Richest Basketball Players in the World 2026: Top 5 Ranked

As of October 2026, Michael Jordan is the richest basketball player in the world, with a net worth reported at about $4.3 billion, based on Forbes’ 2026 figures. Magic Johnson (about $1.6 billion) and LeBron James (about $1.4 billion) follow him as the only other NBA players with billionaire status today.

Most of this wealth did not come from playing salaries. It came from shoe deals, team ownership, franchises and private investments made during and after their careers.

Figures below are estimates. Forbes and other trackers revise them as asset values change, and different outlets often give different numbers for the same player.

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Richest basketball players in 2026 at a glance

1. Michael Jordan: $4.3 billion

Michael Jordan won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, but his NBA salaries totalled only about $90 million. His fortune comes mainly from his deal with Nike, which created the Jordan Brand in 1984 and still pays him royalties on every pair sold.

In 2023, he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets at a valuation of about $3 billion, keeping a minority share. He bought into the team in 2010 for a fraction of that price.

Jordan also co-owns the NASCAR team 23XI Racing and has invested in other businesses. He became the first former NBA player to reach billionaire status, in 2014. For more on his shoes, see our list of the most expensive Air Jordans.

2. Magic Johnson: $1.6 billion

Magic Johnson won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring. He then built Magic Johnson Enterprises, which invested in cinemas, Starbucks franchises, insurance and commercial property in underserved urban areas.

He is part of the ownership groups of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Sparks, Los Angeles FC and the Washington Commanders. The Dodgers stake alone has grown sharply in value since the group bought the team in 2012.

Forbes first counted Johnson as a billionaire in 2023. 2026 estimates put his net worth at about $1.6 billion, with some reports giving a range of $1.5 to $1.6 billion.

3. LeBron James: $1.4 billion

LeBron James became the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, in 2022. His net worth was reported at about $1.4 billion in 2026, with Forbes 2026 figures cited as the source.

He has a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike and co-founded SpringHill, a film and television production company. He was an early investor in Blaze Pizza and is a partner in Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox.

LeBron also remains one of the highest earners in sport. Forbes estimated in May 2026 that he earned $137.8 million in the previous 12 months, about $85 million of it from endorsements such as DraftKings, Hennessy and Richard Mille.

4. Junior Bridgeman: $1.4 billion

Junior Bridgeman played 12 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Milwaukee Bucks, and never earned more than about $350,000 in a single season. His wealth came from business rather than basketball.

He built one of the largest franchise groups in the United States, owning hundreds of Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants. He later sold them and moved into Coca-Cola bottling and distribution. He also bought Ebony and Jet magazines in 2020 and joined the Bucks ownership group in 2024.

Forbes valued him at about $1.4 billion. Bridgeman died in March 2025 at the age of 71, so his entry reflects his wealth at the time of his death.

5. Shaquille O’Neal: $500 million

Shaquille O’Neal won four NBA titles and earned about $290 million in salary during his playing career. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his current net worth at about $500 million.

After retiring, he became a TV analyst on Inside the NBA and built a large business portfolio. He has invested in restaurants, fitness clubs, car washes and technology companies, and has a stake in Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Reebok. He was named president of Reebok Basketball in 2023.

He also founded the Big Chicken restaurant chain and has long been one of the most active celebrity endorsers in the United States.

Highest-paid NBA players in 2026

Net worth and yearly earnings are different measures. Three active NBA players were in Forbes’ list of the 10 highest-paid athletes in the world, published in May 2026.

• LeBron James: $137.8 million, fourth overall.
• Stephen Curry: $124.7 million, sixth overall, with an almost even split between salary and endorsements from brands such as Chase, Google and Rakuten.
• Kevin Durant: $103.8 million, ninth overall, playing for the Houston Rockets and owning the media company Boardroom.

Curry and Durant are not ranked above because their total net worth is not reported consistently. If their earnings continue at this level, both are likely to move up such lists in the coming years.

How we ranked these

We ranked players by estimated net worth, using Forbes figures where available and Celebrity Net Worth estimates where Forbes does not track a player. Where outlets give a range, we used the most widely reported figure. For American football, see our list of the richest NFL players.

Sources: Forbes, highest-paid athletes 2026, Sports Illustrated, NBA players who became billionaires, Legit.ng, richest male athletes 2026, Bleacher Report.