exactly which siblings voted against the sale, the fact that it wasn’t unanimous shows that tensions may still exist behind the scenes.

Still, with each sibling set to earn a large payout, it seems the sale has moved forward regardless of internal disagreements.

However, there aren’t only six siblings at all.

Lee Klose Discovers Her True Identity as Jerry Buss’s Firstborn Daughter

For decades, the Buss family has been deeply connected to the Los Angeles Lakers, with all six siblings Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse—owning shares of the team.

But behind the fame and business legacy, a lesser-known family story has recently come to light.

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Lee Klose, a woman from Sedona, Arizona, grew up unaware of her true identity.

Her early life was marked by constant moves between Phoenix and Los Angeles with her adoptive parents, Jimmy and Mattie.

By age 15, she had lived in 15 homes and attended 12 schools.

Overhearing a teacher mention she was adopted planted a deep sense of confusion and shame in her.

In 1990, Lee decided to find her birth parents. She went to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Sacramento and, a year later, received unsealed documents with information that both surprised and hurt her.

Her birth father had a background in science and claimed he couldn’t raise a child while pursuing his degree.

Similarly, her birth mother wanted to keep the baby, but followed her husband’s wishes to place her for adoption.

After a DNA test, she connected with a woman named Susan, her birth father Jerry Buss’s younger sister.

When they met in Arizona, Susan recognized her right away. She called her “Marie,” the name Lee had at birth, and the same middle name shared by her two younger sisters to honor her memory.

Lee eventually reached out to Jeanie Buss, hoping to meet her birth mother. By then, her father, Jerry Buss, the longtime Lakers owner, had already passed away in 2013.

Still, she was able to meet her birth mother, who was battling late-stage Alzheimer’s and living in Las Vegas.

With Jeanie’s support, Lee was able to show her old baby photos and tell her that she had lived a happy and fulfilling life. Though the moment was brief, it was significant. Her birth mother passed away eight months later, in 2019.

Lee’s book, Late for the Buss: An Adoption Story, tells the whole journey, one of identity, heartbreak, healing, and connection.

She made it clear that she has no legal claim to the Buss family’s wealth, as she was given up for adoption before any of their fame or fortune existed.

But what mattered more to her was finding her place, meeting her family, and answering the questions that had stayed with her for a lifetime.

In Case You Don’t Know

• Jerry Buss was born in Salt Lake City and raised primarily by his mother, Jessie, after his parents divorced.
• Growing up, Jerry helped out in any way he could. He worked for his stepfather, Cecil Brown’s, plumbing business, and took on several small jobs to earn money.
• During high school, he carried bags at a hotel for $2 a day, set up pins at the bowling alley, worked for the railroad, sold stamps, and shined shoes, doing whatever it took to support his family.

• Check other Articles on

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