A power semiconductor element having a lightly doped drift and buffer layer is disclosed. One embodiment has, underneath and between deep well regions of a first conductivity type, a lightly doped drift and buffer layer of a second conductivity type. The drift and buffer layer has a minimum vertical extension between a drain contact layer on the adjacent surface of a semiconductor substrate and the bottom of the deepest well region which is at least equal to a minimum lateral distance between the deep well regions. The vertical extension can also be determined such that a total amount of dopant per unit area in the drift and buffer layer is larger than a breakdown charge amount at breakdown voltage.