REVEALED: Richest NBA Star In The US, By State

With the recent announcement of LeBron James becoming a billionaire, OnlineGambling.ca maps out the richest NBA players by Net Worth, past and present, from every state in the US.

Key Findings Include:

• Michael Jordan (born in New York) is the richest NHL player in the world, with an eye-watering Net Worth of $2.2 billion!
• The five players with the highest net worth on our map were all born in states in the northwest of the USA. 
• LeBron James (born in Ohio) is the richest active American NBA player and the second richest American player overall, with a huge Net Worth of $1 billion.

Who Is the Wealthiest NBA Player From Your State?

The NBA generates huge amounts of revenue through its global profile and the massive number of fans who follow its teams.

That, in turn, ensures teams can pay astronomical sums to the best players – who add significantly to their earnings through commercial opportunities.

So, who are the biggest earners of all time? And which states have produced the wealthiest stars? We carried out research to identify the richest NBA players by US state in 2022.

The Top 10 Richest NBA Players

1) Michael Jordan

It’s no surprise at all to find the man commonly regarded as ‘the greatest of all time’ at the top of this list. Jordan never liked to finish second, and his competitive drive empowered ‘His Airness’ to inspire the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s. During his career, he was paid more than $90million – but that figure was dwarfed by his huge commercial deals. Since retiring, his immense marketability has kept him in demand, and his financial worth has continued to grow.

2) LeBron James

Few players come close to comparison with Jordan when hoops fans get together to discuss the greatest of all time – but James is one of them. In a career dating back to 2003, King James has won four NBA championships with three different teams: the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and LA Lakers.

He has an impressive array of endorsements away from the court and invests in areas such as film production, nutritional supplements, and drinks brands.

3) Junior Bridgeman

Bridgeman enjoyed a 12-year career with the Milwaukee Bucks and the LA Clippers between 1975 and 1987. However, his presence so high at this table owes much more to the entrepreneurial flair he has displayed since hanging up his sneakers. Bridgeman invested in the Wendy’s franchise and went on to own more than 100 fast food outlets.

More recently, he moved into publishing and bought the magazines Ebony and Jet.

4) Magic Johnson

Even while he was becoming the dominant figure in basketball, leading the LA Lakers to five NBA championships, Johnson had an eye for business.

Since retiring, his Magic Johnson Enterprises conglomerate has been successful in a wide range of commercial sectors. He has also invested in sports franchise ownership, including teams in baseball, basketball, and soccer.

5) Shaquille O’Neal

During a 20-year NBA career, Shaq cast a long shadow over the game – as you would expect from a man who stands 7ft 1in. He won four NBA titles with the LA Lakers and Miami Heat, and has released four rap albums, and appeared in several movies.

His wide-ranging business interests include ventures in real estate, fast food, and tech start-ups.

6) Grant Hill

Hill was a seven-time NBA All-Star player who represented four teams – the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and LA Clippers – over 19 seasons in the big league.

He has developed a high media profile since working in sports broadcasting and appearing in several ad campaigns. He was part of a consortium that bought the Atlanta Hawks in 2015.

7) David Robinson

Known as ‘The Admiral’ because of his service in the US Navy, Robinson played for the San Antonio Spurs for 15 seasons, winning two NBA championships.

He is one of only six players to score more than 70 points in a game, a feat he achieved against the LA Clippers in 1994. Following his retirement, he helped to set up the Admiral Capital Group, a private equity company.

8) Kevin Durant

Durant’s NBA career began in Seattle in 2007 and is still going strong with the Brooklyn Nets. It included a four-year spell with the Golden State Warriors, during which he won two NBA championships.

One of the most high-profile current players, he tops up his lavish earnings with major endorsement deals, including contracts with Foot Locker and Nike.

9) Russell Westbrook

Since 2008, Westbrook has played for four NBA teams – the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, and LA Lakers – and piled up nine All-Star appearances.

His endorsements include a 10-year deal with the Jordan Brand – the largest given to any athlete sponsored by the group. He’s also backed by clothing manufacturers and soft drink brands.

10) Dwayne Wade

Wade grew up in Chicago idolizing Michael Jordan. During a long career in the NBA, during which he won three NBA championships with the Miami Heat, he was selected by his idol to promote the Jordan Brand.

Wade enjoyed a high profile off the court, and his numerous endorsements included energy drinks, cellphones, and automobile manufacturers.

Top 10 Richest NBA Players Stats:

Methodology

To create the list of the richest players by state, we pulled together the players who earned the most money in their careers at spotrac.com.

Once this was done, their place of birth was searched, and the ranking was built.

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