Basketball is more than a sport; it is a lifestyle. As basketball has become popularized worldwide, the importance of the NBA has only increased. Not only do NBA players become automatic millionaires when they enter the league due to the high salaries, but the business side of basketball allows for so much economic growth. Many players have leveraged their NBA earnings into huge net worths, but which players in NBA history are the richest?
Note: Contract information found at Spotrac, net worth information found at Celebrity Net Worth
20. Yao Ming
Net worth: $160 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $10 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $93,390,336
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Nike, Reebok, Apple, Garmin, Visa, McDonald’s, and Yanjing), Restaurant Owner, Shareholder of Ablues Design, Owner of Shanghai Sharks Basketball Team, President Of Chinese Basketball Association
Arguably the best big man to come from Asia, Yao Ming made a name for himself in the NBA. After playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, the Houston Rockets drafted the Chinese big. Yao became an eight-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. He earned All-Star honors each season that he played in. Furthermore, he was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 after retiring in 2011.
Yao earned approximately $93 million in his stay with the Rockets. Adding to this, his endorsements also allowed him to earn approximately $34 million while he was still an active player. Now that the star center has retired, Yao is currently earning income as a basketball executive. He is an owner of the Shanghai Sharks and President of the Chinese Basketball Association. After making basketball big in China, Yao is now tasked to grow the reputation of Chinese basketball across the world. The sport of basketball being huge in China can be directly attributed to Ming's success, and he is a living legend in his homeland.
19. Klay Thompson
Net worth: $180 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $20 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $298,755,404
Other ventures: Anta shoe deal, Brand endorser (BodyArmor, Waiakea Water, Tissot, Fanatics, Panini, Cash App, Mercedes-Benz, Activision, Subway, Kaiser Permanente)
The first of two Splash Brothers on this list, Klay Thompson is widely regarded as one of the best shooters in NBA history. Known for putting up unbelievable scoring marks on limited dribbles, Thompson could thrive in any lineup on any team around the league, perhaps more so than any other hooper. That is even more so true because of his stellar perimeter defensive instincts.
Off the court, Thompson is known for his relaxed persona. He often hangs out on his boat and with his dog Rocco. This laid-back nature likely played a big part in the all-time great shooting guard becoming so marketable.
18. James Harden
Net Worth: $195 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $24 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $411,670,071
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Adidas, Beats Electronics, Stance, BodyArmor, State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance), Investor Of Houston Dynamo
James Harden is one of the best scoring guards in the league today. After showing his scoring potential as a Sixth Man for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden emerged to become the main star player for the Houston Rockets. Harden’s ability to score from anywhere is his most valuable asset, and he went on to have the highest scoring mark in a season for anybody not named Michael Jordan or Wilt Chamberlain. Throughout his career, he has achieved the Sixth Man of the Year Award, been declared an All-Star on 11 occasions, and named league MVP in 2018. Aside from these, he has also led the league in scoring and assists on separate occasions.
Because of his achievements and star-caliber talent, Harden can undoubtedly demand a multimillion-dollar paycheck. After signing one of the biggest contract extensions in history with the Rockets, Harden is in the top 20 richest NBA players in history. His performance also allowed Adidas to make him the face of their franchise, signing him to a 13 year, $200 million dollar deal.
17. Dwyane Wade
Net Worth: $200 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $20 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $199,499,205
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Converse, Jordan, Li Ning, Gatorade, Lincoln, Staples, Sean John, T-Mobile, Topps, Panini, Hublot, and New Era), Investor (D Wade Cellars, Mars Reel, The Tie Bar, Stance), Commercial & Magazine Model
Dwyane Wade definitely made a mark in the NBA during his playing years, which is why he is one of the most highly paid players in history. The Flash earned approximately $199 million in his stay with the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers. In his decorated career, Wade accumulated three NBA championships and was declared the Finals MVP in 2006. He was also a 13-time NBA All-Star and an All-Star Game MVP in 2010. His list of achievements in the league go on, which shows how much he deserved to be paid highly.
Now retired, the Hall of Famer continues to enjoy earning from endorsements and model appearances. According to Forbes, his lifetime contract with Li-Ning allows him to earn $12 million annually. Furthermore, the former Heat player also supplants his income with his business ventures to maintain his lifestyle as a millionaire. Despite being retired, The Flash is still making moves, at least in the business world. Wade's wife, Gabrielle Union, does quite well for herself, too.
16. Chris Paul
Net worth: $220 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $19 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $404, 526,572
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (State Farm, Jordan Brand, Good Eat'n, Ohh Dip), Corporate Partnerships (Rolex, Panini, Tissot), Equity Stakes (Angel City FC, Beyond Meat, Hyperice)
If you were asked what the most popular/famous commercials in existence are, you just may respond with ones made by State Farm. Chris Paul just so happens to be the face of State Farm, and he is just as notable for their commercials as “Jake” is.
Plus, CP3 had a long and productive NBA career in which he established himself as one of the greatest point guards ever. With 21 seasons to his name, Paul had plenty of time to stack up the career earnings. In fact, he only trails LeBron James and Vince Carter for having the most seasons played ever.
15. Grant Hill
Net Worth: $250 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $7 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $141,008,544
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Fila, Sprite, McDonald’s, Tag Heur, AT&T), TV show actor and host, Sports Broadcaster, Owner of Hill Ventures, Co-Owner of the Atlanta Hawks
Grant Hill was definitely one of the best forwards to play in the NBA. The most notable aspect in his play is his all-around abilities. Hill had the ability to score and to set up the team’s offense like a floor general. He immediately made an impact in the league by winning the Rookie of the Year alongside Jason Kidd. During his sophomore year, he led the NBA in terms of most triple-doubles in a single season with 10. He would be declared an NBA All-Star on seven occasions and would be part of the All-NBA Team five times. Although Hill was hampered by foot injuries, he did enough to his career to be declared as a Hall of Famer in 2014.
Hill is definitely one of the biggest what-ifs. It lingers on people’s thoughts on what would’ve happened had he been healthy throughout his career. But despite what happened, Hill is definitely one of the highest paid athletes. His being 15th on this list mostly stems from a big contract he signed before being traded to the Orlando Magic. This contract amounted to $92.8 million.
Now retired, Hill didn’t move far away from the basketball. He would make appearances for NBA TV and CBS Sports as a broadcaster or host. Hill would also become one of the co-owners of the Atlanta Hawks. Hill has also started looking past basketball, as worked as a co-host with Rikki Lake during MTV VMA’s. Aside from this, Hill is also earning from his company, Hill Ventures, which deals with housing projects. The former Orlando Magic swingman had a successful career in basketball, and he is surely doing a good job in his life outside basketball.
14. Luol Deng
Net worth: $300 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $9 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $166,056,673
Other Ventures: Real estate
Unlike most of the other players on this list, Luol Deng was not a superstar. He was a role player who played hard-nosed defense and could hit an open jumper. He was the product of perhaps the most infamous offseason in NBA history, though. A new TV deal led to the salary cap taking a huge jump forward in 2016, and teams spent recklessly. Deng himself was given a four-year, $74 million deal, which was huge money for a role player at the time.
Deng parlayed his NBA money into real estate success. The South Sudanese-born player began focusing on projects in East Africa and London before taking advantage of urban redevelopment projects in the States.
13. Russell Westbrook
Net Worth: $300 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $19 million
Total Earnings from the NBA: $348,531,249
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Nike/Jordan, Subway), Owns a car dealership company
Russell Westbrook just hung his kicks up after a magnificent career. His all-around game and knack for triple-doubles make him a valuable player for any team. The former Oklahoma City Thunder/Houston Rockets star has the most triple-doubles in NBA history with 209. Westbrook also has the record for most number of consecutive games with a triple-double stat line with 10. Because of his all-around prowess, Westbrook became a league MVP in 2017. He also won the NBA scoring title twice and led the league in assists on two occasions. The nine-time All-Star was a force to be reckoned with.
Westbrook is an All-Star caliber guard that can help any team become a legit playoff contender. Because of this, there is no question Westbrook deserves a pricey paycheck. Add this to his shoe deal with Nike/Jordan, which according to Sportskeeda, is said to be approximately $15 million per year.
12. David Robinson
Net Worth: $300 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $7.3 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $110,708,513
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Doritos, Edge), Former board member of the USAA Federal Savings Bank, Board member of the United States Naval Academy Foundation and Centerplate, Venture Capitalist and Advisor
David Robinson is certainly one of the best big men in the NBA's history. He made his presence felt for the San Antonio Spurs, as he earned the moniker The Admiral. Robinson had an emphatic career with the Spurs. He was a 10-time NBA All-Star that had led the NBA in scoring, rebounding, and blocking in different seasons. The Admiral has also won the Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and league MVP in his career. His legacy was highlighted by two NBA championships. There’s no question Robinson’s efforts were compensated financially, especially during the 2000-2001 season when he was paid $14.7 million by the Spurs franchise.
After an emphatic career in the NBA, Robinson is still making winning moves off the court as a venture capitalist. He is one of the co-founders of the Admiral Capital Group, which involves itself in private equity and the real estate industry according to CNBC. The firm has invested a total amount of $300 million on transactions that are worth more than $1.5 billion. Robinson's financial success comes despite not starting his NBA career until later than most hoopers due to military service time.
11. Hakeem Olajuwon
Net Worth: $300 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $5.4 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $97,356,426
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Spalding, Etonic, L.A. Gear), Real Estate Businessman
Dubbed as The Dream, Hakeem Olajuwon is arguably the best center of all time. Equipped with unmatched footwork, Olajuwon was able to dominate opposing centers in the post during his era, especially with his signature maneuver, the Dream Shake. Olajuwon has achieved a lot in his career which allowed him to receive enormous paychecks from the NBA teams he played for. His achievements include 12 All-Star game appearances, two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, two times leading in rebounds, and being a three-time leader in blocks. All of these were capped by two NBA championships that also declared him as the Finals MVP in both occasions.
The Dream supplanted his big NBA contracts with his endorsement deals as well. Although Olajuwon was very much qualified to become one of the faces of the Jordan brand, he decided to support the brand, Spalding, in order to address the sneaker killings in his time.
According to The Guardian, Olajuwon said in his sneaker release, “How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120? She can’t. So kids steal these shoes from stores and from other kids. Sometimes they kill for them.”
The former Rockets star definitely showed he can be a great person on and off the court. After retirement, Olajuwon is now in the real estate business because of a love for architecture.
10. Stephen Curry
Net Worth: $350 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $27 million
Total Earnings from the NBA: $470,171,507
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Under Armor, Vivo, JP Morgan Chase, Brita), Owner of Unanimous Media
Stephen Curry is one of the most popular players today and one of the most influential players in the history of basketball. The Golden State Warriors’ spitfire guard was a focal point in ushering the three-point revolution in the NBA. Due to his sharp shooting, Curry collected various awards in the NBA, highlighted by two MVP trophies. Curry also helped the Warriors win four NBA championships. The hot shooting guard is simply sensational as he is a 12-time All-Star that also led the league in scoring and steals.
With Curry being one of the hottest players today, there’s no question he is one of the highly-paid players today. Aside from his salary with the Golden State Warriors, Curry also earns a big amount from his endorsements. The most notable one is his shoe deal with Under Armor which is a huge part of the $40 million income he earns off the court, according to Sportskeeda.
9. Kevin Durant
Net Worth: $400 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $26.3 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $501,135,653
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Nike, Degree, YouTube, Master & Dynamic), Shareholder of Philadelphia Union, Investor of 40 companies
Scoring and winning are always associated with Kevin Durant. One of the most polarizing athletes today, the sweet shooting forward is simply unstoppable on the court. After making a name for himself with the Seattle Supersonics and Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant shocked everyone when he took his talents to the heavily stacked Golden State Warriors. The decision paid off with two championship victories. Durant has been a league MVP, 16-time NBA All-Star, four-time NBA scoring champion, and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. His out-of-this world talent is desired by many teams.
Aside from his on court achievements, Durant has also been winning off the court with his investments. This includes a $15 million paycheck after Uber acquired Postmates where the Nets star invested $1 million, according to Forbes. Durant has also reportedly bought some shares of the Philadelphia Union from Major League Soccer.
8. Rick Fox
Net worth: $470 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $2.4 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $34,029,278
Other Ventures: Actor in Holes, Oz, The Game, One Tree Hill, Meet the Browns, Dope and other films/shows, NBA analyst, Business and ESports, Partanna Concrete Company
Rick Fox was perhaps more known during his playing days for his looks than his skill set. After all, he was far outshined on the Los Angeles Lakers by the likes of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Fox's looks, and special talents off the court, helped him become a succesful actor after his playing days. He also took in business ventures to become one of the wealthiest ex-NBA players ever.
7. Vinnie Johnson
Net worth: $500 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $460,000
Total Earnings from NBA: $6 million
Other Ventures: Construction business, Auto packaging business in Detroit (The Piston Group)
Vinnie Johnson was nicknamed “The Microwave” during his playing days because of his ability to get hot in an instant. He was a sixth man spark plug scorer for the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons. During his playing days during the '80s, players didn't make near what they make now, especially if they came off the bench.
Johnson didn't need NBA money to become successful. He started a construction business after retirement and then made a huge splash in the automotive industry.
6. Shaquille O'Neal
Net Worth: $400 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $15 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $286,344,668
Other Ventures: Brand endorsements (Icy Hot, Vitamin Water, Burger King, Kraft Foods, Pepsi, Comcast, Radio Shack, Taco Bell, The General, Reebok, Buick, Monster Headphones), Own line of Shaq shoes, Board member of Papa John’s, Movie actor, Sports Analyst
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant centers to take over the NBA. His size and strength were simply overwhelming for opposing centers, especially in the paint. Shaq took over the league as soon as he played in his rookie year, claiming Rookie of the Year honors in 1993. O'Neal would eventually take his talents to Los Angeles and win three straight NBA championships where he was declared the Finals MVP. Afterwards, he would have stopovers with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. The talented center would win his last championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. His unmatched back to the basket abilities earned him 15 trips to the All-Star game , two scoring titles, and a league MVP trophy. Although Shaq struggled a lot from the free throw line, he made up for it with commanding rebounds and overpowering buckets in the paint.
Shaq’s dominance and star power were heavily desired by many teams. Because of this, there’s no doubt that NBA teams are willing to pay millions to the All-Star center. This includes the 7-year, $41 million rookie contract offered by the Orlando Magic which was one of the biggest rookie contracts in NBA history. Aside from his enormous NBA paychecks, Shaq also benefitted financially from his endorsements that included big names such as Burger King, Taco Bell, and Buick. According to Investopedia, he reportedly earned millions from these endorsement deals.
With Shaq growing his celebrity status, the former Lakers star even released four rap albums. He would also make movie appearances, including the basketball movie Blue Chips and romantic comedy film Blended. Now retired, Shaq is currently one of the analysts for the NBA. In addition to this, he also made sufficient preparations for life after basketball which includes his investment in Papa John’s and income from his own line of shoes. All of his various income streams allowed him to maintain the multi-millionaire status.
Article Continues Below5. Kobe Bryant
Net Worth: $600 million
Annual Average NBA Salary: $16 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $323,312,307
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Adidas, Nike, McDonald’s, Sprite, Ninetendo, Turkish Airlines), Venture Capitalist, Investor of Body Armor, Poem writer
Kobe Bryant will forever be remembered as one of the most hardworking players to succeed in the highest level of basketball. Kobe’s achievements include 18 All-Star game appearances, two NBA scoring titles, and a league MVP trophy. His legacy was highlighted by five NBA championships where he was declared the Finals MVP on two occasions. Kobe’s desire to win and Mamba Mentality definitely played critical roles in his memorable performances. Because of this, the Lakers franchise offered him multimillion dollar contracts to keep him in Los Angeles for the duration of his career. This allowed him to become one of the richest NBA players in history.
Outside of basketball, Bryant was also made a huge impact. He lived his retirement life as a businessman and venture capitalist, on which he co-founded the firm Bryant Stibel. Furthermore, his investment in Body Armor proved to be successful when Coca-Cola acquired a stake of the sports drink brand. Here, Bryant made millions of dollars. The Black Mamba would continue to make waves after basketball when he won an Oscar for the animated short film based on his poem, Dear Basketball. Unfortunately, his great start to a career outside basketball was cut short after a helicopter crash in January 2020.
4. LeBron James
Net Worth: $1.4 billion
Annual Average NBA Salary: $25 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $581,375,548
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Nike, Cola-Cola, Beats by Dre, Blaze Pizza, 2k Sports, Rimowa, Upper Deck, State Farm Insurance, Audemars Piguet, Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins, Kia Motors, Verizon, Intel, Samsung, McDonald’s), Franchise Owner of Blaze Pizza, Stakeholder of Liverpool F.C.
If you’re the best player in the world, there’s no question almost every NBA team would want you in their roster. Because of this, LeBron James is one of the highest-paid players ever, despite still going strong in year 24. It makes sense given how much James has achieved throughout his career. This includes the Rookie of the Year trophy, four league MVPs, 22 All-Star game appearances, and a scoring title. All of these accolades were capped off by four NBA championships where he was declared the Finals MVP in each of those occasions. James immediately makes any team a championship contender, evidenced by him having made the NBA Finals on 10 occasions.
Because of his presence and achievements on the court, James is definitely in position to ask for a fat paycheck from any NBA team that wants his services. His presence on the court has also allowed him to garner endorsement deals such as Nike. According to Forbes, his lifetime deal with Nike amounts to around $1 billion. Outside of basketball, James has also been making investments as this includes becoming a franchise owner of Blaze Pizza and acquiring a stake in football club, Liverpool based on the article of MSN.
James is firmly in the latter part of his career. However with his endorsement deals and investments, he is much more than financially stable even without basketball.
3. Junior Bridgeman
Net Worth: $1.5 billions
Annual Average NBA Salary: $350,000
Total Earnings from NBA: $4,200,000
Other Ventures: Board Of directors for PGA, President Of Bridgeman Foods Inc., Bottler for Coca-Cola
Junior Bridgeman wasn’t a basketball superstar like the rest of the players in this list. However, he did have a decent career in the league. He averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Unlike today, players in his time weren’t given multimillion contracts. The highest salary Bridgeman received annually was $350,000.
After retiring from basketball, Bridgeman eventually took an interest in the fast food business by working and studying the business model of Wendy’s. He eventually became the biggest franchise owner of Wendy’s and Chili’s with at least 160 franchises of the former and 120 of the latter. More importantly, he is the CEO of Bridgeman Foods Inc., which has turned into an empire. The firm has recently acquired Blaze Pizza as part of its roster. Junior Bridgeman had a more lucrative career off the court as he found gold in the fast food industry. His Chili's franchises alone produced $3oo million in sales, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Bridgeman currently runs a bottling plant for the Coca-Cola Company with his son in Kansas and its 18 distribution centers. Aside from this, he is one of the board members for the Professional Golfers Association.
2. Magic Johnson
Net Worth: $1.6 billion
Annual Average NBA Salary: $3 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $39,342,860
Other Ventures: Entrepreneur, Investor of LA Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks, Former Lakers President Of Basketball Operations
If there is a player that paved the way for basketball to be a lucrative sport, it would be Magic Johnson. The former Lakers star possessed remarkable talent that helped made the Lakers relevant in the NBA again. Johnson’s remarkable playmaking allowed the franchise to have the nickname Showtime. In his career, Johnson collected five NBA championships and three Finals MVPs. He would also be declared the league MVP three times. The 12-time All Star performed so well he became the player that earned the most lucrative sports contract at that time. Johnson signed a 25-year $25 million contract.
Johnson didn’t move far away from basketball. Johnson had a short stint with the Los Angeles Lakers franchise as the President. It was said that he was paid approximately $10 million annually for the job. Aside from basketball, Johnson earns a lot as well from his investments, which include stakes in the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and LA Dodgers of the MLB. His firm, Magic Johnson Enterprises, has also been relatively successful. According to Sportskeeda, he has invested in big companies such as Burger King, T.G.I.Fridays, Sodexo, Starbucks, 24 Hour Fitness, and AMC Theaters. His successful career on and off the court allows him to be in the top five richest NBA players in history.
1.Michael Jordan
Net Worth: $3.6 billion
Annual Average NBA Salary: $5.8 million
Total Earnings from NBA: $93,877,500
Other Ventures: Brand endorser (Nike, Hanes, Gatorade, Upper deck), Businessman, Investor
Michael Jordan is the greatest player ever to play in the NBA. He led the Chicago Bulls to two three-peat championships, where he was declared the Finals MVP in all six of those occasions. The 14-time NBA All-Star also won the Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year on separate occasions. His Airness even won the league MVP trophy five times. Because of this, Jordan is in a class of his own. There’s no question Jordan’s talent was special which was why he was paid highly by the Chicago Bulls. Before 2017, Jordan received the highest single season paycheck which amounted to $33.1 million, according to NBC Sports. The amount was much higher than the average team payroll during that era. On the other hand, Jordan has also earned a huge amount from his endorsement deal with Nike. According to Forbes, Jordan has received at least $1.3 billion from the well known sports wear company. The shoe game is what it is largely because of the G.O.A.T.
Now well retired as a player, Jordan is still very much involved in the NBA. He is the former owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Aside from owning the Hornets, Jordan is also a co-owner of the Miami Marlins from MLB. Outside of sports, Jordan has also made some moves as an investor. He has also partnered with Sportradar, Muzik, Gigster, Cornerstone Restaurant Group, and aXiomatic according to Forbes. With multiple income streams after retirement, Jordan is definitely winning in life after after an already successful basketball career. According to Forbes, he is the World’s Richest Athlete which is why he tops this list.