RICHEST NBA PLAYERS OF ALL TIME

These ballers have made BANK.

The NBA’s popularity is at an all-time high, and with it, basketball players are making more money than ever.

While some are earning their paychecks, putting up big numbers each night, others cash in on the league’s sweet guaranteed contract money. This doesn’t even factor in all the money players make from endorsements. And of course, with this money comes the purchasing power to buy some truly luxurious things.

Kobe Bryant was handed the largest contract ever when the Lakers extended him in 2004. The deal, seven years, $136,400,000, remains the most paid out to a single player. However despite this mega-deal Kobe does not top our list of the richest NBA players. See where he clocks in below.

10. Gary Payton | $130 million

Gary Payton is the only recipient of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for a point guard and the 10th richest player in NBA history.  

9. Tim Duncan | $150 million

Tim Duncan only started playing basketball when he was freshman in high school and he perfected the skills and eventually became the best power forward of all time.

8. Kevin Garnett | $180 million

Kevin Garnett was the first NBA player ever to be drafted out of high school. Currently, 38-year-old makes $10 million annually from his various endorsements.  

7. Grant Hill | $180 million

Although Grant Hill has retired for quite a while, he still makes plenty of money annually from his endorsements.  

6. Hakeem Olajuwon | $200 million

Hakeem Olajuwon has retired for 12 years now yet he remains one of the wealthiest NBA players. Several endorsements bring him millions every year.  

5. Kobe Bryant | $270 million

Kobe Bryant grew up from a family of basketball players and despite his good school standing; he skipped college and went to pro right away. At 35, he is already aging but he remains one of the highest paid NBA players.  

4. LeBron James | $270 million

LeBron James is arguably the most famous basketball player today but in the NBA standards, the 29-year-old NBA superstar is still a baby. He has a couple of endorsements that bring him $53 million annually.  

3. Shaquille O'Neal | $350 million

Shaquille O'Neal retired from NBA several years ago but he still brings home millions of dollars from sports brands and vehicle endorsements. He also appeared in a number of TV commercials and movies.  

2. Magic Johnson | $500 million

Magic Johnson is one of the most famous NBA players of all time and also one of the wealthiest at $500 net worth. He played in one of the biggest basketball rivalries against Larry Bird in the 1979 NCAA finals, which was also the most watched basketball game on TV.  He then went on to win multiple championships with the Lakers, MVP awards, and will go down as one of the best point guards to ever play the game.

1. Michael Jordan | $1 billion

Michael Jordan's $1 billion net worth makes him the richest NBA player of all time. MJ has already retired for more than a decade but his constant endorsements and businesses bring in approximately $100 million per year. He reach the billion dollar mark in 2014 after increasing his ownership in the Charlotte Hornets to almost 90%.Let’s see if he can be as successful as an executive as he was a player.  The jury is still out.