Top 10 Richest NBA Players in the World
Basketball pays enormous salaries and, for a handful of players, far more in endorsements.
Last reviewed: Read our methodology
The ranking at a glance
The top three in this ranking, based on our dated estimates.
The richest nba players in the world
- 1
Michael JordanNike royalties, Charlotte Hornets sale · Nov 3, 2026$3.6B - 2
Magic JohnsonEquity stakes, insurance, sports ownership · Nov 3, 2026$1.6B - 3
Junior BridgemanWendy’s franchises, Coca-Cola bottling, Bucks stake · Nov 3, 2026$1.5B - 4
LeBron JamesNBA salary, Nike lifetime deal, SpringHill · Nov 3, 2026$850M - 5
Kobe BryantNBA earnings, endorsements and the BodyArmor stake · Nov 5, 2026$600M - 6
Shaquille O'NealNBA earnings and endorsements · Nov 5, 2026$500M - 7
Kevin DurantNBA salary and endorsements · Nov 5, 2026$300M - 8
Stephen CurryNBA salary and Under Armour · Nov 5, 2026$240M - 9
Dwyane WadeNBA earnings and a Jazz ownership stake · Nov 5, 2026$170M - 10
James HardenNBA salary and endorsements · Nov 5, 2026$165M
| Rank | Person | Estimated net worth | Main wealth source | Estimate date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.6B | Nike royalties, Charlotte Hornets sale | ||
| 2 | $1.6B | Equity stakes, insurance, sports ownership | ||
| 3 | $1.5B | Wendy’s franchises, Coca-Cola bottling, Bucks stake | ||
| 4 | $850M | NBA salary, Nike lifetime deal, SpringHill | ||
| 5 | $600M | NBA earnings, endorsements and the BodyArmor stake | ||
| 6 | $500M | NBA earnings and endorsements | ||
| 7 | $300M | NBA salary and endorsements | ||
| 8 | $240M | NBA salary and Under Armour | ||
| 9 | $170M | NBA earnings and a Jazz ownership stake | ||
| 10 | $165M | NBA salary and endorsements |
Behind the fortunes
A closer look at each name on this list: how the money was made and where it sits today.
1. Michael Jordan
$3.6BJordan's fortune comes mostly from a 1984 Nike contract that pays him a percentage of Jordan Brand sales, not a fixed fee. This profile separates the royalty stream from the Hornets sale, his remaining minority stake and his racing team.
View Michael Jordan's profile2. Magic Johnson
$1.6BMagic Johnson built $1.6 billion in business after retiring. This profile explains the Lakers stake, the Dodgers ownership group and the insurance company behind the estimate.
View Magic Johnson's profile3. Junior Bridgeman
$1.5BJunior Bridgeman is the clearest case of an athlete who built a fortune after sport. This profile explains the franchise network, the bottling business and the Bucks stake behind his $1.5 billion estate.
View Junior Bridgeman's profile4. LeBron James
$850MLeBron James's fortune is built on a lifetime Nike agreement and ownership rather than salary. This profile sets out the documented contracts and the private valuations behind it.
View LeBron James's profile5. Kobe Bryant
$600MKobe Bryant’s $600 million figure is the worth of the estate he left in January 2020, not a living fortune. This profile follows the Lakers contracts, the Bodyarmor stake that paid out in 2021, Granity Studios and the family trust that holds what is left.
View Kobe Bryant's profile6. Shaquille O'Neal
$500MO'Neal earned his basketball money at the top of the market for his era, then turned it into private equity. This profile separates the contracts from the Google stake, the Authentic Brands position and the restaurant franchises that carry the estimate.
View Shaquille O'Neal's profile7. Kevin Durant
$300MKevin Durant’s $300 million figure rests on documented basketball salary, an unpublished lifetime Nike contract and a private investment portfolio. This profile separates what the contracts show from what the valuations only suggest.
View Kevin Durant's profile8. Stephen Curry
$240MCurry changed the sport and was paid for it twice, through the largest contracts of his era and through a brand he runs but does not own. This profile separates the documented salary from the reported Under Armour money.
View Stephen Curry's profile9. Dwyane Wade
$170MA three time champion who never signed a maximum contract. This profile explains how the shoe deal and team ownership made up the difference, and what is actually documented.
View Dwyane Wade's profile10. James Harden
$165MHe reached the top of the salary market twice and gave some of it back once. This profile separates his contracts from his endorsements and his minority stakes.
View James Harden's profile
How this list is compiled
Every entry is pulled from our shared profile dataset and sorted by estimated net worth in US dollars. Each estimate adds up documented assets, such as reported contracts, endorsement income, company stakes and property, and subtracts known debts. These are editorial estimates, not financial advice.
Read our methodology