Who is the richest basketball player?
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry are all drowned in wealth – but who is the wealthiest of them all?
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NBA players have made some of the most lucrative portfolios in all of sports
The NBA has been home to some of the richest celebrities on the planet. From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, from Shaquille O’Neal to Stephen Curry, NBA personalities have made a fortune for themselves. Be it from their massive salaries or numerous endorsement deals, basketball stars are among the highest-paid athletes there are. But exactly who is the richest basketball player?
LeBron James crossed the one billion mark in net worth as the first active basketball player to do so. Even the late Kobe Bryant had amassed about a billion from his spectacular salaries, endorsements, and business Investments.
Then there is Michael Jordan, whose net worth keeps towering every day from his ownership and eventual sale of the Charlotte Hornets and Nike’s iconic Air Jordan brand. But who is the wealthiest of them all?
Who is the richest basketball player?
When it comes to wealth, Michael Jordan is the clear winner. Jordan is the richest basketball player, with an astounding net worth of over $3.2 billion in 2025. MJ had been the first-ever NBA personality to have gained billionaire status in 2014.
Although LeBron James is the only active basketball player with a $1 billion+ net worth, Jordan’s fortunes exceed his tally.
However, it may come as a surprise that MJ earned less than $100 million in salaries during his career. In spite of being one of the highest-paid athletes of his generation, Jordan had earned around only $93 million of fortune in NBA salaries. So, how did Michael Jordan become the richest basketball player after almost a decade after his retirement?
How did Michael Jordan become the richest basketball player?
A large portion of Jordan’s wealth amounts from his ownership and eventual sale of majority stakes in the NBA franchise, Charlotte Hornets. Since MJ acquired the franchise in 2010, the Hornets have seen their franchise value escalate to a tremendous $1.77 billion.
Back in 2023, MJ sold majority shares to a group of investors led by J. Cole and Eric Church for reportedly a sum of about $3 billion per Forbes. This saw his net worth take a huge jump in terms of valuation.
But Michael Jordan’s partnership with Nike is perhaps what popularized him as a global brand. Since the launch of Air Jordan shoes in 1984, Jordan is said to have earned over 1.3 billion in revenues. Ever so interesting, the sales of the Jordan brand continue to escalate even today and earn MJ millions every year.
His endorsement deals with renowned brands like Hanes, Chevrolet, and Gatorade, among others, have added massively to his tremendous net worth. Besides, Michael Jordan’s business investments have also amounted to his vast wealth.
Jordan owns his personal Automotive Group with a Nissan dealership in Durham, North Carolina. The NBA legend also owns a chain of restaurants, golf course investments, and a NASCAR Cup Series team, 23XI. His partnership with DraftKings is also a new addition to his numerous other business ventures.
However, Michael Jordan has not only added to his already vast fortune but given back to society as well. His philanthropic works are acclaimed all over the world, and he has donated to numerous causes over the years. His widely known James R. Foundation is one of the leading philanthropic organizations dedicated to underprivileged children.
Michael Jordan’s successful business investments, alongside numerous endorsement deals with elite brands, have amounted to his vast wealth. Over the years, Jordan has become a global icon and the undisputed GOAT of the sport across millions of hearts.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)