How LeBron James Spends His Staggering Fortune

James could be careful about money because he wasn’t wealthy growing up. As a child, the future NBA star was raised on welfare and used food stamps to get meals. At one point, he even had to sleep on a couch instead of in a proper bed. The young James regularly skipped school and seemed destined for a life of little hope... until he turned it around in style.

His life began to change when a nine-year-old James was signed on to a youth basketball team in his native Akron, Ohio. And he quickly excelled at the sport, of course. He would end his high school senior year as arguably his team’s most promising player. His first big day shortly followed.

In 2003 he was the first person to be selected in the NBA draft. James was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers and signed a three-year, $12.96 million rookie contract. It was a canny move by the team, as his first season proved to be a very successful one. The 2003 to 2004 basketball season even saw him honored with the prestigious Rookie of the Year Award.

Throughout his career, too, James has gone from strength to strength — and from massive paycheck to massive paycheck. In 2006 he signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Cavaliers. Then in 2010, James opted for a six-year, $110 million deal with the Miami Heat. The player also earned four MVP awards and won the NBA Championships four times. He also took home gold medals from the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

But James’ biggest achievement came in 2023 when he broke the NBA's top-scoring record by reaching an unbelievable 38,390 career points in a February 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. That beat the previous record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for almost 40 years before. And there’s now no doubt that he cemented his title as the undisputed king of the rim in the process.

Thanks to his unparalleled reputation on the court, James continued to command a hefty salary. In 2014 he returned to the Cavaliers with a two-year contract worth $42 million. The star later finalized a three-year, $100 million extension with the team before signing a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers in 2018. He re-signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $97.1 million contract in 2022. According to Spotrac, James' salary earnings to date total $431,859,107.

But James’ NBA salary isn’t the only source of his bountiful income. In his first year as a professional baller, for example, the giant signed a $90 million endorsement deal with Nike. He made that a lifetime deal ten years later, and he earns roughly $30 million a year from the deal. He's also had dealings with AT&T, PepsiCo, and Walmart.

And let’s just say that James’ riches are something that he’s more than willing to joke about. In the 2015 rom-com Trainwreck, James proved to be a good sport by playing a hilariously cheap version of himself. “I don’t know how long this could last,” he quips in the movie. “I’m not about to end up like MC Hammer.”

In reality, however, LeBron James is nothing like his on-screen alter ego. While the player isn’t one to brag about his riches, he’s not afraid to splash his cash either. And his kingdom is littered with the sort of spoils that dreams are made of. He's well on his way to owning a basketball team — something that has always been his dream.

Let’s start with his houses. In his first year with the Cavaliers, the athlete built his own 30,000-square-foot mansion in Akron at a cost of $9.2 million. And the estate contains all manner of neat toys, such as a dual-lane bowling alley, a recording studio, and even a barbershop. He's only added to his property portfolio since then, too.

In 2017, after signing with the Lakers, he purchased an eight-bedroom home in Brentwood for about $23 million. This couldn't have been big enough for him, though, because in 2020 he spent $36.75 million on a 13,000-square-foot 1930s Beverly Hills mansion. He then proceeded to demolish the house and build his dream home in its place.

And like any self-respecting celebrity billionaire, James’ garage is filled with an enviable selection of automobiles. That collection has included the luxe likes of a Porsche 911 Turbo S, a Ferrari F430 Spider, and a sleek Maybach 57S. Undoubtedly pride of place, though, is a $670,000 Lamborghini Aventador custom sprayed in the style of his “King’s Pride” Nike sneakers.

The NBA legend doesn’t just like to splash out on property or cars, either. He’s also a keen fan of tattoos and has been known to get his ink done by NYC-based Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy — an artist who charges $400 per hour. And with sessions lasting a minimum of two-and-a-half hours, that’s as much as $1,000 a hit.

James is very smart with his investments, though. His stake in the rapidly growing chain Blaze Pizza, for example, is currently worth about $30 million, according to Forbes. The star also had his cash into Beats Electronics prior to its $3 billion Apple acquisition. And in 2021 James and business partner Maverick Carter traded stakes in Liverpool F.C. for a 1 percent ownership in FSG. That's the same FSG that owns the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

In fact, his business savvy has even brought him kudos from some serious financial players. Warren Buffett — who is worth an estimated $108.9 billion — told ESPN in 2013, “You have to understand that LeBron is very smart financially. I’ve never heard him say anything that doesn’t make sense.” But LeBron doesn’t just spend money on gifts for himself.

When it came time to pop the question to girlfriend Savannah Brinson, for example, the star is said to have shelled out between $250,000 and $300,000 for a five-carat diamond engagement ring. Brinson would probably say that it’s worth every penny. And that’s just the tip of James’ generosity.

In 2015 the player launched the LeBron James Family Foundation in his native Akron. James teamed up with the University of Akron to offer scholarships of approximately $38,000 for college attendance — a move that could change the lives of up to 2,300 children. It seems as if the player doesn’t want youths to face the impoverished life he could have had.

In 2020 James and Carter founded the SpringHill Company. The production company has given us the LeBron James-starring movie, Space Jam: A New Legacy, as well as Naomi Osaka for Netflix and House Party for HBO Max. James is the majority shareholder, although the company has garnered investment from Nike and Epic Games.

In 2014 James spoke to GQ about the possibility of becoming a billionaire. "It’s my biggest milestone," he said. "Obviously. I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I’m gonna be excited." And that drive has already got James and his wife Savannah very high up on the list of the 40 richest NBA couples ever.

Michael Finley enjoyed a 15-year career in the NBA, most notably winning a championship title in 2007 as the San Antonio Spurs’ small forward. Nowadays, though, he’s a film producer with credits including awards-bait movies The Birth of a Nation and The Butler. His net worth is reportedly $65 million.

Finley and Rebekah Hosey were already parents to son Micah by the time they wed in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, in 2006, and since then the couple have gone on to have two other children. Hosey earned herself a degree in business management before becoming a personal trainer and keen supporter of charities.

Lucrative marketing deals with the likes of Attitude Drinks have helped Paul Pierce achieve a reported current net worth of $70 million. In fact, in 2013 the ex-Los Angeles Clippers small forward was, according to Forbes, one of the 100 highest-paid sportsmen in the world. Four years after he was honored with that accolade, though, Pierce wound up his basketball career.

Pierce met his future wife Julie Landrum in 2006, and approximately two years later the couple had their first of three children, Prianna Lee. Then, in 2010, they married on the sunny Californian coast – complete with Prianna as their flower girl. The Pierces would later add to their family unit with the births of Adrian Tanya and Prince Paul. Though in 2021, it was reported that the couple was divorced. But Pierce still credits his ex for supporting him through the toughest times of his career.

In an interview with The Boston Globe in 2010, Jermaine O’Neal claimed he “never knew” he was among the NBA’s highest-earning players at that time. The former Boston Celtics star was so well paid, in fact, that he’s now thought to be worth $50 million. And perhaps O’Neal is content to sit back and enjoy his fortune, too, as although he has never properly announced his retirement, he hasn’t been seen on the court since 2014.

O’Neal has two kids – Asjia and Jermaine Jr. – with his wife Mesha, whom he met aged 17 and later married in the Bahamas. Back in 2010 Mesha appeared on the popular VH1 reality show Basketball Wives. Asjia, meanwhile, has made a name for herself playing volleyball for the University of Texas.

Elton Brand amassed most of his $70 million fortune playing for five NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers. And the twice-selected NBA All Star has remained within the sport after retiring as a power forward. In 2018, in fact, he was appointed as the general manager of the 76ers.

Brand’s now ex-wife, Shahara Simmons, is a very talented woman in her own right, too. She actually met the NBA star while studying at Duke University, and she has an interior design master’s degree from New York’s Pratt Institute. The pair welcomed their first child, Elton Peace Brand, into the world in 2008. But they subsequently called it quits in 2015 after nine years together.

Former swingman Tracy McGrady turned out for seven NBA teams during his illustrious 16-year basketball career – most notably for the Houston Rockets between 2004 and 2010. Then, following his retirement, the star spent several months as a pro baseball pitcher before landing an analyst position with ESPN. Today, his net worth is estimated to be $70 million.

McGrady said ‘I do’ to CleRenda Harris in 2006 – no fewer than eight years after meeting her in North Carolina. CleRenda herself is a life coach and the founder of Project P.U.S.H, which aims to empower women. She and McGrady also have four kids together: Layla Clarice, Laymen Lamar, Layden, and Laycee Aloa.

Point guard Tony Parker has earned four NBA Championships with the San Antonio Spurs and achieved six NBA All Star selections. Yet Parker, reportedly worth $85 million, also has a secret talent. He has released several hip-hop records, one of which even reached the top spot in France in 2007.

Parker became a tabloid regular in the mid-’00s thanks to his three-year marriage to Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria. But Parker and Longoria divorced in 2010, and three years later the NBA star walked down the aisle with Axelle Francine, a French journalist. The pair had two children together but announced their divorce in 2021. Now, he's linked to French tennis player Alize Lim.

Larry Bird is widely regarded as one of the most talented players ever to step foot on a professional court. As fans know, the versatile NBA star enjoyed no fewer than 13 seasons playing for the Boston Celtics from the late 1970s until the early 1990s. And while amassing a fortune that is said to be in the region of $75 million, Bird went on to serve as the Indiana Pacers’ head coach.

In 1989 Bird also tied the knot with Dinah Mattingly, his girlfriend of many years. But despite the forward’s vast wealth, the ceremony was far from a lavish one. Both Bird and Mattingly sported stonewashed jeans for the occasion, which was witnessed by only five other guests. The couple subsequently adopted two kids, Mariah and Connor.

Also known as “The Mailman,” serial deliverer Karl Malone played for the Utah Jazz for 18 years – and for the Los Angeles Lakers for one – before finishing his career in 2005. The ex-power forward went on to become the Jazz’s big man coach in 2013. And he has a reported net worth of $85 million.

Malone fell for 1988 Miss Idaho USA pageant winner Kay Kinsey after the pair met at an autograph-signing event in Utah. The couple tied the knot on Christmas Eve 1990, and since then they’ve added Kadee, Kylee, Karlee and Karl Jr to their family. Malone also has three other kids from former relationships as a young man.

Jason Kidd no doubt made a pretty penny when he left one endorsement deal with Nike to join another with PEAK in 2008. Now, in fact, it’s estimated that the former New Jersey Nets player has a net worth of at least $75 million. And in 2019 the ex-point guard got right back in the game when he was appointed as assistant coach by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kidd tied the knot with Porschla Coleman – his second wife – in the fall of 2011. Formerly a model for companies such as RocaWear, Danskin and Frederick’s of Hollywood, Porschla has since served as the executive director of the foundation that her husband set up in his name. The couple also have two children: Noah and Chance.

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dikembe Mutombo had an impressive 18-year NBA career between 1991 and 2009. The celebrated center turned out for several franchises including the Denver Nuggets, the Atlanta Hawks, and the New York Knicks. His net worth is believed to be in the region of $75 million.

Mutombo proposed to fellow Congolese-American Rose the moment that he met her, with the pair going on to walk down the aisle together in 1996. The couple are both actively involved in the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation and have no fewer than six children – four of whom they took on as adoptive parents.

In 2019 Paul George famously became a dream team with Kawhi Leonard at the Los Angeles Clippers. And the savvy move certainly paid off for the small forward, who had previously enjoyed a successful stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder and won Olympic gold at Rio 2016. The star’s endorsement deal with YouTube has also helped him to amass an impressive $110 million fortune.

Throughout much of his NBA career, though, George has been supported by Daniela Rajic. The pair first met in 2013 and went on to have two children together, with Olivia arriving in 2014 and Natasha three years later. And Rajic may be raking in the cash herself, too, after launching her own swimwear brand, Nude Swim. Then, in 2022, the longtime lovebirds finally tied the knot.

Pat Riley played for the San Diego Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Phoenix Suns during the ’60s and ’70s before taking a behind-the-scenes role as the president of the Miami Heat. The game has certainly been good for the former guard/forward. His net worth is thought to now stand at approximately $120 million.

Riley tied the knot with blonde, blue-eyed Chris way back in 1970 – a couple of years after they met on a beach in San Diego. And after returning to class to finish her studies in psychology, Chris went on to work for several years as a family therapist. She and her husband also have two grown-up children: Elisabeth and James.

Former Miami Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard enjoyed a 19-year NBA playing career before retiring in 2013. He was such a star that he was the NBA’s first player to be offered a $100 million contract and he had several lucrative sponsorships. His net worth is estimated at $80 million.

Howard tied the knot with Jenine Wardally on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the summer of 2001. Now, the pair have two sons together, Jett and Jace – both of whom have followed in their father’s sporting footsteps. Jenine is also the founder of the Juice Foundation, which promotes healthy living to help fight cancer.

Chris Webber was named an NBA All-Star five times and in 2001 he signed an amazing $127 million contract to play for the Sacramento Kings. He’s worked as a TV analyst since retiring in 2008 and also has an investment company. His net worth is thought to be at least $80 million.

Webber married his long-term partner Erika Dates in 2009, with the pair saying their vows during a private ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s thought that as many as 200 friends and family witnessed the event. And in 2017 the pair became parents for the first time with the birth of their twin son and daughter.

Chris Bosh was, according to Forbes, the planet’s 52nd-best-paid sports star in 2015, with his $20.8 million salary topped up by $3 million of endorsements. Such lucrative deals have undoubtedly helped the former Miami Heat power forward amass a personal fortune said to be in the region of $110 million. After having battled a pulmonary embolism, however, Bosh was finally forced to retire from the NBA in 2019.

Bosh tied the knot with Adrienne Williams in 2011, with the pair going on to welcome sons Jackson and Dylan and twins Lennox Noel and Phoenix Avery. The one-time Heat star also has a daughter, Trinity, from another relationship. And in 2015 Adrienne opened the Miami Beach-located boutique Sparkle and Shine Darling, which stocks “sparkly-shiny pieces” for women.

Zach Randolph was something of an NBA journeyman, having played for no fewer than five teams over the course of his lengthy career. The erstwhile Memphis Grizzlies star was also twice selected for the NBA All-Star team before retiring in late 2019 – a decision he made after having reportedly amassed a personal fortune of $85 million.

After 14 years together, Randolph married his longtime girlfriend Faune in a lavish ceremony staged at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis in 2014. The pair have three children together, MacKenley, MaZiya, and Lil Z-Bo, too. Randolph is also a father to several other kids from his past relationships. However, in 2020, the couple announced they were going their separate ways.

Tyson Chandler accrued his reported $85 million fortune playing as either center or power forward for numerous teams over the years. He’s earned himself plenty of titles, too, along with a gold medal as part of Team USA at the London Olympics. In 2012 Chandler was also crowned the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2005, though, Chandler walked down the aisle with Kimberly before going on to have three children: Sacha-Marie, Tyson II, and Sayge Jozzelle. And the couple also promoted various charities together. For instance, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Chandlers helped suffering families all over New Orleans. As for their marriage, however, it wasn't meant to be. In 2021, they called it quits.

Derrick Rose came out all guns blazing in his early career, winning the Most Valuable Player Award at the record-breaking age of 22. This no doubt helped the point guard bank an estimated $90 million. However, he has also boosted his coffers via deals with Adidas, Powerade, Skullcandy, and more.

In 2018, Rose walked down the aisle with Alaina Anderson. The pair welcomed baby daughter Layla into the world later that same year, and she was followed in 2019 by son London Marley. Rose also has a son, Derrick Jr., from a previous relationship with Mieka Reese.

Shooting guard Reggie “Knick Killer” Miller spent 18 seasons racking up three-point scores with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. He also won an Olympic gold medal at Atlanta 1996 on his way to an estimated $90 million fortune. These days he brings in the big bucks as a commentator for TNT.

In 2001 Miller dissolved his eight-year marriage to Marita Stavrou – and the divorce was far from a harmonious one. It would be another ten years before Miller apparently settled down with Laura Laskowski. The pair welcomed their first child, Ryker, in 2013 and their second, Lennox, three years later.

In 2016 Kyrie Irving guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA title. Then, after a brief spell with the Boston Celtics, he inked a contract worth an astonishing $141 million with the Brooklyn Nets. However, it’s not just on the basketball court where Irving has made his reported $90 million fortune. He has a lucrative deal with Nike, for one. The point guard also possesses partial rights to his Uncle Drew character – the protagonist of a hit movie in 2018.

After much speculation, Irving announced in the summer of 2019 that he was dating Golden, a.k.a. Marlene Wilkerson. After the Instagram influencer was pictured wearing an impressive piece of jewelry on her left ring finger, rumors began flying that the pair were about to get hitched. Now, they've since welcomed a child together. Irving had previously been engaged to R&B vocalist Kehlani, but the couple called time on their relationship in 2016.

Steve Nash spent a whopping 18 seasons in the NBA. For the majority of those he served as a point guard for the Phoenix Suns, accruing an alleged net worth of $95 million. He now co-owns MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps FC and enjoyed a seven-year stint as the Canadian national basketball team’s general manager.

Six years after divorcing his first wife Alejandra Amarilla, Nash announced his engagement to ex-volleyball player Lilla Frederick; the star had proposed to his girlfriend during a romantic getaway in Europe. They married shortly afterwards, and in 2017 Frederick gave birth to their first child – and Nash’s fourth – Luca Sun.

With the help of past endorsement deals with the likes of Webster Bank and Nike and a previous contract worth $80 million, Ray Allen has reportedly achieved an impressive net worth of $100 million. The shooting guard spent his final years on the court playing for the Miami Heat before officially retiring in 2016. He’d racked up an impressive 18 seasons in the NBA.

In 2004 Allen started dating Shannon Walker Williams. The singer and actress had started her career in Motown Records group Shades before landing a small role in the long-running CBS soap As the World Turns. The pair, who now have four kids together, walked down the aisle together four years later.

Isiah Thomas’ loyalty to the Detroit Pistols seemed to pay off, as in 1994 he stepped away from the court with team records in points, steals and assists. The former point guard then went on to mastermind the Toronto Raptors, serve as an analyst for NBC and acquire the Continental Basketball Association. And this illustrious career is said to have netted Thomas a reported $100 million.

Throughout, Thomas has been supported by wife Lynn Kendall, although their marriage has had its fair share of ups and downs. The pair had their first encounter at Indiana University, and after romance blossomed, they walked down the aisle in 1985. Since the big day, they’ve also welcomed children Joshua and Lauren.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that 7’6” center Yao Ming excelled during his five years with the Shanghai Sharks and a further decade with the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Yet he wasn’t just a star on the court. His reported $120 million net worth is apparently a combination of salaries and lucrative sponsorship deals.

Yao isn’t the only basketball star in his household, though. Wife Ye Li actually competed in the same sport for China at the 2004 Olympics in Athens – the same event where the couple took their relationship public. The pair married in 2007 and are parents to a daughter named Yao Qinlei.

In 2020 Chris Paul was, according to Forbes, the 35th best-paid sports star on the planet. And given the point guard’s salary of $35 million and an estimated net worth of around $160 million, it’s fair to say that he’s done pretty well for himself. Paul continues to excel on the court, too, after leaving the Houston Rockets for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.

Paul met his future wife Jada Crawley in high school. They married in 2011 and today reside, with their two kids, in a Bel Air mansion that once belonged to Avril Lavigne. The pair also both have their hands in the CP3 Foundation – an organization designed to provide educational, sporting, and living opportunities for areas in need.

It seems Tim Duncan, who was with the San Antonio Spurs from 1997 for 16 years until his retirement, has been handsomely rewarded for his loyalty. In 2012 Forbes named him the planet’s 73rd-best-paid athlete, with his multi-million dollar contract being supplemented by $2 million in endorsements. His net worth is thought to be at least $130 million.

Duncan, who divorced his ex-wife Amy in 2013, is now dating reporter Vanessa Macias. She’s currently the in-house announcer for two San Antonio-based sports teams and is a host on Talk Now SA. Famously, Macias also competed on season 20 of long-running reality show The Amazing Race. In 2017 the pair welcomed a daughter, Quill.

Widely hailed as one of the NBA’s greatest-ever shooters, point guard Stephen Curry is also one of the richest. In fact, his current contract with the Golden State Warriors is worth a whopping $201 million over five years. This will only add to his presently reported $160 million net worth.

And Curry’s wife is very much a star in her own right. Yes, Ayesha Curry has her own Food Network show and is the author of cookery book The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith and the Joy of Eating Well. She married Curry in 2011, and the couple have since welcomed three kids: Riley, Ryan and Cannon.

After hitting form with the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard looked destined to ultimately become an NBA great. But the center never truly realized his early potential, with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers failing to sufficently reverse his fortunes. Nonetheless, Howard has still earned an estimated $140 million during his inconsistent career.

And there are signs that Howard may finally be ready to settle down, too, as in 2020 reports emerged that the star had proposed to his girlfriend Te’a Cooper. Cooper is no stranger to the basketball court herself, having played for both the University of South Carolina and Baylor. But they put rumors to rest in 2021 when Cooper confirmed they'd parted ways.

Despite being described by Fox Sports in 2011 as “the most marketable player on the planet,” Dirk Nowitzki has – Nike shoe deal aside – tended to shun lucrative endorsements. However, the ex-Dallas Mavericks power forward is already thought to have an enviable net worth of $140 million – a sum that has set him up nicely for life after the game.

Back in 2010, Nowitzki met Swede Jessica Olsson at a bash for Amadou Gallo Fall’s SEED Project. The pair, who now have two sons and a daughter, married in Dallas, Texas, two years later. And, interestingly, Olsson, who works in the art world, has yet another link to sports. She’s the sister of Martin and Marcus Olsson – professional soccer players who have both been part of Sweden’s national team.

Point guard Russell Westbrook has earned much of his reported $200 million fortune during a lengthy spell at the Oklahoma City Thunder. In fact, in 2017 he signed the most valuable guaranteed contract – worth $233 million for six seasons – ever handed to an NBA player. Less than two years after inking that deal, however, Westbrook transferred to the Houston Rockets.

And Nina Earl has been with Westbrook since they started dating in college. The pair eventually walked down the aisle in 2015, and two years later they welcomed their first child, Noah, into the world. In 2018 they also added to their family unit with the birth of twin daughters.

Houston Rockets small forward Carmelo Anthony has the honor of being named the world’s 42nd-best-paid sportsperson of 2019, with Forbes totaling his earnings for the previous 12 months at $34 million. Anthony also has multiple sponsorships as well as a venture capital firm, and his net worth is reported to be somewhere in the region of $160 million.

La La Anthony is possibly the most well-known basketball wife and is undoubtedly just as much of a celebrity as her husband. Indeed, she’s a reality star, a TV and radio host, an actress, a writer, and – last but not least – a mother to the couple’s son Kiyan. Though, their power-couple status came to an abrupt end in 2021 when La La filed for divorce.

High-profile sponsorships and profitable contracts have helped Dwyane Wade’s net worth reach an estimated $170 million. The celebrated shooting guard, who once had the NBA’s biggest-selling jersey, spent most of his career with the Miami Heat, although he did also enjoy brief spells with the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers before hanging up his shoes in 2019.

In 2009 Wade started seeing Gabrielle Union, the veteran Hollywood actress beloved for her iconic role as the cheerleader Isis in Bring It On. And while work commitments forced them to split temporarily, the pair later got engaged at the end of 2013 and married the following year. In 2018 the couple welcomed their first – and Wade’s fourth – child, daughter Kaavia, and the pair remain couple goals, showcasing their fun dynamic on social media.

Celebrated Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon’s incredible career, which included consecutive NBA titles with the Houston Rockets, came to an end in 2002. Since then, though, the former center has reportedly made $100 million in real estate deals. His overall fortune, meanwhile, is estimated to be a pretty cool $200 million.

In accordance with Olajuwon’s Islamic faith, it was prearranged that he would tie the knot with the then 18-year-old Dalia Asafi in 1996. The star said at the time that his spouse possessed “wisdom beyond her years.” And the couple now share two children, Rahmah and Aisha. Olajuwon’s other daughter, Abisola, has also enjoyed time in the WNBA.

David Robinson spent the entirety of his 14-year professional basketball career with the San Antonio Spurs. He also won the NBA championship twice and has two Olympic gold medals to his name. Then, after he retired from the court, Robinson entered the world of private equity and is today worth at least $200 million.

The former center married Valerie Hoggatt in December 1991. And the following year, Hoggatt was head of the David Robinson Foundation, putting her degree in business and her experience with community outreach to good use. She and her husband also have sons David Jr., Corey and Justin together, and it appears that the two youngest boys are both attempting to follow their dad to sporting glory.

Former NBA All-Star participant Grant Hill had an amazing 19-season career, including seven years with the Orlando Magic, who got him on their books in 2000 with a contract worth $93 million. In 2018 Hill signed a lifetime endorsement contract with Fila. And today the Hall of Fame player is reportedly worth a whopping $250 million.

Hill married Canadian R&B star Tamia in 1999, with the pair first introduced to each other in Detroit by none other than Grammy Award-winning singer Anita Baker. They have a couple of daughters together, Lael Rose and Myla Grace. And in 2019 the whole family embarked on a Bahamian vacation to celebrate Hill and Tamia’s 20th wedding anniversary.

Four-time NBA winner Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal’s imposing 7’1” frame is eclipsed only by his reputed net worth of some $400 million. The star, who has also seen success in both acting and music, earned this figure mostly through salary and sponsorships as well as several successful sneaker lines. O’Neal himself sports a considerable size 23 shoe.

And Shaq has allegedly been dating actress Annie Ilonzeh, who appears in NBC’s popular series Chicago Fire. The two were seen clasping hands during a stroll in the Big Apple in early 2019, although they have seemingly kept schtum about their relationship ever since.

Two-time NBA champion LeBron James turned pro in 2003 and has a net worth that some claim tops a staggering $1 billion. “King James” is, according to Forbes, the world’s 17th-highest-paid celebrity and the 6th-best-paid athlete. As well as being widely regarded as the best ball player in the world, James co-owns a production company and has even had a go at acting having appeared in 2015’s Trainwreck and HBO show Entourage.

James’ wife Savannah Brinson has long supported him, with the pair’s romance harking right the way back to high school. They already had three kids when they married in September 2013. And the couple aren’t afraid to splash the cash; they own a $23 million LA mansion and a swanky private jet worth around $22 million.

Five-time NBA champion Earvin “Magic” Johnson was on a salary of $14.6 million a year before he retired from the game in 1996. His net worth today, though, is thought to be a massive $620 million – largely thanks to his company Magic Johnson Enterprises, which operates in the entertainment and promotional sectors. And he consistently appears in Forbes’ lists of best-paid retired athletes.

Magic tied the knot with Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly in 1991, shortly before discovering that he was HIV positive. This potentially devastating development, however, doesn’t appear to have compromised their marriage. And the couple now share two children – a son, Earvin III, who starred on reality show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, and an adopted daughter, Elisa.

Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman – whose iconic number 2 jersey was discontinued by the Milwaukee Bucks following his retirement in 1988 – apparently has a fortune of no less than $600 million. How? Largely thanks to his hugely successful franchise empire. Yes, the star once partly owned more than 360 separate Chili’s and Wendy’s outlets before selling the whole lot in 2016. He's now the owner of both Ebony and Jet magazines.

Bridgeman has been married to wife Doris for more than 40 years, too. And the pair’s three grown-up kids – Ryan, Justin and Eden – have all done their bit within the super-lucrative family firm. In 2015 both the NBA icon and his partner were handed honorary degrees by the University of Louisville.

Former Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan is perhaps the finest basketball player to have ever graced the court. He earned $93 million in his playing days, but his current fortune has been mainly amassed through endorsements, especially for Nike. Jordan’s net worth today sits at a huge $2 billion dollars, comfortably earning him the top spot in this list.

Jordan married his longtime sweetheart, Latin American model Yvette Prieto, in April 2013 at a ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida. The pair met on a night out in 2008, two years after Jordan had divorced from first wife Juanita Vanoy. In 2014 Prieto gave birth to identical twins Victoria and Ysabel.

Veteran Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard – and five-time NBA champion – Kobe Bryant reportedly earned $600 million over the course of his career. Tragically, though, in 2020 his life was cut short following a fatal helicopter crash. The eight other passengers traveling with Bryant, including his eldest child Gianna, also died in the accident.

Bryant is survived by his wife and three kids. The NBA hero and Vanessa Laine walked down the aisle in November 2001, with the couple later going on to welcome daughters Gianna, Natalia, Bianka and Capri. And while the Bryants briefly split in 2011, they ultimately managed to reconcile before a divorce was finalized.