This is a famous figure who left behind not only sports achievements, but also good deeds. Jerry Buss is an American businessman, investor, chemist, and philanthropist. His name is associated with the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team of the National Basketball Association (NBA). More about Jerry Buss’s success story will be told by los-angeles.pro.
Youth and the beginning of his career
Gerald Hatten Buss (shortened to Jerry Buss) was born in 1933. He was raised by his mother, Jessie, who worked as a waitress at the time. His father worked as an accountant, after which he taught statistics at Berkeley, but left the family immediately after the birth of his son. When Jerry was 9 years old, he and his mother moved to Los Angeles. Three years later the family moved to Kemmerer, his mother remarried, and Jerry grew up with his stepbrother Mickey, Jim, and stepsister Susan.
Young Gerald started working early. At first, it was a job for his stepfather, who owned a plumbing business. Later he carried bags at the Kemmerer hotel, set up pins in a bowling club, worked on the railroad, sold stamps, and shined shoes. From an early age, he wanted more and was ready to work hard for it.
In 1953, Jerry Buss earned a bachelor’s degree at the state research University of Wyoming (he received a scholarship at the institution). After that, he returned to Los Angeles, where he studied at the University of Southern California. At the age of 24, he received a master’s degree and a doctorate in physical chemistry. After that, he worked as a chemist, was involved in the aerospace industry, and taught in the chemistry department of the University of Southern California.
A rapid start
Jerry Buss’s first investment was a $1,000 investment in 1959 in a 14-unit apartment building in West Los Angeles. At first, investments were a way for him to receive additional income and continue to invest.
Jerry Buss achieved success in the real estate business, after which he co-founded the real estate investment company “Mariani-Buss Associates” with Frank Mariani.
In 1979, Jerry Buss purchased the legendary Pickfair mansion in Beverly Hills, which was even called the “Western White House.” The mansion previously belonged to Mary Pickford (Gladys Louise Smith) and Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. Jerry Buss sold Pickfair (or PickFair) in 1987.
In one interview, he claimed that “Mariani-Buss Associates” owned approximately 700 properties in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Success in producing
In 1974, Jerry Buss produced the film “Black Eye,” which starred the American actor, director, and former American football player Frederick Robert Williams or “The Hammer.” The film is based on the 1971 novel “Murder on the Wild Side” by Jeff Jacks. Critics called this film a modest and interesting detective trick.
The plot revolves around a private detective from Los Angeles, Stone, who is involved in the investigation of numerous murders. All of them are related to a cane stolen from a deceased silent film star. Viewers are immersed in intrigues and exposures, which is interesting to watch.
It is worth noting that he also acted himself. This is about the American television show about cash poker GSN High Stakes Poker and the hourly television show about poker NBC Poker After Dark. The thing is that for many years Jerry Buss was a high-stakes cash poker player. A little later he became even more active in tournament games.
It is known that Jerry Buss was the owner of the Playboy Club branch in Phoenix.
Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers team
This is a National Basketball Association (NBA) team that managed to win 10 league championships. They became the brightest moments of the “Showtime” era. This refers to the period from 1979 to 1991, when the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team played in a “run and shoot” style. It was in 1979 that Jerry Buss acquired the team; he wanted their games to be spectacular. That is why the new owner insisted that the players play at a fast pace. It was even decided to hire dancers with a live band to hold home games at the Los Angeles Forum. Since then, the team has gained popularity among Hollywood celebrities.
In the 1960s, Jerry Buss was a frequent guest of “The Horn” nightclub in Santa Monica, California. The nightclub attracted a wealthy clientele. Jerry Buss liked the excitement of the performances, the dimming of the lights, the dramatic performance of the signature melody. After acquiring the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team and the Los Angeles Forum from Jack Kent Cooke, he began to implement his plan. Jerry Buss wanted to make the basketball game entertaining.
Owner of sports franchises in Southern California
It is also known that Jerry Buss owned other professional sports franchises in Southern California. For example, he was the owner of the Los Angeles Strings tennis team in the World Team Tennis league since 1974.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
This is a museum of American history and at the same time a Hall of Fame. It is the most complete library of basketball, which at the same time popularizes and preserves the history of basketball. The institution is named after the Canadian-American doctor James Naismith, who invented basketball in Springfield. Jerry Buss was added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as one of the contributors.
Personal life and philanthropy
Jerry Buss has seven children. In his first marriage to JoAnn Mullen, five children were born: Lee (the eldest daughter, who was given up for adoption immediately after birth), Johnny, Jim, Jeanie, and Janie. Jerry Buss was called a “playboy” because of a significant number of young girlfriends. Karen Demel gave birth to two more children for the businessman: Joey and Jesse. In 2013, the man died of kidney failure; at that time, six of his seven children worked for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was buried in the Forest Lawn memorial park in Hollywood Hills in a private ceremony with family and close friends.
Finally, I want to talk about Jerry Buss’s generosity. In January 2008, he donated $7.5 million to the chemistry department of the University of Southern California. This allowed funding two departments with an endowment fund and scholarships for chemistry graduate students. Jerry Buss became one of the first members of the USC College Board.
Jerry Buss’s charity also extended to people associated with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jerry Buss’s legacy
The owner of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team died at the age of 80. After the news of Jerry Buss’s death was announced on social networks, relatives and acquaintances, and members of the sports team expressed their condolences. It was noted that Jerry Buss made a significant contribution to the sports landscape of Los Angeles and America, and he was a true champion in all senses of the word. The family asked to make donations to the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation, the team’s official charity, instead of flowers for the memorial service. The main mission of this organization is to help disadvantaged youth develop their potential. This fund provides grants to other charitable organizations that support young people.
So, Jerry Buss left behind a worthy legacy.
