Few Hollywood stories shift course as dramatically as Jami Gertz’s — and even she admits it. Years ago, she told The Hollywood Reporter, “This isn’t your standard Hollywood story,” and her journey proves it. The former teen star of Sixteen Candles and The Lost Boys eventually became one of the most influential women in professional sports, now helping run an NBA franchise alongside her husband, billionaire Tony Ressler.

Gertz’s career began almost by chance. At just 16, she entered a talent search and was cast on the sitcom Square Pegs, acting opposite a young Sarah Jessica Parker. She later remembered how unexpected it all felt: “I was discovered at a search and tossed straight into the job… By sixteen, I was earning more than my dad.”

Her breakout years included fan-favorite roles in The Facts of Life, Dreams, Less Than Zero, and other ’80s classics. But her personal life changed just as quickly. In 1986, she met Tony Ressler at a dinner party arranged by her publicist. Contrary to public assumption, Gertz insists she didn’t marry into wealth. “I was making more than Tony when we met,” she said. “I bought our first house. I married him because I loved him.”

The couple married in 1989, built thriving careers, and raised three sons — Oliver, Nicholas, and Theo. Gertz continued acting, earning an Emmy nomination for Ally McBeal, while Ressler rose to become a financial powerhouse.

Their boldest move came in 2015, when they purchased the Atlanta Hawks for $720 million. Gertz still laughs about the moment Ressler asked, “Are we really doing this?”

Today, she occasionally returns to acting but focuses mainly on family and the NBA, embracing a quieter, more grounded life. “Stepping back has allowed me to appreciate everything in a new way,” she said.