Gerald Hatten Buss was an American entrepreneur, financier, chemist, philanthropist, and major shareholder in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. In Southern California, Buss owned more professional sports franchises including Los Angeles Kings (NHL), and the Los Angeles Lazers (soccer).
Jerry Buss Biography And Net Worth
| Net Worth $600 million |
| Full Name Gerald Hatten Buss |
| Birth Date January 27, 1933 |
| Died February 18, 2013 |
| Birthplace Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Profession Businessman, investor, chemist, poker player |
| Spouse JoAnn Mueller (divorced) |
Jerry Buss Early Life
Buss, a Salt Lake City native, was born on 27 January 1933 and brought up by his estranged mother, Jessie. Buss attended the University of Wyoming on a scholarship, after moving to Wyoming with his mother and got a B.S. in the year 1953. After that, he went back to Los Angeles and enrolled in the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with an M.S. and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1957. Buss began his career as a chemist with the Bureau of Mines and later had a brief stint in the aerospace sector and served as an instructor in the chemistry department at USC.
Jerry Buss Career Beginnings
Buss initially intended for his real estate investment to generate revenue so he could keep teaching. In the 1960s, he made his first investment of $1,000 in a West Los Angeles apartment complex. He and his longstanding business partner Frank Mariani founded the real estate investment firm Mariani-Buss Associates after finding considerable success in the real estate industry. Buss bought Pick fair, the Beverly Hills home that Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks formerly owned, in 1979; he later sold it in 1987.
Jerry Buss Success
Jerry had amassed enough wealth by the year 1979 to buy the Lakers, the Kings, and the Forum sports complex. Buss paid almost USD 67.5 million for all three teams, of which just USD 16 million went to the famous, Lakers. It was the largest sports franchise purchase in history at the time. The Lakers won their first of eleven NBA titles under Jerry’s direction within a year. Ten NBA titles were won by the Lakers when they were owned by Buss, who had great success with them. His idea that basketball games should be entertaining influenced the Lakers’ Showtime era. In 1983, Buss was presented with the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement.
Jerry Buss Wife
After delivering four children, Buss’ marriage to the former JoAnn Mueller terminated in divorce in 1972. When Buss passed away in 2013, all six of his children were employed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Buss has two further children with a girlfriend named Karen Demel.
Jerry Buss Net Worth
Jerry buss had an estimated net worth of $600 million at the time of his death in 2013. The Lakers were valued at $1 billion when he passed away in 2013. Jerry’s favorite franchise, “The Lakers” are currently one of the most expensive and famous sports clubs across the world, with a $5.5 billion value.
Jerry Buss Death
With an unexplained intestinal condition in 2012, Buss spent months in the hospital. It was discovered that Buss had been battling cancer since 2012 on February 14, 2013, four days before he passed away.
