Who is the richest retired NBA player?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

The undisputed richest retired basketball player in history is Michael Jordan, whose staggering financial empire places him in an elite class of global business tycoons and sports billionaires. While Michael Jordan earned roughly $93 million in total salary across his legendary 15-season playing career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, his post-retirement business ventures generated an immense fortune, pushing his estimated net worth well past $3.5 billion. The cornerstone of his wealth is his historic partnership with Nike for the Jordan Brand, which continues to generate billions in annual revenue and yields massive annual royalty payments to Jordan himself. Furthermore, his savvy business investments, including his former majority ownership of the Charlotte Hornets basketball franchise—which he successfully sold at a massive multi-billion-dollar valuation—alongside co-ownership ventures in professional racing and tequila brands, cement his status as the wealthiest retired athlete in the world.

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