The 20 Richest NBA Players of All-Time

Basketball is one of the most popular sports here in America and the professional NBA players are some of the wealthiest among our sports players. The National Basketball Association has produced some big names in the sport, with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson probably being the two most recognized names of all-time. NBA players come in all shapes, sizes and with variable degrees of talent, but one thing is for sure, the top 20 players in the history of the sport, have created a substantial net worth that the rest of us can only dream of. If you have ever wondered who rank in the leaderboards for being on top in basketball when it comes to wealth, keep reading to find out who the top 20 richest NBA players of all-time are.

20. Amare Stoudemire – $95 Million

Born in 1982, the 6 foot, 10 inches tall, Amare Stoudemire, and played basketball for the Phoenix Suns, New York Nicks earlier in his career before ending his NBA journey with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat as his last two teams that he would play with. Stoudemire is one of the top players in the NBA, despite his ongoing battles he had with knee injuries. He created quite a nice net worth for himself during his career, not only from his basketball career, but outside ventures. He has had roles in television, movies, started a record label, called Hypocalypto. He has also created a clothing line, and signed with Scholastic Books to write a series of children’s books. His net worth is $95 million and he is one of the richest NBA players of all-time.

19. Steve Nash – $95 Million

Steve Nash has retired from the NBA, but he had quite a career with the organization during his career. He is an eight-time NBA All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection. While playing for the Phoenix Suns, Nash was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) and since retiring, he has been acting as general manager for the Canadian National Team. He has a substantial net worth of $95 million.

18. Tony Parker – $97 Million

Tony Parker is a four-time NBA Championship holder, and is the point guarder for the San Antonio Spurs. He is regarded as one of the best point guarders in the NBA and has made a substantial amount of money for his contribution to the game and the team. He has a net worth of $97 million and has acquired title after title to earn it. Parker is considered the Michael Jordan in France and along with his BB skill, he has many endorsements in both France and the US that have contributed to his total net worth.

17. Dwight Howard – $100 Million

Dwight Howard is a Rockets player for the NBA and is still a young guy, barely his thirties now, but despite his young age, his net worth is quite an impressive figure at a $100 million. His NBA career includes being a top player for rebounds, blocks, high field goal percentages and free throws. Howard has many records to his name and is a three-time Defensive Player winner, an eight-time NBA All-Star.

16. Ray Allen – $100 Million

Former NBA player, Ray Allen, played for 18 seasons with the organization, playing for the Seattle Supersonics, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks during his career. He is known for having one of the most accurate three-point shots as well is a top free-throw shooter. He has an Olympic gold medal to his name and is a ten-time NBA All-Star. His net worth is built on his incredible skill in the game, which has made him a sought-after player by many teams, as well as his two feature films he played in, including a main role in the Spike Lee movie, He Got Game. His net worth is an incredible $100 million dollars.

15. Chris Bosh – $105 Million

Chris Bosh joined the Miami Heat after LeBron left and has taken over the role as the player with “game” that fans quickly favored. He attained a $118 million dollar contract with the team for a five year contract, which plays a major role in his $105 million net worth. He is a five-time All-Star winner and was named to the All-NBA Star second team and won the gold medal for the US Olympics in 2008.

14. Dwayne Wade – $110 Million

Dwayne Wade plays for the Chicago Bull and has become one of the most recognized names and most popular players in the NBA. He was named to the All-Rookie team, as well as the All-Star team after his twelfth season playing for the NBA. His NBA jerseys were the top selling jerseys for two years from 2005-2007 and he led the US men’s BB team to the gold at the 2008 Olympics. His incredible skill has earned him a top player status and a net worth of $110 million.

13. Dirk Nowitzki – $120 Million

The German-born NBA player, Dirk Nowitzki, plays for the Dallas Mavericks and is the only foreign-born NBA player to have the highest-score record, scoring over 30,000 points in a regular season, and is one of only seven players who made a 50-40-90 season back in 2007. Another milestone he made, was to be the very first Maverick player to be voted onto an All-NBA Team. He is also a Maverick record holder, achieving several all-time Maverick franchise records. He has an impressive net worth of $120 million.

12. Yao Ming – $120 Million

Yao Ming is now retired, but he is still remembered well as one of the most impressive NBA players. Ming is of Chinese decent and played for the US NBA team Houston Rockets after making first draft pick back in the 2002 draft. He has accomplished a lot in his NBA career, making the NBA playoffs four times and had a victory win in 2009 in a first-round playoff series. He was such a popular player that his many sponsorships helped him build a $120 million net worth throughout his career.

11. Gary Payton – $120 Million

Is a retired NBA player who had a 13 year season with the Seattle Supersonics where he played as point guard. Payton holds the team’s record as far as points, and steals. Although his longest time was spent on the Supersonics, he has also played for the Milwaukee bucks, the Boston Celtics, the Miami Heat, and the LA Lakers. His amazing defense skills earned him the nickname, “The Glove,” and he has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. His amazing NBA career earned him a $120 million dollar net worth.

10. Carmelo Anthony – $130 Million

Since Carmelo Anthony entered the NBA draft, he’s been named All-Star ten times and named to an All-NBA Team six times. He led the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs every single year from 2004-2010 ad won two division titles during those years. Anthony has also been a member of the USA Olympic basketball team four times, which is record breaking and has taken home a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics, ass well as a gold, in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 summer Olympics. Anthony has earned a net worth of $130 million during his career.

9. Tim Duncan – $150 Million

Duncan is a retired NBA player who has been considered to be the greatest “power forward” in NBA history. During his career with the NBA, Duncan has achieved becoming a five-time NBA Champion, a three-time Finals MVP, NBA MVP, and is a 15-time NBA All-Star. He holds a record of being the only player to be selected to both the All-Defensive Teams and the All-NBA in every one of his first 13 seasons he played for the NBA. Anthony holds many awards, including the John Wooden and USBWA College player of the year. His net worth is $150 million dollars.

8. Grant Hill – $180 Million

Grant Hill is now retired, but his professional career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), included playing for the LA Clippers, the Orlando Magic, the Phoenix Suns, and the Detroit Pistons. He played college basketball for Duke University and was a two-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA champion. He’s been regarded as one of the best all-around players in basketball history, and often led his teams in number of points scored, assists, and rebounds during his college days. He announced his retirement from the NBA and the sport in 2013 and retired with a $180 million dollar net worth.

7. Kevin Garnett – $180 Million

Former American NBA player, Kevin Garnett, played the power forward and center positions for 21 full seasons with the NBA. He was part of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise and led the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2004. He also won the MVP award and was named to 15 All-Star Games during his career. In 2007-08, Garnett was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and holds several records for the Timberwolves franchise. He has a net worth of $180 million and left quite a legacy behind when he retired in 2016.

6. Hakeem Olajuwon – $200 Million

The Nigerian-American NBA player Akeem Olajuwon is a former player for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. He has led quite a career and has a net worth of $200 million for his outstanding skill and talent in the game. He was nicknamed “The Dream,” for his effortless dunking ability and has been inducted into two Halls of Fame, the FIBA Hall of Fame, in 2016, and the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. In 1986, Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson combined their efforts to lead the Rockets to the NBA finals and the two were dubbed, The Twin Towers during the game. Olajuwon was truly the Rockets’ lead player and he is still regarded as one of the best NBA players of all-time.

5. Kobe Bryant – $260 Million

Kobe Bryant is now retired, but his previous years with the NBA spanned 20 years and his career salaries along with his business ventures and sponsorships have earned him an impressive $260 million dollar net worth. He is an 18-time All-Star, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. Bryant ranks third in the NBA’s ranking for high scores in a regular season and holds the record for the most seasons to ever be played with one franchise, the Lakers. He led the team to the championships two seasons in a row, in 2009 and 2010 before retiring after the 2015-2016 season.

4. Lebron James – $270 Million

Lebron James was a player for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA and has achieved great things while playing for the franchise. He won three NBA Championships and earned four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards. He has also had two Olympic gold medals, was given three NBA Finals MVP Awards, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Bryant was a very popular player in the NBA and had many endorsements during his career. The endorsements along with his NBA salaries and TV appearances helped him achieve a net worth of $270 million. He is still recognized as one of the best, most influential players of any athlete.

3. Shaquille O’Neal – $350 Million

Shaquille O’Neal, or Shaq, was a former NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic, and the Miami Heat. He was one of the largest players, weighing 325 lbs and stood 7 ft 1 in tall. He ranked number 7 for, all-time in points scored and 5th in goals. He has had three Finals MVP awards and made two scoring titles. Only three players have ever made NBA MVP, and Shaq is one. O’Neal was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, and he can still be seen in TV commercials, as well as he has made appearances in TV shows and feature films. He had numerous endorsements that also played a big role in his $350 million dollar net worth.

2. Magic Johnson – $500 Million

One of the most famous names in the NBA, Magic Johnson played point guard for the LA Lakers for 13 full seasons and made a $500 million net worth career for himself. He is a player who has won many awards and holds several records with the NBA. He was the 1979 NBA draft, overall first pick by the Lakers and has the NBA Finals MVP award to his name along with 3 NBA MVP Awards and nine NBA Finals. He participated in the 1992 summer Olympics and was part of the “Dream Team,” which ended up taking home the gold medal that year. Johnson contracted HIV and announced his diagnosis in 1991 when he abruptly retired from the game, and later was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. Johnson is a savvy businessman and has had many business ventures that have also propelled his wealth into the millions. He has a net worth of $500 million dollars.

1. Michael Jordan – $1 Billion

If you don’t know who Michael Jordan is, you haven’t paid attention to much around you. The name Michael Jordan is all-around, from basketball to television, movies, clothing and shoes. He is the most popular name in NBA history and sits at the top of the list for being the most wealthy player of all-time with a net worth of $1 billion dollars. His career was spent playing for the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards and is the greatest basketball player in the history of the NBA. He goes by the nicknames, Air Jordan and His Airness, due to the height he can get in his leaps during slam dunks from the free-throw line. Outside of basketball, Jordan created an enormous wealth in his basketball sneaker line, with some of his sneakers selling for thousands of dollars. Many of Jordan’s sneakers sit in museums today. Jordan is a true basketball legend and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame twice.