Karen Demel is the mother of Joey and Jesse Buss, two of Dr Jerry Buss’s children, and she has kept out of public life. Buss was the long-time owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, and the relationship between him and Karen Demel produced the two sons. There are no interviews, official profiles or verified social media accounts for her, so this page sticks to what credible outlets have reported and explains why you will not find a birth date, job title or net worth for her here. It also brings the Lakers story that surrounds her sons up to date as of 13 October 2026.
| Known as | Mother of Joey and Jesse Buss |
| Connection to the Lakers | Former partner of Dr Jerry Buss, the team’s owner from 1979 until his death in 2013 |
| Her sons | Joey Buss (former alternate governor and VP of research and development) and Jesse Buss (former assistant general manager) |
| Public profile | None. No interviews or verified accounts |
| Age, birthplace, job | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | No verified figure |
| Latest news | Her sons and three siblings are in a court dispute with Jeanie Buss over selling the family’s remaining Lakers stake |
Who Is Karen Demel?
Karen Demel’s name appears in reporting only because of her family connection. She is described as the mother of Joey and Jesse Buss, the two youngest of Jerry Buss’s six children who worked for the Lakers. Beyond that, reliable sources say very little. She has given no interviews, and search results for her name are crowded with unrelated people called Karen and with pages that offer personal details without citing anything. None of those details are repeated here.
Karen Demel and Jerry Buss
Jerry Buss bought the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings and the Forum arena in 1979 for $67.5 million. His marriage to JoAnn Mueller produced his four older children and ended before his relationship with Karen Demel, which produced Joey and Jesse. No marriage to Karen Demel is documented. Buss died in 2013, and the team passed to his children through family trusts, with Jeanie Buss becoming governor.
Her Sons: Joey and Jesse Buss
Both sons spent around 20 seasons in the Lakers organisation. Joey Buss was the team’s alternate governor and vice president of research and development, and also ran the South Bay Lakers, the G League affiliate. Jesse Buss was assistant general manager and a key voice in scouting. Reporting credits their department with helping to find players including Austin Reaves and Kyle Kuzma.
Their circumstances changed after the sale. The Lakers dismissed both brothers from their front office roles in November 2025, a few weeks after the deal closed, as part of a reorganisation that also removed much of the scouting staff. In a joint statement they said they were honoured to have been part of the organisation for 20 seasons. They kept their minority ownership shares, and they have since said they launched an investment firm called Buss Sports Capital.
Buss Family and Lakers Timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Jerry Buss buys the Lakers, the Kings and the Forum for $67.5 million |
| 2013 | Buss dies. Ownership passes to his six children through family trusts |
| 2017 | Jeanie Buss fires her brother Jim as head of basketball operations. A dispute over control of the board follows and she prevails |
| June 2025 | The family agrees to sell a controlling stake to Mark Walter at a record $10 billion valuation |
| October 2025 | The sale closes. Reports say each sibling received about half a billion dollars after tax |
| November 2025 | Joey and Jesse Buss are dismissed from their front office roles |
| August 2026 | The Buss trust votes to sell its remaining 17.8% stake to a group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Jeanie Buss disputes the sale |
| October 2026 | Five siblings, including Joey and Jesse, file their formal opposition to Jeanie’s petition in Los Angeles Superior Court |
The Record $10 Billion Lakers Sale
In June 2025 the Buss family agreed to sell majority control of the Lakers to Mark Walter, the Los Angeles Dodgers owner and chief executive of TWG Global. At $10 billion it was the largest price ever put on a sports team, well above the $6.1 billion paid for the Boston Celtics earlier that year. The chart below shows how it compares.
The 2026 Dispute Over the Family’s Remaining Stake
The story did not end with the first sale. In August 2026 ESPN reported that the Buss trust, made up of the six siblings, would sell its remaining 17.8% stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who now hold a majority. Jeanie Buss, who has been governor since 2013, has not agreed to the sale, and her lawyer has said so in writing.
On 7 October 2026 Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss filed their formal opposition to Jeanie’s petition in Los Angeles Superior Court, calling it baseless. They say the trust is entitled to include its shares in the deal. Reports put the valuation at $12.5 billion. NBA rules require a governor to own at least 15% of a team, so if the trust sells, Jeanie could not remain governor under the current arrangement. A hearing is set for early December, although outlets report different dates (6 or 8 December). The dispute is unresolved.
Does Karen Demel Have a Net Worth?
No credible outlet has reported a net worth or earnings figure for Karen Demel, so there is no verified figure to give. The sites that attach confident numbers to her name do not cite sources. What is reported concerns the family trust: ESPN says each of the six siblings received about half a billion dollars after tax from the 2025 sale. That figure belongs to the siblings, not to their mother. Our guides to Rich Paul’s net worth and Gail Goodrich’s net worth follow the same approach: figures only where they can be sourced.
Why So Little Is Known About Her
Karen Demel is a private individual, and reputable outlets have respected that. Searches for relatives of famous people often follow this pattern, as with Corrie Bird, Dustin Tyler’s parents and the family questions around Aravis Taylor. For these searches the safest sources are major news reports and the person’s own public statements. If you want to follow the basketball side of the story, our Thunder vs Lakers preview covers the team on court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Karen Demel?
She is the mother of Joey and Jesse Buss, sons of the late Lakers owner Dr Jerry Buss. She has no public profile.
Was Karen Demel married to Jerry Buss?
No marriage is documented. Buss’s marriage to JoAnn Mueller ended before his relationship with Karen Demel.
What happened to Joey and Jesse Buss?
The Lakers dismissed them from their front office roles in November 2025, after the sale to Mark Walter closed. They kept their minority stakes and say they have started Buss Sports Capital.
Who owns the Lakers now?
Mark Walter bought a majority stake in 2025. A further deal for a majority holding by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger has been reported, and the family’s remaining 17.8% is the subject of the court dispute.
What is Karen Demel’s net worth?
There is no verified figure. No credible outlet has reported one.
How old is Karen Demel?
Her age and date of birth are not publicly confirmed, so this page does not give one.
Sources
- ESPN: Buss family sells last stake in Lakers (17 August 2026)
- ESPN: Buss siblings formally file case against Jeanie (7 October 2026)
- NBC News: Jeanie Buss has not agreed to sell her family’s stake
- CBS Sports: Lakers fire Joey and Jesse Buss
- Front Office Sports: Lakers fire Buss brothers
Disclaimer: Karen Demel is a private individual. This article reports only facts documented by reliable sources. The ownership dispute described is ongoing and may change after publication.