Founded in 1946, the NBA has been churning out some of basketball's most recognizable and talented players in the game. The league is comprised of 30 of the United States' very best teams.
In more recent decades, MVP's on the court becomes more than just successful sportsmen, they're superstars who marry some of the world's most beautiful women, gain access to elite spaces and experiences, and make more money than most people could ever fathom. We're taking an exclusive look into the lives, wives, bank accounts, and lifestyles of the richest players in the NBA.
Brazilian Star - Nene - $45 Million.
Brazil is more commonly known for its exports of catwalk-strutting supermodels, but the country has also gifted basketball with a super-talent. Born in 1982 as Maybyner Rodney Hilario, the player found fame known simply as Nene.
The center forged an internationally-recognized name for himself after he joined the Washington Wizards in 2012. Nene suffered a cancer scare in 2008. He credits the support of his wife, Lauren, and his church for getting through the ordeal and back on to the court. Nene currently has a net worth of $45 million.
Stronger Together
The lucky lady who managed to woo the Brazilian basketballer, Nene, is Lauren Prothe. The ex-volleyball player is 6 "1 with a deep love for all things sport. The pair have faced numerous life's trying challenges together.
Nene's testicular tumor removal strangely coincided with a cancer scare of Lauren's own; she had a benign tumor surgically removed from her brain. Today, the couple is in good health and good spirits. The pair are parents to their nine-year-old son, Mateo.
Mash It Up - Jamal Mashburn - $50 Million.
For 12 seasons, Jamal Mashburn dominated the US courts and earned himself a worldwide reputation as the small forward to watch. His high-scoring prowess won him the nickname, Monster Mash.
In spite of his sustained dominance, Mash decided to retire from basketball in 2006 with staggering career averages of 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. At the time of his retirement, Mash had a net worth of $45 million but has since amassed a fortune by owning over 90 businesses, and currently his net worth is $50 Million.
Big Split
Like many high-profile celebrities, Mashburn has always made an effort to keep his private life away from the scrutiny that comes with living in the public eye. After a whirlwind romance, Mash married his wife Michelle in 2000.
For seventeen years, the pair took on growing a family and an empire beyond Mash's basketball career. The co-entrepreneurs' businesses may have flourished, but their personal life took a downward turn. Michelle filed for divorce in 2017. Mash is currently raking in the big bucks and happily single.
Pip at the Top - Scottie Pippen - $50 million
Few basketball fans on the planet have not heard the name 'Scottie Pippen.' The NBA legend played 17 seasons in the league, winning six NBA championships with one of the world's most loved sport's teams, the Chicago Bulls.
Pippen, along with icon Michael Jordan, has long been credited for his role in transforming the Bulls into a championship team. Pippen retired from his record-breaking career in 2008. Pip's current net worth is valued at an estimated $50 million.
Lady's Man
At the height of his stardom, Pippen was known to be as successful with the ladies as he was on the court. The legend has been married twice, first to Karen McCollum, and then to Larsa Younan.
Larsa starred in the original season of The Real Housewives of Miami, relishing her time in the spotlight as Pippen's right-hand lady. Despite having had four children together, Larsa and Pip decided to call it quit in 2018.
Big Bird - Larry Bird - $55 million.
Born December 7, 1956, Larry Joe Bird found his passion for basketball early. He used his time in the locker room and on the court as a way to escape his home troubles.
After a successful college career, Bird went pro in 1978 and went on to have a truly outstanding career. In 1999, Bird ranked No. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. Today, Bird has an estimated worth of $55 million.
Second Time's the Charm
It's surprising that Bird still had time to have a personal life with all he did for the game. Bird remains the sole basketballer to have been crowned MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
He has been married twice. He first got hitched to Janet Condra in 1975. Amidst his divorce proceedings in 1989, Bird met and fell in love with Dinah Mattingly. The pair tied the knot that same year and have been together ever since.
Dragon of the East - Stephon Marbury - $60 million
Born in 1977, Stephon Xavier Marbury made his big move from the East, playing for the Chinese Basketball Association, to the NBA, in the 1996 draft. Marbury dominated the league from 1996 to 2009 as a member of the New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics.
He finished off a sterling career by returning to his roots and playing for Beijing-based teams until his retirement in 2018. He managed to rack up a cool $60 million net worth before making a name for himself as a coach.
Sassy Sidekick
Beyond the basketball court, Marbury also made it big in the fashion and pop culture game. The woman who has stood beside the baller is LaTasha Marbury. The pair met and subsequently married back in 1999.
Tasha has become a star in her own right, becoming a favorite fan feature on VH1's reality series, Basketball Wives. The couple is still going strong while parenting their two kids, Xaviera Marbury and Stephon Marbury II.
The Next Jordan - Jerry Stackhouse - $60 million.
Ex-shooting guard and small forward Jerry Stackhouse was at the top of the game for 18 long and successful years. Getting his start in 1995, Stackhouse was soon considered one of the big boys of the NBA, initially touted by the media and fans as 'The Next Jordan,' Stackhouse retired from the game in 2012.
Following his retirement, Stackhouse worked as a Fox Sports analyst and has been coaching since 2015. His net worth reportedly totals at a cool $60 million.
Long Time Love
Long before he hit the big time, Stackhouse hit the jackpot by finding someone he loved just as much as the game. Stackhouse married his longtime love, Ramirra Marks, on Christmas Eve back in 2000, and the couple has kept things on point for the last two decades.
Marks was once offered a spot on the reality TV show Basketball Wives but turned down the offer saying she believed the show 'lacked depth.' The happily married pair have three beautiful children together.
The Baron - Baron Davis - $60 million.
Baron Davis is known for many things, one of which being that he was crowned an NBA All-Star - twice! At the very height of his career, Davis signed a contract for the Los Angeles Clippers back in 2008 that was worth a staggering $65 million.
After a severe knee injury, the basketballer's career dwindled. Today, Davis works as a regular studio analyst for The NBA on TNT and continues to take care of the bucks he accumulated; he has a net worth of $60 million.
Looking For Love
In 2014, Davis headed down the wedding aisle with Isabella Brewster. The American-Brazilian is the sister of the Fast and the furious actress, Jordana Brewster.
The pair had two children together, but in spite of having begun what looked like a happy family, the couple filed for divorce after only three years of marriage. Davis was rumored to have dated actress Laura Dern back in 2017, but as far as we know, the All-Star is still looking for new love.
Good Mourning - Alonzo Mourning - $70 million.
For fifteen years, Alonzo Mourning was a regular and much-loved member of the Miami Heat. Nicknamed Zo, the center was such a consistent performer that he became the team's very first player to have their number withdrawn.
After undergoing a kidney transplant, Zo made a courageous comeback and went on to win the 2006 NBA championship with the Heat. Mourning retired in 2009, sharing, "At 38, I feel like I've physically done all I can for this game. The star has a net worth of $70 million.
Shock Split
Alonzo and his wife Tracy married in 1997. Over their many years together, the pair have done a truly inspirational amount of philanthropic work for underprivileged people and communities.
Beyond their dedication to charity work, the pair also share three children together. After 22 years of marriage, fans were shocked when the couple announced their separation in 2017. Mourning has since been spotted with numerous mystery women but remains single.
Flying High - Amare Stoudemire - Around $80 million.
Amare Stoudemire first made waves playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League and the EuroLeague. By 2003, he became a household name after having won the NBA Rookie of the Year award following his success in America.
With a salary of $22 million and endorsements worth a whole lot more, Stoudemire was named by Forbes, the 44th-best-paid athlete in the world in 2015. His net worth reportedly somewhere between $70 and $80 million.
Rocked by Scandal
Stoudemire began dating Alexis Welch in 2002 but held off making it official until 2012. The couple share four beautiful kids together, Ar' e. Amar' e Jr., Assata, and their youngest son, Alijah, who was born in 2013.
The scandal rocked the couple in 2017 when it was revealed that Stoudemire had fathered a love child with a Florida woman named Quynn Lovett. Sadly, the marriage couldn't survive the scandal and media scrutiny. Their separation was announced in 2019.
Best in the Game - Karl Malone - $75 million.
Karl Anthony Malone, otherwise fondly known as The Mailman, spent his first 18 seasons in the NBA with the Utah Jazz alongside his teammate, John Stockton. Malone is a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 14-time NBA All-Star, and an 11-time member of the All-NBA first team.
His focus shifted from playing to coaching following his retirement from the league in 2004. His superb talent has earned him his much-deserved millions, he has a reported net worth of $75 million.
Through It All
It was love at first sight for Malone when he first met 1988's Miss Idaho USA pageant winner Kay Kinsey. The pair met at an autograph signing and soon became inseparable. The relationship has not come without its challenges.
Malone has been a defendant in paternity lawsuits, one of which concluded in him accepting his fathering of a pair of twins. Kinsey and Malone have successfully stuck it out, they remain together and committed parents to their four kids.
Record-Breaking Contract - Juwan Howard - $80 million.
A one-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA power forward, Juwan Howard began his career in 1994. Howard enjoyed a 19-year run on the court, becoming the NBA's first player to be offered a $100 million contract.
He ended his professional playing career in 2013 before moving on to coaching. He was most recently named Men's Basketball Head Coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team in 2019, signing a five-year contract with the team. He has amassed a fortune of $80 million.
Settling Down
Like so many of the major players in the sports world, Howard has managed to earn himself a reputation when it comes to the ladies. The basketballer has six children with four different women.
After spending his twenties as a free-roaming bachelor, Howard finally settled down after meeting Jenine Wardley. Howard tied the knot with his love in an extravagant ceremony on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the summer of 2001. The pair are committed to numerous charitable foundations.
The Steph Effect - Stephen Curry - $130 million.
A six-time NBA All-Star, Stephen Curry has been named the NBA MVP twice and has won three NBA championships. Players, analysts, and awestruck fans have hailed Curry as the greatest shooter in NBA history.
His success and finesse have said to have inspired a revolution on the court, with many embracing his signature three-point shooting style. Curry stands as one of the most successful, celebrated and recognized players in the NBA. His growing net worth currently stands at a whopping $130 million.
End Game
In 2011, Curry married his longtime girlfriend, Ayesha Alexander. Ayesha has experienced her own success, the Canadian-American is an actress, celebrity cook, cookbook author, and television personality.
Stephen and Ayesha met at the respective ages of 15 and 14 through their local church group. Curry has always been outspoken about his dedication and gratitude to his Christian faith, saying, "People should know who I represent and why I am who I am, and that's because of my Lord and Savior."
The Admiral - David Robinson - $200 million.
Born in 1965, David Maurice Robinson spent the entirety of his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs. Based on his time formerly spent serving as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson was dubbed 'The Admiral.'
Robinson is a 10-time NBA All-Star, the 1995 NBA MVP, a two-time NBA champion as well as a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner. His stupendous career earned him a fortune; he is said to be worth approximately $200 million.
Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson
Robinson has always managed to keep his eye on the ball and his private affairs in order and free of public scandal. The center married his beloved wife, Valerie Hoggatt, in 1991.
The couple have three sons together, David Jr., Corey, and Justin. Each of the Robinson boys have gone on to have their own success in the sporting world. The couple are also proud Christians who have contributed greatly to charities offering opportunities to inner-city kids.
The One and Only - Michael Jordan - $2,1 billion.
There are few sportspeople in the history of the planet that have had quite the same cultural impact as Michael Jordan. The legend played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls.
MJ's biography on the official NBA website simply states: "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." Beyond his sporting capacity, Jordan is also one of the sport's most recognized and well-marketed athletes in history. As of 2020, Jordan is worth an astounding $2,1 billion.
Love and the Legend
Michael Jordan was husband to Juanita Vanoy from 1989 until their divorce in 2006. Following the amicable split, Juanita received a $168 million settlement making it the largest celebrity divorce settlement on public record at the time.
The icon has since appeared to have found long-lasting marital happiness with the gorgeous Cuban-American model, Yvette Prieto. The pair married in a lavish ceremony in 2013 and are now the proud parents to identical twin daughters named Victoria and Ysabel.
The Late Great - Kobe Bryant - Around $700 million.
A list such as this would not be complete without mention of the late, great, and sorely missed, Kobe Bean Bryant. The world lost Bryant in January of 2020 when he died in a helicopter accident alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.
Bryant will forever be remembered as one of the gentle giants of basketball. At the time of his tragic passing, the 18-time All-Star had reportedly amassed a fortune of between $600 and $700 million.
Missing Kobe
In 1999, 21-year-old Bryant met 17-year-old Vanessa Laine. The pair were lovestruck but waited until Vanessa completed high school before making their relationship public and getting married in 2001.
The pair went through a rocky patch in 2011, almost filing for divorce before withdrawing the papers and reconciling. Devastated at the loss of her husband and daughter, Vanessa shared at Bryant's funeral, 'He was my everything.' Vanessa continues to grieve the loss of Kobe while caring for the couple's remaining three children.