Three billionaires headline the Top 10 richest NBA players in 2025 list

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Three billionaires headline the Top 10 richest NBA players in 2025 list

Peter Sunjic · Basketball Network

Mon, Oct 20, 2025 ·

10 min read

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The start of the 2025-26 regular season is just around the corner, and this feels like the perfect time to step away from the usual talk about rotations, early MVP and Championship favorites, and take a look at something the fans love talking about — money. A whole lot of it.

This time, it will not be about box score numbers; it's about who's stacked up the most zeros in their bank accounts.

We will be taking a look at the wealthiest NBA players still alive and kicking today. The list will feature a mix of legends of the game and active stars who've cashed in big time, both on and off the hardwood. While some of them earned the most during their playing days, others saw their wealth balloon after hanging up their boots for good.

10. Stephen Curry ($240 M)

It's only fitting that at number ten, we start with the man who revolutionized the game and holds the crown as the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry . Still very much active in today's NBA, Curry opens this list with an estimated net worth of $240 million. Over his career with the Golden State Warriors , he's earned more than $413 million in contracts alone.

Off the court, Curry has been a powerhouse with Under Armour, turning his signature shoes and apparel into a global powerhouse that only continues to grow his fortune. Beyond UA, he also boasts endorsements with brands like Chase, Degree, and Rakuten which only go to show how influential Chef is in marketing world.

The four-time Champ is, weather we would like to admit it or not, nearing his retirement, and he recently voiced his wish that he would like to own a team in the Association . If that comes to fruition, no doubt that his wealth would just keep growing.

9. Grant Hill ($250 M)

Coming in at number nine, we have one of the true icons of the game, Grant Hill , a player many fans still believe was robbed of being the next Michael Jordan due to injuries. Hill was the prototypical do-it-all wing, the kind of player whose skill set you see in today's NBA. Over his 18-season career, he racked up $141,008,544 in earnings.

While much of his wealth came from his playing days, Hill also built a strong business portfolio. In 2018, he signed a lifetime deal with Fila, the brand he first partnered with in 1997, reportedly earning around $10 million a year. He's also had endorsement deals with Sprite, McDonald's, TAG Heuer, Nike, Adidas and AT&T.

And today, at 53 years old, Hill is living his dream as a part-owner and Vice Chairman of the Atlanta Hawks , having joined the franchise's ownership group back in 2015.

8. Kevin Durant ($300 M)

And following our active–retired trend, it only makes sense to move on to Kevin Durant . KD, beyond being one of the purest scorers the game has ever seen, is also one of the richest and most successful NBA players of all time, with an estimated net worth of $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Durant has often faced criticism for hopping from team to team in search of an "easy way to a title," but that's far from the whole story. Just yesterday, Durant extended his contract with the Houston Rockets , making NBA history in the process. At 37, the forward now holds the record for the highest career earnings in league history, surpassing LeBron James . His latest extension pushes his total career earnings, combining current and future salaries, to $598.2 million.

With off the court lifetime deal with Nike and various business ventures, including his very own media company, it seems that Durant has a high chance that he will climb up this list in the future.

7. Hakeem Olajuwon ($300 M)

Continuing with number seven on our list, we have legendary Hakeem Olajuwon , a guy whose post moves and footwork are still being studied to this day. Hakeem is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in NBA history, earning over $110 million in salary during his 18-year career in the Association.

But even that massive sum was just the beginning. Olajuwon went on to build an impressive real estate portfolio, with around $100 million in purchases. Working primarily out of Houston, he owns parking garages, apartment complexes, single-family homes and commercial buildings. With his generational wealth hovering around $300 million, Hakeem is a prime example of turning on-court dominance into long-term financial success.

6. Russell Westbrook ($300 M)

We have another former MVP on our list and a guy who made triple-doubles look effortless long before Nikola Jokic entered the conversation — Russell Westbrook . Even now after his athletic prime, Westbrook earned $250 million in salary alone during his first decade in the league. As of today, his NBA salary earnings top $350 million , with millions more coming from endorsements.

In September 2017, he signed the largest contract in Jordan Brand history, a 10-year deal reportedly worth $150–$200 million. Now, as a member of the Sacramento Kings , "Westbeast" is more of a seasoned journeyman than the explosive guard we once saw lighting up the hardwood.

5. Vinnie Johnson ($500 M)

At number five, we have Vinnie Johnson . The name might not immediately ring a bell to a casual NBA fan, but Johnson played a key role in two Detroit Pistons championships during the Bad Boys era. However, his best days came after he left the Association. Vinnie managed to amass over half a billion dollars, despite earning just $6 million during his entire NBA career.

After briefly trying his hand in construction and facing an early setback, Johnson shifted to the auto packaging business, founding the Piston Group . Over the years, the company became a leading supplier of auto parts to major international firms, including General Motors and Ford. As CEO and chairman, Johnson business was, as they like to call it, "boomin'," with the Piston Group generating over $3 billion in annual revenue. So, while his on-court earnings might pale in comparison to others on this list, Johnson's post-basketball success puts him high in this exclusive list.

4. Shaquille O'Neal ($500 M)

The number four on our list brings us to one of the most, if not the most, dominant players in NBA history: Shaquille O'Neal . Shaq used to absolutely steamroll opposing lineups, and even after retirement, he continues to dominate the business world. When you think of O'Neal off the court, the first thing that likely comes to mind is his unmatched charisma, which has made him one of the most beloved figures in entertainment. From films and TV shows to analyst desks and podcasts, Shaq is, and will remain, everywhere.

During his NBA career, Shaq earned $292 million in salary alone and over $200 million from endorsements. Even retired, he still pulls in roughly $60 million a year from deals, investments and business ventures.

On top of that, O'Neal owns multiple franchise investments, ranging from restaurant chains to fitness centers, making him a real giant in that department as well. And if he played today, there is no doubt that he would be one of the richest athletes in the world .

3. LeBron James ($1.3 B)

Now we're getting into the list of the biggest of the big. Yes, as big as their bank accounts. The top three are undoubtedly some of the greatest to ever play the game, and they've turned that greatness into Billion-dollar (WITH A B!) net worths.

At No. 3, we have the guy who continues to defy Father Time almost effortlessly in the Association. Of course, we're talking about LeBron James . The Chosen One came into the league as a teenager, carrying the weight of the world and sky-high expectations and transformed the game in ways few ever have. His on-court accomplishments are too long to list here: from becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer to winning championships everywhere he went, he's done it all.

In contracts alone, LeBron has earned $531,322,273 . Outside of basketball, he is one of the highest-earning and most globally influential celebrities on the planet, making $60–90 million per year in endorsements, along with a $1 billion lifetime deal with Nike he signed back in 2003. All of those come to roughly $1.3 billion Real Time Net Worth, according to Forbes, and that made The King the first active billionaire player .

He's also turned his fame and fortune into a sprawling business empire, with investments in startups and part ownership in Liverpool F.C., Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, RFK Racing, A.C. Milan and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Be it on or off the court, LeBron Raymone James Sr. does it all.

Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

2. Magic Johnson ($1.5 B)

At number two, firmly sitting in the billionaire's club, is none other than Magic Johnson . The legendary point guard who orchestrated the Showtime Lakers with his brilliance on the court has translated that genius into a business empire worth hundreds of millions, according to Forbes . And the interesting part is, as Magic once said, it all started with a conversation on the sidelines .

Magic spent 12 seasons in the NBA, from 1979–1991, and in 1984 signed a contract that would see him earn $39,342,860 over his career. But that was just the beginning. Off the court, Johnson leveraged his charisma and vision to launch Magic Johnson Enterprises, a company that organizes basketball events and invests across industries.

His ventures span movie theatres, Starbucks franchises and real estate, and he holds minority stakes in major sports teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), the Washington Commanders (NFL), the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) and the Los Angeles Football Club (MLS).

Between his Hall of Fame career and business empire, Magic's list of accomplishments is nothing short of legendary.

1. Michael Jordan ($3.8 B)

Oh yes, just like on so many all-time lists, Michael Jordan sits firmly at the top of this one as well. For many, the undisputed greatest player in basketball history is absolutely dominating when it comes to wealth. From the moment he stepped onto the hardwood, it was clear he was going to be special... but this special? Few could have ever predicted.

MJ is an absolute global icon, and with a reported net worth of $3.8 billion , the richest athlete not just in NBA history, but in the history of sports. Jordan is the ultimate example of a superstar who turned his image into a multi-billion-dollar business.

Over his 14-year playing career, Jordan earned $90 million in salary with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards . But the real game changer came off the court. His legendary partnership with Nike gave birth to the Jordan Brand, a cultural powerhouse that still dominates the sneaker game today. Add to that lucrative deals with McDonald's, Hanes, Gatorade and Chevrolet, and it's easy to see how MJ became the gold standard for athlete-entrepreneurs.

And he didn't stop there. Jordan joined sports-betting giant DraftKings as a special advisor to the board and investor in September 2020. That same year, he became a NASCAR team co-owner, further expanding his business empire. In 2023, he sold his majority ownership of the Charlotte Hornets , turned $275M to $3B , but retained a minority stake in the franchise.

When talking about absolute winners, there is probably no one close to Jordan.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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