Klay Thompson reflects on reckless spending during his rookie years: “I would only wear about 5 percent of the closet”
- Klay Thompson, a renowned NBA player, has amassed a reported net worth of $140M through his basketball career and investments.
Klay Thompson has no doubt assembled an impressive resume over his 15 seasons in the NBA, establishing himself as one of the greatest shooters of all time. Most of his achievements came while representing the Golden State Warriors , including his four championship rings.
The success and fame have earned him a reported net worth of $140M today. Having built a fortune today, courtesy of his NBA salaries, endorsements and sound investments, Thompson was not the best at handling finances, especially during the early years of his career.
Back in 2019, Thompson opened up about some of his splurging habits and why he regretted them. The 6'5" guard primarily sought solace in materialistic things. Making things worse was his habit of hoarding, something he struggled to get rid of for the longest time.
"I made some mistakes, like hoarding, especially with the clothes. I mean, I would just have a full closet, and I would only wear about 5 percent of the closet, and I'm like, 'What am I going to do with all of these extra clothes?'" Thompson told Maverick Carter during an episode of the Uninterrupted co-founder's podcast, Kneading Dough.
Splurging out his first paycheck
Currently on a three-year $50M contract with the Dallas Mavericks, Thompson was once among the highest-paid players in the league. Nonetheless, the veteran guard has made enough to sustain him in a lavish living for a lifetime, thanks to his financial management.
However, this would never have been the case if Klay hadn't learned his lesson back in the day. The Washington State product once revealed that he spent his first big paycheck on a pool table he still had to use.
"It was great to see that check, but I lived such a great life in Pullman, (Washington) at the time on my $1,100 a month stipend. That went so far in Pullman. I could get as much Taco Del Mar as I wanted, or I could go to Target and have a field day," disclosed Captain Klay, who eventually understood the value of interpersonal relationships and other aspects of life.
Gaining financial wisdom
There is no denying that NBA salaries have reached a whole new level today, with rookies making an affluent living, too. The sum is so significant that even Klay, who came from a well-to-do background, was surprised to see the numbers on his first check from the Warriors.
Nonetheless, he advocated the importance of non-materialistic things in life.
"I still remember the number when I saw the check. It was incredible. You try to keep it simple and not to overspend on nice things. It's not that money that made me happy. It was great to see that check, but I lived such a great life at the time," stated the five-time All-Star.
"Wealth is a mindset. If you have relationships and experiences around you, those are priceless. You know, it's better than any car you can get or any big house. It's just about those relationships to me," added Thompson, who has built a worthy investment portfolio today.
Looking at the several cases of NBA players going broke, Thompson surely got a hold of his spending habits at the right time. Not to mention, having spent many years around Silicon Valley, Thompson was drawn to the start-up culture and tech world, which helped shape the foundation of his entrepreneurial career.
Related: "I was a Warriors fan" - Cooper Flagg gushes over growing bond with Klay Thompson
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
