Ranking 10 Richest NBA Players of All Time: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and More

The NBA is arguably one of the richest sporting leagues in the world. As of recently, the league recorded a total revenue of $11.34 billion, with a valuation amounting to around $86 million in the post-pandemic era. Obviously, with such high revenues and valuations, the top NBA players account for being some of the richest individuals in the world. Both Michael Jordan and LeBron James became two of the only four billionaires among athletes in the United States.

So, how rich are the NBA athletes with their insane amount of income from team salaries and endorsements? In this article, we rank the top 10 richest NBA superstars of all time.

Wealthiest NBA Players of All Time

On average, an NBA player earns a salary of approximately $10.39 million, with a median salary of $4.94 million. Of course, coupled with endorsements, the net worth of these athletes is among some of the highest in the world. Here are some of the richest NBA stars, who rank amongst the wealthiest people on the planet.

10. David Robinson - $200 million

David Robinson, also known as The Admiral is a Spurs legend and one of the most memorable figures in the NBA from the '90s. Robinson helped the San Antonio Spurs secure two championships and had garnered numerous personal accolades such as NBA regular season MVP and 10 All-Star appearances.

Post retirement, Robinson built a financial empire with his business ventures and investments through his organization, The Admiral Capital. Robinson's current net worth is estimated to be around $200 million

9. Grant Hill - $250 million

Grant Hill had a remarkable professional basketball career playing in the NBA, with seven All-Star and five All-NBA selections. Selected as a third overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in 1994, Hill's on and off court success both speak volumes about his work ethic both as an athlete and a businessman.

Hill's current net worth is estimated to be around $200 million, with most of his wealth coming from his NBA salary and endorsements. In 1997, he had signed a $80-million shoe deal with FILA, which was one of the largest shoe contracts of that time. He continues his association with FILA to this day, which earns him almost $10 million per year. Furthermore, Hill has also endorsed brands such as McDonald's, TAG Heuer, Nike, Adidas, and AT&T, which further helped in accumulate his current net worth.

8. Hakeem Olajuwon - $300 million

Hakeem Olajuwon, also known as ‘the Dream’ is one of the most celebrated athletes from the ‘80s and the ’90s decade. Regarded as one of the best big men of his era, Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to two NBA championships and has won individual accolades such as the regular season MVP award, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year.

Post retirement, Olajuwon had great success investing in Houston's real estate market. In 2006, he bought a prime property of 41 acres near the NASA space station and turned it into his retirement home. Today, Olajuwon is one of the richest athletes in the world, with a net worth of around $200 million.

7. Shaquille O'Neal - $400 million

While Shaquille O'Neal is best known for his playing career, very few people know his knack for making smart business moves. Ever since his sophomore season, Shaq spent a major chunk of his income into investments, which has now earned him a net worth of around $400 million. Shaq has partnered with renowned entities such as Reebok, Pepsi, Icy Hot, and Buick.

Shaq's income from his NBA salary alone amounts to a whopping $292 million, with another $200 million coupled with his endorsement income. This makes Shaq one of the wealthiest NBA stars post retirement, who continues to earn an estimated $60 million annually.

6. Vinnie Johnson - $500 million

Vinnie Johnson was known as ‘the Microwave’ back in the day for his ability to heat up the offense with his scoring prowess. Part of the ‘Bad Boy Pistons’ in the 1980s, Johnson is a two-time NBA champion and had a proven record in besting against Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference. Not many are aware of how Vinnie Johnson smartly invested his NBA income in the meantime, turning himself to become a multi-millionaire.

As of today, Johnson's net worth is estimated to be around $500 million. Post retirement, Johnson founded the Piston Group, an automotive company that assembles car parts for major motor companies. Though Johnson earned only $6 million from his NBA salary, he turned it into a business that now generates an estimated annual revenue of $3 billion.

5. Kobe Bryant - $600 million

Kobe Bryant is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players to ever grace the NBA hardwood. Bryant was loyal to the Los Angeles Lakers all throughout his career and brought in five championships during his tenure with the franchise. Bryant was known for his impeccable work ethic, which continues to inspire athletes beyond basketball to this day.

Though deceased, Bryant's net worth as of 2025 is estimated to be around $600 million, with the trust set up to benefit his wife Vanessa Bryant and his three surviving daughters. At the time of his death, Bryant had an equity stake worth around $200 million in the drink BodyArmour. BodyArmour was acquired by CocaCola for $8 billion, with Bryant's equity estimated to be worth around $270 million. This would make Kobe's net worth to be around $600 million as of today.

4. Junior Bridgeman - $1.4 billion

Not many may know of Junior Bridgeman when you first say his name to a layman fan. Bridgeman was a legendary sixth man in the league and was a crucial part of franchises such as the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite earning only around $350,000 a season in his 12 years in the NBA, Bridgeman built a massive business empire which makes him one of the richest NBA players of all time.

Bridgeman first started by investing in a startup cable company, which became the seed for a thriving business empire. He then went on to venture in the FnB industry, owning over 500 restaurant franchises of Wendy's, Chili's and Pizza Hut. By 2023, he had ventured into bottling business as well, accelerating his net worth to around $1.4 billion.

Unfortunately, Bridgeman passed away in 2025, with tributes pouring in from some of the greatest legends of the game. His legacy as NBA sixth man to a successful entrepreneur inspires generations to come.

3. LeBron James - $1.2 billion

LeBron James is arguably one of the greatest players the league has ever seen coming. Many fans even dub James as the Greatest of All Time, placing the 4x NBA champion above Michael Jordan as well. James is the all-time scoring leader in the league and is the first player ever to reach 10K points, assists, and rebounds in his career.

On the financial side, James became the first active player to reach the billionaire status, with an estimated net worth of around $1.2 billion as of 2025. He earned more than $500 million from his NBA salaries and has raked more than $900 million from his business ventures and endorsement deals with PepsiCo, Taco Bell, and Nike.

2. Magic Johnson - $1.5 billion

Magic Johnson is one of the most successful players in the league, having won five championships during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson played alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and was best known for his incredible playmaking abilities and court vision as a player. To this day, Johnson still serves as a model for several aspiring point guards hoping to make it big in the NBA.

Magic Johnson's net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 billion, as of 2025. Though he earned only $40 million from his Lakers salary, he built his wealth through joint venture partnerships and smart investments.

Johnson has major investment stakes in movie theaters, Starbucks franchises, real estate and health care industry, as well as 60% ownership stake in Equitrust, a life insurance company which has grown from $16 billion to $26 billion since he took over in 2015. Magic also has small ownership stakes in sports franchises such as NFL's Washington Commanders, MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers, WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, and MLS' LAFC.

1. Michael Jordan - $3.5 billion

Michael Jordan was the first NBA player to reach the potential of a global superstar. During his tenure, Jordan's popularity helped the league reach new heights, making Jordan arguably be regarded as the Greatest Player of All Time. Jordan was known for his scoring prowess and an impeccable 6-0 Finals run with the Chicago Bulls.

Though Jordan earned an upwards of only $90 million from his NBA salary, he became the first NBA player to reach the status of a billionaire. As of 2025, Jordan's net worth is estimated to be around $3.5 billion. Most of his income comes from his lifetime income deal with Nike and the royalties that he earns from the Jordan brand. Furthermore, MJ also saw an increase in his net worth after he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, valuing the franchise at around $3 billion.

Richest NBA Players of All Time

The above ranking lists some of the richest players based on their net worth in the NBA. However, there are some more players who deserve the recognition for all the wealth they have earned through their NBA career and off-court endeavors. The table below lists the same, based on their net worth.