Former Los Angeles Lakers executives Joey and Jesse Buss are officially purchasing a stake in the San Diego Padres, joining an ownership group led by Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano. This massive move, announced Wednesday via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, comes after MLB owners unanimously approved the Padres sale at a record valuation of $3.9 billion. The investment is happening through Buss Sports Capital, a firm the brothers launched in September 2025. Talk about making a splash in MLB after their NBA exit, right?
From Lakers Front Office to Padres Power Players
The Buss brothers’ journey to MLB ownership is wild, especially considering their recent history with the Lakers. They were fired from their front office positions with the Lakers early in the 2025-26 season, a fact they shared with Shams Charania last November. These were the guys who worked in scouting, even helping bring in players like Austin Reaves. Now, they’re pouring $3.9 billion into a baseball team. It shows you how fast things can change in pro sports.
Lakers Drama, Padres Opportunity
This news drops while the Buss family trust is in the middle of trying to sell its minority stake in the Lakers. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on August 17 that a majority vote decided to sell off their piece of the pie. The Lakers themselves are in a pending $12.5 billion sale to a group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, a deal Ramona Shelburne reported earlier this month. The family only retained a 17.8 percent stake after selling their majority share to Mark Walter for $10 billion less than two years ago. Jeanie Buss, who’s been team governor, has even opposed this latest vote to sell her family’s stake. It’s a whole lot of drama for them, but for the Padres, it’s a huge vote of confidence.
The Padres are currently fighting for an NL Wild Card spot. Adding this kind of financial muscle and sports business experience could be massive. If they snag a postseason berth, it would mark the first time in franchise history the Padres have made three consecutive playoff runs. With Joey and Jesse Buss now in the ownership mix, you gotta wonder if this new energy is exactly what they need to push through.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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