Sports executive Jeanie Buss was previously married to Steve Timmons and was engaged to Phil Jackson before she tied the knot with actor Jay Mohr.
Jeanie Buss married volleyball player Steve Timmons in 1990. During that time, Jeanie was 29 years old and already working in her family’s sports business.
Steve was a professional volleyball player, known for his success in the sport, including winning Olympic gold medals with the U.S. team.
The two met through their shared connection to the sports world, though specific details about how they started dating aren’t widely known.
Unfortunately, their marriage lasted only three years, ending in divorce in 1993.
Jeanie later shared that she didn’t prioritize her marriage, saying,
I never put my marriage first … It was always business which attracted me.
Her focus on her career with the Lakers and other sports ventures likely played a role in their split. Despite the divorce, Jeanie and Steve parted ways without much public drama.
Jeanie Buss Engaged To NBA Coach Phil Jackson After 13 Years Of Dating!
After her divorce from Steve, Jeanie began dating Phil Jackson, a legendary NBA coach, in December 1999.
Phil was coaching the Lakers at the time, and their relationship started during a dinner in Vancouver after NBA meetings. They bonded over their shared passion for basketball, and their romance grew quickly.
Jeanie described Phil as someone who “bowled her over,” despite not being her usual type. They lived together in Playa del Rey, near the Lakers’ headquarters.
In 2012, Phil proposed to Jeanie over the Christmas holiday, and they got engaged after 13 years of dating.
Jeanie was thrilled, sharing a picture of her engagement ring on Twitter and calling Phil the love of her life. However, their engagement faced challenges.
In 2014, Phil took a job as president of the New York Knicks, which meant he and Jeanie were living on opposite coasts.
The long-distance relationship, combined with their demanding careers, made things difficult. The NBA also required them to sign documents to avoid any conflict of interest between the Lakers and Knicks, which added more strain.
In December 2016, after 17 years together and a four-year engagement, Jeanie and Phil announced they were ending their engagement.
They shared a joint statement on Twitter, saying,
“With mutual love and respect, we have decided to end our engagement. With the nature of our professional obligations and the geographic distance between us, sustaining the relationship has been difficult.”
Jeanie added that her true love was the Lakers and that she needed to give the team her full attention.
Despite the breakup, they remained supportive of each other, and Jeanie has said she still consults Phil for advice about the Lakers.
Sports Executive Jeanie Buss Has Been Married To Actor Jay Mohr For Years!
After a failed marriage and an engagement, Jeanie found love again.
In 2017, Jeanie began dating comedian and actor Jay Mohr, known for his roles in films such as Jerry Maguire, as well as his work as a stand-up comedian and radio host.
The fact that he is also a big sports fan helped them bond quickly.
Jeanie and Jay Mohr kept their relationship private at first. However, after getting spotted together at Lakers games in 2021, Jeanie made their relationship public on Twitter.
The sports executive was seen wearing an engagement ring, sparking rumors that were soon confirmed by the couple. Later, in December 2022, Jeanie and Jay announced their engagement.
On September 3, 2023, Jeanie and Jay married in a small, private ceremony on a beach in Malibu, California, with about 20 close friends and family members.
Not to forget, their marriage has an unusual twist. Jeanie and Jay live separately in the same building; Jeanie lives on the third floor, while Jay lives on the first.
Jeanie explained in an interview that they both value their own space and schedules, but can easily visit each other. She said,
I can take the elevator down in my slippers and hang out a little and go back up. I would recommend it to any couple that feels the same way.
Jay has spoken about how Jeanie supported him through tough times, including his struggles with substance abuse.
He credits her for standing by him and helping him get clean, saying,
I’m very lucky she was with me like at my absolute worst and watched me get well.
