10 Richest NBA Players of All Time
Sport can be a lucrative business. Some NBA players are particularly balling ... in all senses! Many of the richest players amass their wealth by leveraging their reputation and earnings through endorsements and investments. These are the ten richest NBA plays of all time.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Nicknamed ‘The Dream’, since retiring from pro play Hakeem Olajuwon’s DR34M clothing line and savvy real estate investments have netted him a cool $200 million.
David Robinson
David Robinson, AKA ‘The Admiral’, is worth some $200 million. His private equity company, Admiral Capital Group, has an impressive portfolio, including high-end hotels and office properties.
Grant Hill
Broadcasting, TV appearances, endorsements, and sponsorships have contributed to Grant Hill’s bank balance of $250 million.
Vinnie Johnson
Vinnie Johnson relied on his reputation from his longest team — The Detroit Pistons — when naming his successful business: Piston Automotive. The manufacturing company is now part of the wider Piston Group, of which Johnson is CEO and chairman. His value? Around $400 million.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille ‘Shaq’ O’Neal gained infamy throughout his 19-year NBA career. His $400-million fortune has come from various sources, including investments, endorsements, advertising, acting, and reality TV. He has featured on video game covers, released rap music, and toured as DJ DIESEL.
LeBron James
The only name on this list that’s still playing NBA basketball, LeBron James is valued at around $500 million. Endorsements include Nike, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Beats by Dre, and Audemars Piguet. He profited from Apple’s acquisition of Beats Electronics, holds a small stake in Liverpool FC, and has invested in diverse companies.
Kobe Bryant
The late Kobe Bryant amassed $600 million from advertising and endorsements, TV appearances, book sales, and business projects such as Granity Studios, investment in Bodyarmor Super Drink, and co-establishment of private equity firm, Bryant-Stibel. Brand associations include Adidas, Sprite, Nintendo, and Turkish Airlines.
Junior Bridgeman
Despite earning a relatively small sum during his basketball career, Junior Bridgeman retired from pro sports and built a fortune of $600 million through shrewd operations in the fast food, bottling, and media industries.
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson’s post-basketball entrepreneurship and business activities have earned him an impressive $600 million. Alongside investments and sports franchise ownerships, he was coach, part-owner, and president of the LA Lakers, part-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks and the Los Angeles Dodgers, founder of Magic Johnson All-Stars, CEO of investment company Magic Johnson Enterprises, founder of Aspire TV network, and more.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan’s $1.6 billion fortune needs little explanation. From diverse endorsements, ownership of The Hornets, and acting to the signature Nike Air Jordan, investments, and co-ownership of an automotive group and dealership, it’s easy to understand how Jordan became the first billionaire player throughout NBA’s history.