When Michael Jordan signed his first NBA contract, his annual salary was just $550,000. Today, players find themselves in a financial arena similar to the high-stakes allure of casino bd olymp, where fortune favors bold moves both on and off the court. Jordan’s net worth has since soared past $3 billion, while even the NBA’s rookie minimum salary now surpasses $1 million. So, how did these players build their wealth, and who belongs to the elite club of the richest players of all time?
Any conversation about big money in basketball starts with Michael Jordan. But did you know he earned most of his fortune after retiring? The Jordan Brand brings him over $100 million annually – more than he earned during his entire NBA career. The recent sale of the Charlotte Hornets added another billion to his account.
Jordan created a new model of sports business. His investment portfolio includes an exclusive golf club, a stake in DraftKings betting company, and even a NASCAR racing team. Not bad for someone who was once just known as a talented kid who could jump high.
“I want to be the first athlete-billionaire,” declared 18-year-old LeBron James in his first Sports Illustrated interview. In 2024, his net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion. Promise kept.
How is the King’s financial empire structured? His Lakers contract ($47.6M per season) is just the beginning. A lifetime deal with Nike will bring him over a billion. Blaze Pizza chain, where he invested $1 million, is now worth $40 million. His SpringHill media company produces content for Netflix and HBO.
Magic Johnson proved that life after basketball could be equally successful. He transformed his popularity into a genuine business empire: from Starbucks cafes to movie theaters. Today, Magic Johnson Enterprises is valued at a billion dollars.
“I always said that money earned in basketball is just a ticket to big business,” Magic likes to repeat. He knows what he’s talking about: his real estate investments have brought in more than all his basketball contracts combined.
Junior Bridgeman’s story ($600M) shows you don’t need to be a superstar to build wealth. After retiring, he turned modest savings into a fast-food empire.
Today, he operates 280 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants. His company, Bridgeman Foods, has become one of Coca-Cola’s largest bottlers. Annual revenue? Over half a billion dollars.
In the 2023/24 season, Stephen Curry became the first NBA player to cross the $50M per season mark. His Under Armour contract adds another $20M annually.
Here’s how the league’s top earners stack up this season:
| Player | NBA Contract | Endorsements & Business | Total Income |
| LeBron James | $47.6M | $80M | $127.6M |
| Stephen Curry | $51.9M | $50M | $101.9M |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | $45.6M | $45M | $90.6M |
| Kevin Durant | $47.6M | $42M | $88.4M |
Modern NBA stars earn huge money from shoe endorsements:
The NBA continues to grow. New TV contracts, streaming development, and sports betting partnerships bring billions to the league. Next year’s expected TV deal could double team revenues.
Modern stars actively invest in:
Already 28 players in the league earn over $35M per season, and this number will only grow. It seems we’ll see more basketball billionaires emerging in the coming years.
P.S. Interesting fact: Today’s NBA minimum rookie salary ($1.1M) exceeds Michael Jordan’s first contract even adjusted for inflation. Times have truly changed.
