Brothers Joey and Jesse Buss have secured a minority ownership stake in the San Diego Padres through their investment firm, Buss Sports Capital. This development comes as the family navigates a dispute over the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers' remaining shares.
The Buss brothers are acquiring approximately 5% of the Padres, who recently saw Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano purchase controlling shares. As part of their investment, Joey and Jesse Buss will join the Padres' ownership group's advisory board.
Buss Sports Capital was established in September 2025, following the Buss family's sale of a majority stake in the Lakers to Mark Walter. The brothers expressed enthusiasm for their new role, with Joey Buss stating in a release to The Athletic, "We are honored to join Kwanza and José and have the opportunity to contribute to the future of a team that Jesse and I have loved since we were kids growing up in San Diego." He added that sports have always been a part of the family's narrative and that organizations have a unique ability to unite people and foster community.
"The Padres are on the cusp of something special," Joey Buss continued, "and through Buss Sports Capital, we look forward to bringing our experience and perspective to the ownership group and doing our part to build on the strong foundation already in place."
This investment in the Padres follows a week after five of the Buss siblings voted to sell their collective 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who had agreed to purchase the majority ownership from Walter in mid-August for $12.5 billion.
However, Lakers' current governor Jeanie Buss did not vote in favor of the sale and is contesting the decision through her legal counsel. The siblings' move to sell their Lakers shares has added a layer of complexity to the ongoing ownership discussions.
Joey and Jesse Buss are also reportedly pursuing an ownership stake in a potential NBA Europe franchise, further indicating their continued expansion within the sports ownership landscape. The brothers have been active in sports business since the family's initial significant divestment from the Lakers.