None of the international basketball leagues are as well-known or wealthy as the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA, which was established in 1946, quickly rose to the top of basketball leagues worldwide, drawing players not only from the United States but from all over the world. As the league has grown, so has the funding for the initiative, with owners lavishing hundreds of millions of dollars on their teams each year. Some of the richest NBA players in history made their fortunes playing in the NBA, which has turned into a lucrative opportunity
While you probably expect current superstars like Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (or Steph Curry as he is more commonly known), Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden, Los Angeles Lakers’ Russell Westbrook, and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo to dominate this list, the truth is that many of the older players are still pulling in sizable paychecks. These professional basketball players signed significant advertising and endorsement contracts that ensured they received lucrative payouts after retirement, despite the fact that they left the game before the absurd contracts that are now being offered came to pass
10. $200 million is what Russell Westbrook has
Kathy Hutchins from Shutterstock Nobody in the NBA would be surprised if Russell Westbrook ends up at a fifth team since he has already played for four organizations in the course of his career
He has so far played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Lakers. The majority of Westbrook’s income comes from his salary as one of the wealthiest basketball players in the modern era, along with the occasional endorsement
Along with investing in real estate, he also owns several luxurious homes across the nation. He has an impressive $200 million in net worth. 9
– $200 million for Kevin Durant. Oleksiy Naumov/Shutterstock Another NBA player still competing to rank among the top 10 richest players is KD
Kevin Durant currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets after previously playing for the Golden State Warriors, Seattle Supersonics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Seattle Supersonics
There is no denying Durant’s skill on the court, despite his rather decisive personality. He has won numerous honors throughout his NBA career, including two championships while a member of the Golden State Warriors. Due to his talent, Kevin Durant is not only a lucrative basketball player but also makes six-figure incomes. One of the top five players in the league in terms of salary is he, who brings in $42 million a year
Also included are his endorsement deals, which have a combined value of about $65 million. Although he is still waiting to see significant returns from these investments, Durant is also a significant investor in startups and tech companies. His net worth is $200 million overall, which is nothing to be upset about. 8. Grant Hill: $250 million
Shutterstock / Ron Adar Grant Hill began his career as a small forward before becoming a co-owner and director of the Atlanta Hawks. Over the course of an 18-year career, he played for the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers
With a $250 million net worth, Hill’s earnings from playing baseball and endorsements are almost evenly split at $140 million each
Hill has taken good care of his money, ensuring that he will never have to worry about going broke, despite not making as many business investments as other former NBA players. 7. Hakeem Olajuwon has a $300 million fortune
YouTube/Larry Legend
The NBA champion has played for both the Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets in the past. Hakeem Olajuwon, a Nigerian native, relocated to the United States to play for the University of Houston
This resulted in “the Dream” developing into one of the greatest centers in NBA history over the course of an 18-year NBA career
Olajuwon earned about $110 million over the course of his career, but it wasn’t until he retired that he started to truly amass wealth. The legendary basketball player entered real estate as a keen entrepreneur. He wasn’t, however, only renting and purchasing properties. Olajuwon bought large tracts of land that could be developed, earning even more cash by converting them into apartment buildings, retirement communities, garages, and commercial structures
His net worth has increased as a result to an astounding $300 million. 6. Shaquille O’Neal: $400 million. Dunkman827/YouTube Shaquille O’Neil’s playing career produced the majority of his wealth
Over the course of his 19-year career, the 7-foot-1-inch giant played for six teams and won four championships, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. Shaq made $292 million, or more than half of his fortune, playing basketball
The remaining $200,000,000 of his $400,000,000 fortune came from endorsements, which he earned
Shaq, a former NBA player, is one of those basketball players who has been able to maintain a prominent public profile after retiring by co-hosting Inside the NBA, DJing in Ibiza, and releasing rap albums. Like his bank account, his profile doesn’t appear to be going downhill anytime soon. 5. Kobe Bryant is worth $600 million
plavi011/Shutterstock. Kobe Bryant, the star for the Los Angeles Lakers, continues to earn more money than most even though he is no longer with us
He was among the highest-paid basketball players in NBA history, and through shrewd financial decisions, he ensured that his wife and daughters would be well taken care of in perpetuity. His $6 million investment in BodyArmour quickly increased in value to $350 million
The shares were then purchased by Coca-Cola for $5
6 billion is an absurdly large sum of money. Sadly, Bryant wouldn’t live long enough to enjoy the war’s spoils; he passed away tragically in a helicopter accident in 2000 at the age of 41. But his wife and kids, who have access to his $600 million net worth, continue to carry on his legacy. 4. Ulysses Junior Bridgeman is worth $600 million
thomaselwood86/YouTube. For the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, Ulysses Junior Bridgeman played professionally for 12 seasons
Despite never earning more than $350,000 in a single season, the well-known basketball player has amassed a substantial fortune thanks to his business acumen. Bridgeman studied everything he could about the fast food industry when he wasn’t playing basketball
He bought a Wendy’s franchise and started his own business
One led to two, then three, and by the time Bridgeman sold his companies, he had amassed over 100 Wendy’s and Chili’s franchises. Junior Bridgeman is the Canadian company that bottles Coke in Canada and also owns a number of other businesses operating under the Bridgeman name
He has a net worth of $600 million as a result of this. 3. Magic Johnson is worth $620 million
Photographers at Shutterstock and Featureflash. Magic Johnson will be remembered as a legend as well as one of the wealthiest NBA players
The world was at the feet of the all-time greatest point guard in the 1980s, when he won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, in 1991, he abruptly left the sport he had helped to revolutionize
Johnson had HIV, it was discovered
He did attempt a few comebacks, but none were particularly successful or without controversy among players and fans. Johnson refused to let the diagnosis define him and, in 2000, shortly after officially retiring, he established Magic Johnson Enterprises. Johnson’s net worth has increased to an impressive $620 million thanks to the multi-media company, which does almost everything, and is now valued at $1 billion. 2
$1 for LeBron James. two billion
Tinseltown/Shutterstock. Micahel Jordan’s contemporary just recently attained billionaire status. After becoming the first active NBA basketball player to become a billionaire, LeBron James, the four-time NBA champion who has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers, finally added another record to his resume
The staggering $1 is LeBron James’ net worth
2. 0 million. James has made a ton of money playing basketball, in contrast to many of the previous players who have also made a lot of money. James has earned somewhere in the neighborhood of $385 million throughout his career, but his greatest impact has been off the court. At the age of 18, King James signed his first contract with Nike in 2003. In 2015, the sportswear tycoon offered him a lifetime deal
LeBron James, an NBA player, is now the second-highest paid athlete in the world, behind PSG’s Lionel Messi, according to reports that state that this deal pays him tens of millions of dollars annually through endorsement deals with businesses connected to Nike. 1
Michael Jordan costs $1. 7. 5 billion
by Lev Radin for Shutterstock Basketball fans won’t be surprised to learn that Michael Jordan, a legendary NBA player, is the richest NBA player in the world
Jordan, a player with extraordinary talent, rose to fame in the 1990s while playing for the Chicago Bulls. Jordan, who led the Bulls to six championships (1991–1993, and 1996–1998), reshaped the idea of what a basketball player was today with his incredible skills and winning attitude. Many former basketball players were envious of his NBA career. Jordan was a complete beast on the court, winning six NBA Finals MVP awards. He also conducted himself professionally off the court
He inked a lucrative endorsement contract with Nike, which gave rise to the creation of the Air Jordan, his iconic pair of shoes. Jordan has advertised numerous brands in addition to Nike, including Hanes and Coca-Cola as well as Gatorade and McDonald’s. In comparison to today’s ballers, Forbes estimates that Jordan made $90 million while playing for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. They do, however, think he made around $1. This proves that it pays to sell out
8 billion from endorsements. A reported $1 was also made by Michael Jordan. The Charlotte Hornets minority share he owned was sold for $5 billion. Additionally, he owns several restaurants, a NASCAR team, and even a few car dealerships. It is therefore not difficult to believe that His Airness has a tidy net worth of $1
The bank has $7 billion
