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Basketball is a sport that comes with a lot of fame and glory besides the courtside action that people seem to enjoy so much around the world.
With players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James setting new records and heights in the history of the game, it has since popularized around the world not only as a sport but as a religion.
Here, we have prepared an interesting piece of trivia with the list of the five richest basketball players in the world who feature in the NBA in the United States, which is the pinnacle of success any basketballer from around the globe could hope to reach.
5. Shaquille O’Neal
Starting the list at number five is Shaquille O’Neal, commonly referred to as ‘Shaq.’ Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. The seven-foot-tall giant last made his professional appearance for the Boston Celtics in 2011 before retiring.
Currently a sports analyst on the television program “Inside the NBA.” Not just prolific on the court, Shaq even has an educational doctorate from Barry University.
As of 2021, Shaquille O’Neal has an estimated net worth of $400 million, which makes him one of the richest athletes in the world.
He has investments in various companies and businesses that return him a lot of revenue. He co-owns 17 Auntie Annie’s pretzels, 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants, 150 car washes, 40 fitness centers, several nightclubs in Las Vegas, and even a shopping center and a movie theater.
Aside from that, the legend also has some stake in the NBA team Sacramento Kings.
4. LeBron James
Next on the list is Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James. James started his career with Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and has since gone on to win four NBA titles with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers.
Gaining a reputation as one of the greats of the game, Lebron James has a cult following that only seems to rise with every year he plays in an NBA shirt. Still active on the courts, James, at 35 years and 287 days old, became the second-oldest player in league history to win the championship and the only player in NBA history to win the award with three different franchises.
His net worth has been estimated at around $500 million in the recent year, and his wealth seems to accumulate mostly from his business interests and endorsement deals. He has a media production company that produces TV series that air on networks like CBS and NBC, as well as OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon.
It has been estimated that his growth is projected to make him a billionaire by the end of the year 2022.
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3. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is a retired basketball player who last appeared for
Magic Great Danes in the 2000s but was predominantly known as a Los Angeles Lakers legend who played for the franchise for more than 15 years as a point guard.
Johnson has also served as a former president of the basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. After retirement, his partnerships with Starbucks, Fridays, and 24 Hour Fitness have gained him a lot of wealth, and he also owns shares in the Lakers, Sparks, Dodgers, and also the Los Angeles Football Club.
Magic Johnson Enterprises that acts as a parent organization to various movie theaters, fast food restaurants, health clubs, and real estate, is a major source of Johnson’s wealth.
His estimated worth of $600 million is well justified given the network of business the former baller has spread out across America.
Last month he made headlines by going on a vacation around Europe on a $150 million yacht named ‘Aquila’, which he rented for $1.1 million a week. The 280 feet yacht having 7 bedrooms and a 28 member crew to serve him and his wife is enough to prove his place on the list.
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2. Junior Bridgeman
The second richest NBA player on our list is Junior Bridgeman, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks for almost a decade in NBA.
The owner of more than 100 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants around the United States, the former LA Clippers star has proven himself as a successful entrepreneur by converting his assets of $350 thousand to a multimillion-dollar empire.
Playing in the NBA for more than a decade, Bridgeman is known for buying out the Jet Magazine for $14 million last year in 2020.
He is also the President and CEO of Bridgeman Foods Inc, which, in 2017, Bridgeman became a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company and all its beverages. In 2018, he secured bottling rights for the same in Canada and has since gone on to increase his wealth significantly.
Currently estimated to have assets worth more than $600 million, the 67-year-old NBA veteran sure knows how to make a future after you’ve retired from your profession. His smart investment decisions have proven to be insightful and inspirational to youth that is seeking to make their way into the world.
1. Michael Jordan
As many of you might have already guessed, the top position of the list of the richest NBA players is occupied by none other than Michael Jordan.
Having won six NBA championship titles across his glittering career, Jordan is one of the richest athletes in the world at the moment.
The only billionaire in the list, Michael Jordan is listed by Forbes Magazine to have an estimated net worth of $1.6 Billion in 2021.
Being the owner of the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA, as well as the Nascar racing team 23XI, Jordan has turned himself into a brand that does not go unnoticed.
He also gains revenue from NIKE’s Jordan brand and has a huge influence on the market even after his retirement from the game. Apart from that, he is still active in advertisements and endorsements that only add up to his wealth.
A popular figure around the world, Jordan has also appeared in movies and TV series that take his popularity even higher.
The most decorated player in the NBA ever, he is arguably the best man to ever set foot on the court in the history of the game.
We hope you enjoyed reading through the list we prepared and also got to learn one or two things about investment opportunities and techniques these players used to multiply their wealth and be in the place that they are today.
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