LeBron James, the NBA’s highest-paid active player, became a billionaire in 2022 thanks to endorsements with the likes of Coca-Cola and Nike, and his business smarts
NBA OG Junior Bridgeman made only US$350,000 a year as a player, but opened 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s franchises after retirement, rocketing his net worth to US$600 million

The National Basketball Association, or NBA, only operates in North America, but that hasn’t stopped the institution from becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Watched by millions around the world, the sport has also turned many of its players into multimillionaires – and now billionaires too. Of the four billionaire athletes in the world in 2023, three are former or current NBA players. (Golf legend Tiger Woods completes the billionaire athletes circle.)

So which NBA stars are laughing all the way to the bank in 2023? The internet wizards at Celebrity Net Worth and Forbes reveal the fortunes of the wealthiest players in the game.

8. Grant Hill, 51: US$250 million

Grant Hill, who played for various NBA teams, made most of his money with footwear brand Fila. Photo: @realgranthill/Instagram

Having played for popular teams like Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers, it’s no surprise Grant Hill has raked in a fortune. Besides playing professionally for 19 years, his long list of endorsements has helped him accumulate an impressive quarter-of-a-billion-dollar fortune.

Over the years, he’s worked with the likes of McDonald’s, Nike, Tag Heuer, Adidas and AT&T in advertisements. However, his biggest deal might be with shoe brand Fila: he signed a seven-year contract worth US$80 million in 1997. Then, in 2018, he signed a lifetime deal with the brand that pays US$10 million a year, per Yahoo! News.

7. Hakeem Olajuwon, 60: US$300 million

Former Houston Rocket Hakeem Olajuwon went into the property market after retirement and made his fortune there. Photo: AFP

Following an impressive 18-year career in the NBA, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon is known as one of the greatest players in the history of basketball. And also one of the wealthiest.

After his retirement from the NBA in 2002, Olajuwon embarked on a highly successful entrepreneurial career and also got involved in the Houston property market, where he made most of his hefty fortune, per Sportskeeda. He owns a large property portfolio consisting of commercial buildings, parking garages homes and apartment complexes.

6. Shaquille O’Neal, 51: US$400 million

Shaquille O’Neal, brand ambassador, TV host, marketing guru and entrepreneur, owns a wide variety of businesses. Photo: AP

As one of the most iconic (and charismatic) players in the history of NBA, it’s no surprise that Shaquille O’Neal found success as a brand ambassador and TV host after retiring from sports.

O’Neal fast became a marketing guru, endorsing a variety of products and brands throughout his NBA career and long after. Besides working with the likes of Reebok, Nestlé, Buick, Papa John’s, Hulu and Epson over the years, O’Neal also owns 150 car washes, 40 health clubs and a string of nightclubs. He even once owned 155 branches of Five Guys restaurants, which he later sold, per Essentially Sports.

5. Vinnie Johnson, 67: US$500 million

Vinnie Johnson’s wealth ballooned after he retired and went into business. Photo: Getty Images

When it comes to the OGs of NBA, Vinnie Johnson is one of the first names that springs to mind. Despite his legendary status, Johnson famously only earned US$6 million during his basketball career between 1979 and 1992.

After retiring, he founded an automotive company called the Piston Group, the world’s largest value add assembly supplier. As founder, chairman and CEO of the company, Johnson took his wealth to new heights and is now worth half-a-billion dollars, per Capital Journal.

4. Junior Bridgeman, 70: US$600 million

Junior Bridgeman’s post-NBA ventures catapulted him into the league of big earners. Photo: @thecocacolaco/Instagram

Much like many of the NBA OGs, Junior Bridgeman made his fortune after retiring from the sport. When he stepped back in 1987, he was “only” making around US$350,000 a year. That’s when he started Bridgeman Foods Inc, which, by 2016, operated more than 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s restaurant franchises. By 2017, his company became a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company. He also famously owns Ebony and Jet magazines in the US. Needless to say, his post-NBA business ventures have paid off big time.

3. LeBron James, 38: US$1 billion

LA Lakers’ LeBron James, the NBA’s richest active player, has already expanded his business portfolio. Photo: AP

Currently the NBA’s highest-paid active player, LeBron James reached billionaire status in 2022, according to Forbes. And he’s certainly not waiting for retirement to expand his empire. Besides his endorsement deals with the likes of Microsoft, Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, Baskin Robbins, Samsung and Nike, he’s also a savvy businessman. James is known to make deals that give him equity in the brands he partners with, earning him profits in the long run instead of making a quick buck. He’s an investor in the Blaze Pizza chain, and takes equity in brands like gym-maker Tonal and ride-share company Lyft, to name a few.

2. Magic Johnson, 64: US$1.2 billion

Magic Johnson retired young after his HIV diagnosis, but built up a massive business empire after that. Photo: @appletv/Instagram
Congratulations are certainly in order for Magic Johnson, who joined the billionaires club this year, per Forbes. Johnson dramatically retired from the NBA in 1991 after being diagnosed with HIV, but fortunately he managed to stay healthy – and thrive in every way possible.

The legendary player-turned-businessman has managed to accumulate over a billion dollars after buying stakes in various sports franchises, including Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the Major League Soccer’s LAFC. His own company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, owns a movie studio, theatres and a marketing company. With fingers in so many different pies, we suspect he’ll be adding a lot more digits to his net worth in years to come.

1. Michael Jordan, 60: US$3 billion

Michael Jordan is the first athlete on Forbes’ list of America’s top 400 wealthiest. Photo: EPA-EFE

Still at the No 1 spot, Michael Jordan’s fortune increase dramatically this year. Forbes even revealed that the former NBA champion became the first athlete to land on its list of America’s 400 wealthiest people.

Jordan, who reached billionaire status in 2014, saw his net worth reach new heights following the sale of the Charlotte Hornets in August for US$3 billion, per CBS. Of course, he has famously partnered with a variety of brands over the years too, from McDonald’s and Nike to Gatorade and Hanes. Known as the NBA’s greatest player of all time, Jordan also has the greatest NBA player bank account of all time.