Playing in the NBA Means Heavy Wallets For These Star Players

Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls pumps his fist
Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls pumps his fist / VINCENT LAFORET/GettyImages

The NBA is one of the biggest sports leagues in the whole wide world. For a player to make it into the league is undoubtedly a dream come true. Playing in the NBA brings athletes not only fame but with it huge sums of cash. Money that allows them to indulge in an extravagant lifestyle.

The teams pay basketballers millions of dollars in salary for their talents, and on top of that, they can always resort to endorsements and sponsorships. As a result, NBA players end up with enormous net worths and a plethora of assets. Here is the list of some of the richest players in NBA history.

Michael Jordan Is the Richest

It turns out that Michael Jordan is not only one of the greatest basketballers to ever step onto the court, but he is also a good money-making machine. The Black Jesus raked in huge sums of money during his playing career and invested it in profitable ventures.

He also took home huge paychecks from endorsement deals with companies like Gatorade, Nike, and Hanes. All these sources of income have pushed his net worth to an astonishing $1.6 billion, making him the richest basketball player and athlete in the world. As competitive as he is, we are sure he would not have settled for anything less.

Magic Johnson Knows the Art of Business

During his career, Magic Johnson was a force to be reckoned with on the court. He played the game with exemplary passion. Yet basketball is not the only thing that the star is passionate about. He always had a keen eye for business as well.

So while he worked hard inside the court, the athlete made sure to hustle just as much in the outside world. By the time he retired, he had his own enterprise, in which he had assumed the CEO role after his last day as a player. His net worth is estimated to be around $600 million.

Junior Bridgeman Loves the Food Business

Junior Bridgeman is a former NBA player who played in the league for twelve years. Although he became successful as a basketball player, his exploits in the business world outshine his achievements on the court. Bridgeman is a force to be reckoned with in the business world and enjoys a respectable stature in the sports, media, and food industries.

He is the current owner of *Ebony* and *Jet* magazines. He has an incorporation named Bridgeman Foods that bottles the drinks for The Coca-Cola Company. Apart from that, he also managed to build an empire of Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurant franchises. His net worth is estimated at $600 million.

Kobe Bryant Was Insatiable

Many of us know Kobe Bryant to be an extremely hard-working basketball player who left no stone unturned in his pursuit of perfection. He had this unquenchable thirst to be the best in court. Yet, not many people know that his drive was not just limited to basketball.

Needless to say, the Black Mamba was a treat to watch inside the court and earned millions of dollars for his talents. Yet, just like in basketball, he wanted to be extremely successful financially. So he invested his earnings in profitable companies like Byant Stibel. Moreover, he also partnered with multiple brands. As a result, despite his early demise, the athlete managed to push his net worth to $600 million.