The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most profitable and popular sports leagues in the world. As such, it has produced some of the richest athletes in history. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 richest NBA players in 2023 and how they made their fortunes on and off the court.
10 richest NBA players of all time (2023)
- Michael Jordan Net Worth: $2 Billion[1]
- LeBron James Net Worth: $1.2 Billion
- Magic Johnson Net Worth: $620 Million
- Junior Bridgeman Net Worth: $600 million
- Shaquille O’Neal Net Worth: $400 million
- James Harden Net Worth: $400 million
- Vinnie Johnson Net Worth: $400 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth: $300 million
- Grant Hill Net Worth: $250 Million
- David Robinson Net Worth: $200 million[2]
1. Michael Jordan has a net worth of $1.7 billion
Michael Jordan is arguably the most famous basketball player of all time. Jordan is a six-time NBA Champion, a five-time NBA MVP, and a 14-time NBA All-Star. But his business his ventures have helped him amass his $1.7 billion worth of fortune. Jordan owns the Charlotte Hornets and has sponsorship deals with Nike, Gatorade and Haynes.
The Nike Air Jordan Brand is one of Jordan’s most profitable businesses. Launched in 1984, the brand has become one of his most popular and successful shoe lines in history. In addition to the Air Jordan Brand, Jordan also has his own brand called Jordan Brand, which is a subsidiary of Nike.
Michael Jordan joined sports betting company DraftKings in September 2020 as a special advisor to the board and an investor. In a press release, the company said Jordan “will provide guidance and strategic advice to the board on key business initiatives.” Terms of his investment were not disclosed.[3]
He also became a co-owner of the NASCAR team in late 2020. Owned and operated by Michael Jordan, current Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin is a minority partner. The organization has his No. 23 and his No. 45 Toyota teams for drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick in a technical partnership with JGR.[4]
2. LeBron James has a net worth of $1.2 billion
LeBron James is a four-time NBA Champion, four-time NBA MVP, and a 17-time NBA All-Star. LeBron’s $1.2 billion net worth comes from his salary, endorsements, media, technology and real estate investments. James owns a production company called SpringHill Entertainment, has invested in various tech startups, and has a significant real estate portfolio.
3. Magic Johnson has a net worth of $620 million
Magic Johnson is a 5-time NBA Champion, 3-time NBA MVP, and 12-time NBA All-Star. After retiring from basketball, Johnson became a successful businessman. He owns Magic Johnson Enterprises, which invests in multiple industries including movie theaters, restaurants and sports his team.
4. Junior Bridgeman has a net worth of $600 million
Junior Bridgeman is a former NBA player who played 12 seasons. After retiring from basketball, Bridgman purchased multiple fast food franchises of his own, including Wendy’s and Chili’s. Bridgman’s net worth is estimated at $600 million due to his investments in the food industry.
5. Shaquille O’Neal has a net worth of $400 million
Shaquille O’Neal is a four-time NBA Champion, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and a 15-time NBA All-Star. O’Neill’s net worth of $400 million comes from his NBA career and investments in businesses. Shaq owns multiple car washes and restaurants and has endorsement deals with companies like Pepsi and Icy Hot. O’Neil has 40 24-hour gyms, 150 car washes, 155 Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 9 Papa John’s, 17 aunties, apricots, pretzels, and a few more. Crispy He Cream He owns the restaurant. He sold some of these holdings, including all of his Five Guys holdings. Shaq owns and sells 155 of his Five Guys locations. It’s the Five Guys franchise that makes up 10% of his total portfolio.[5]
Even more impressive is O’Neal’s venture portfolio. About 90% of startups fail, so companies with valuations above his $1 billion are extremely rare and are called unicorns. O’Neal’s Alphabet Inc., his investments in Google, Lyft Inc., Ring and Vitaminwater have proven lucrative.[6]
6. James Harden has a net worth of $400 million
James Harden is a former NBA MVP and nine-time NBA All-Star. Harden’s net worth of $400 million comes from NBA salaries and endorsement deals. Harden is a spokesperson for Adidas and owns a 5% stake in MLS team Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash of the All-American Women’s Soccer League.
7. Vinnie Johnson Net worth $400 million
Vinnie Johnson is a former NBA player who has played for 13 seasons. Mr. Johnson’s net worth of $400 million comes from his investments in the automotive industry. Johnson is the founder and chairman of the Piston Group, an automotive supplier that partners with Ford, General Motors and Toyota.
8. Hakeem Olajuwon Net worth $300 million
Hakeem Olajuwon is a two-time NBA Champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and a 12-time NBA All-Star. Olajuwon’s net worth of $300 million comes from his NBA career and real estate investments. Olajuwon owns multiple commercial properties in Houston, Texas.
9. Grant Hill Net Worth $250 Million
Grant Hill is a former NBA player who has played for 19 seasons. Hill’s net worth of $250 million comes from his NBA and broadcasting salaries and several real estate investments. Hill is a co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks and a commentator on his NBA coverage for TNT.
10. David Robinson has a net worth of $200 million
David Robinson is a two-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and ten-time NBA All-Star. Robinson’s $200 million net worth comes from his NBA salary and real estate investments. Robinson has a significant real estate portfolio and is an Admiral who invests in real estate and private equity.He is the founder of Capital Group.
Conclusion
The top 10 richest NBA players demonstrate different strategies for achieving financial success.Michael Jordan launched his own brand and invested in ownership of NBA teams. James Harden and Grant Hill have also used their star power and capital to secure sponsorship deals and invest in sports teams. LeBron James used his fame and money to start a media and production company. Magic Johnson has diversified its investments across multiple industries. Shaquille O’Neal and Junior Bridgman found entrepreneurial success by investing in the fast food industry. Vinnie Johnson chose the auto industry. Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson have diversified their portfolios by investing in real estate. These players use their platforms and resources to demonstrate the importance of creating long-term financial stability by owning equity ownership and cash flow assets.