40 Inspiring WNBA Players Who Are Winning Big On And Off The Court

Bria Hartley got her first taste of the WNBA at the Washington Mystics. Incredibly, the franchise brought her in right after the Seattle Storm had recruited her in 2014. Then, after playing for six other teams in as many years, she settled at the Phoenix Mercury. But all that upheaval didn’t have a knock-on effect on Hartley’s personal life. She’s since become a mom and started a clothing brand called All Hart.

Thanks to her performances during the 2020 season, Julie Allemand was ranked as the 19th best player in the WNBA on the Hashtag Basketball website. Away from the court, though, she’s just like any other young woman. And if her Instagram is anything to go by, she loves the beach!

Elena Delle Donne may be a giant on the basketball court, but she’s got an equally large presence off it, too. The Washington Mystics star is the creative mind behind the Hoops book series. Not only that, but she also runs a custom furniture business called DelleDonneDesigns. It’s a wonder she ever has time to practice those free throws!

Cementing herself as one of the most exciting prospects in the WNBA, Satou Sabally earned a spot in the AP All-Rookie side in 2020. But the Dallas Wings small forward doesn’t just have skills to spare on court. She’s got her own merch as well, and those T-shirts and hoodies are all pretty cool.

Chiney Ogwumike has certainly found ways to keep herself busy when she isn’t playing. Back in 2018, she joined ESPN as a pundit and commentator to cover NBA and WNBA games. The Los Angeles Sparks star has also worked with UNICEF to raise money for causes in Africa. As impressive as her rebounds!

Even before the WNBA, Kelsey Plum shone. As a college player for the University of Washington, she scored close to 3,400 points in NCAA Division 1 – a figure no other woman has reached. Now, the Las Vegas Aces star shares fun snaps of herself on Instagram away from the court while also working as an analyst.

As the Atlanta Dream’s center, Elizabeth Williams came 39th in the 2020 rankings on Hashtag Basketball. Not bad! When she doesn’t have a ball in her hands, though, Williams has shown a keen interest in the medical sector. According to her Instagram page, she has e-talks with physicians every week.

Jasmine Thomas is a reliable guard for the Connecticut Sun. But off the court, she boasts a real talent for baking. She actually runs a separate Instagram account called Baking Bucket, cataloging her exploits in the kitchen. And the food looks great! Donuts, cookies, muffins – you name it, Thomas has you covered.

Tina Charles has a list of accomplishments most players could only dream of. She’s been named an All-Star six times and an MVP to boot. You could argue that her greatest achievement has nothing to do with basketball, though. You see, Charles founded Hopey’s Heart Foundation, which aims to shine a light on sudden cardiac arrest.

Seimone Augustus has an uncanny ability to grab your attention whenever she takes to the court. And that carries over into her personal life, too – especially when it comes to her sneakers. You may even have noticed them yourself! Among the famous characters emblazoned on the Sparks coach’s kicks are Scrooge McDuck, the Care Bears, and the puppets of Sesame Street.

To say that A’ja Wilson enjoyed a dream debut campaign would be an understatement. She actually earned the Rookie of the Year title back in 2018. And she’s making her mark away from basketball, too. The Las Vegas Aces player started the A’ja Wilson Foundation alongside her folks to help snuff out bullying. The charity also assists dyslexic kids.

After starting for the Chicago Sky and the Dallas Wings, Katie Lou Samuelson now has a new home at the Seattle Storm. But all that traveling hasn’t stopped her from thriving off the court. Samuelson has built quite the following on social media. She also creates her own merch.

We don’t know about you, but we think Amanda Zahui B. is one of the coolest players in the WNBA today. Just look at that glorious head of hair! But when she isn’t lighting up the court for the Los Angeles Sparks, the center shares snaps of herself out and about via Instagram. And it’s all earned her 31,000 followers.

From the outside looking in, it’s hard to imagine how professional basketball players find the time to do anything else. In Monique Billings’ case, though, that’s no such problem. Alongside her career with the Atlanta Dream, she works as a pundit and a model. Oh, and she also likes to travel the globe. How does she fit it all in?!

Candice Dupree has racked up an insane amount of points over her career. She hit 6,000 in 2019 – and she’s well on her way to another thousand! But as the Seattle Storm star continues to leave her mark on the sport, her personal life is on the up as well. Dupree and her partner have twins at home, and she also has her own business in the shape of Apricot Lane Boutique.

Arike Ogunbowale enjoyed a solid season in 2020 – coming 11th in Hashtag Basketball’s WNBA rankings. Good job! But while fans of the Dallas Wings will be looking for more of that in the future, Ogunbowale has had something else to occupy her off court. Back in 2019, you see, she earned a business school diploma.

Aerial Powers has to be the coolest name in the entire sporting world. But there’s more to her beyond that and her great record in the WNBA. Outside of shooting hoops with the Minnesota Lynx, the guard also keeps herself busy as a frequent streamer on Twitch. She also represents the HyperX gaming brand as an ambassador.

On the court, Azurá Stevens is one of the brightest stars in the WNBA today. Away from the Chicago Sky, though, she’s focused on a very different field. In 2020 Stevens’ family actually opened up their own shrimp business in North Carolina. It’s called Same O Dame O’s, and the forward couldn’t have looked any prouder at the time.

Crystal Dangerfield may sound like the name of a character in an action movie, but she’s actually a solid guard in the WNBA. In 2020 her talent earned her a spot inside the top 25 of Hashtag Basketball’s rankings. Oh, and the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, of course! When she’s not on court, though, Dangerfield loves spending time with her young son and family.

Who says you can’t enjoy yourself as a professional athlete? Alanna Smith certainly makes full use of her free time away from the Phoenix Mercury. She’s apparently especially fond of going to mountains and beaches. And at one point, Smith told Pick and Roll, “I love traveling and discovering new cities and culture.” That’s someone who knows how to have fun off court!

Stefanie Dolson is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, but she may be equally fierce in judging your dress sense, too. According to the WNBA website, she once worked at Model Atelier in Chicago, Illinois. Away from that, the Chicago Sky center is also a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community.

Victoria Vivians made a real impact during her debut campaign in the WNBA, scoring more than 60 three-pointers. Impressive, right? But Vivians may already have her eye on another profession when her hooping days are done. She actually has a diploma in human development family sciences from Mississippi State.

Few players in the WNBA have tried to better themselves more than Leilani Mitchell. She’s a two-time winner of the league’s Most Improved Player prize – an accolade that no one else has achieved. And it’s doubly impressive when you consider Mitchell is a mom to a young child, too. We tip our hat to her!

Is there a more decorated female basketball player than Sue Bird? She’s got WNBA titles, gold medals from the Olympics, and a whole host of personal records to her name. But you know what? All that success hasn’t stopped Bird from giving back to the local area. The Seattle Storm stalwart has been working with kids’ charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County.

How about this for an inspiring story? After the Washington Mystics signed her in 2013, Tayler Hill welcomed a baby into the world the following summer. But within three months of that life-changing moment, she returned to the court. Amazing! Now, Hill is a free agent, and if her Instagram page is anything to go by, she’s loving life.

Sylvia Fowles is as experienced as they come, having taken to the court in Turkey, China, and Russia as well as the U.S. She’s a mainstay at the Minnesota Lynx, too. And, incredibly, Fowles has found the time to be a mom and a mortuary science student. Talk about a full plate!

Essence Carson enjoyed a hell of a run heading into 2019. She appeared in eight – yes, eight! – different play-offs over an 11-year window. Impressive, right? Mind you, the Connecticut Sun player isn’t always focused on basketball. Carson runs a record label in California, and she’s even dropped an album herself.

Unlike a lot of other players in the WNBA, Chelsea Gray can say that she’s scooped a league title. She picked up her medal in 2016 while playing for the Los Angeles Sparks. Now, Gray is part of the Las Vegas Aces, and she’s kept herself pretty busy away from the court. How? Well, she’s hosted some Instagram Live shows titled Vision Chat on social media.

Alysha Clark had quite the season in 2020 – coming 15th in the Hashtag Basketball rankings. But the Washington Mystics star is becoming well known for her humanitarian work outside the WNBA. She also runs an annual toy drive for Seattle Children’s Hospital, which first started in 2015.

Off the back of a spell as a free agent, Kayla McBride made an exciting move to the Minnesota Lynx in 2021. But that’s not the only thing she has to be happy about right now. In the spring, McBride announced that she had merch on the way. Keep your eyes open!

Nneka Ogwumike is a name you may be hearing more of in 2021. And it has nothing to do with the WNBA. You see, the Los Angeles Sparks player has voiced a character in Space Jam: A New Legacy called Arachnneka. How cool is that?

Cheyenne Parker was one of the stars of the 2020 WNBA season, playing out of her skin on the court. But her basketball skills may not be the only thing that get her noticed in the future, as she also runs a fashion website called Born Queen Boutique. Yup, you can now pick up your own Parker-approved streetwear!

As a rookie, all you want to do is get out on the court and prove yourself. Kiara Leslie certainly had that opportunity in 2019, as the Washington Mystics selected her for ten starting lineups. Not bad, right? Now she’s living life to the fullest, posting regular snaps on her Instagram page when she isn’t playing.

Angel McCoughtry is a two-time gold medal winner at the Olympics, but she isn’t resting on her laurels. Along with excelling for the Las Vegas Aces, McCoughtry is an athlete-owner at PlayersTV – an on-demand production business.

To say that Kristine Anigwe is a well-traveled player would be an understatement. Impressively, she turned out for the Connecticut Sun, the Dallas Wings and the Los Angeles Sparks over just a two-year period. That’s some run! But regardless of all the movement, Anigwe has found time to let loose in her personal life, sharing the journey on social media.

When it comes to free-throw percentages, few players bested Sabrina Ionescu in the 2020 WNBA season. But despite those great stats, she arguably got the greatest exposure she’s ever had in May 2021. That month, Ionescu appeared on a digital billboard in New York for Nike. And, unsurprisingly, she looked thrilled!

Candace Parker is one of the greats of the WNBA and boasts a career that most players could only dream of. But her work outside the sport is just as notable. The Chicago Sky star took home the 14th Annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. Pretty cool, right? Oh, and she’s an NBA pundit as well.

From WNBA titles to gold medals at the Olympics, Diana Taurasi has won it all. But is she slowing down? No chance! Taurasi was one of the top players in the league in 2020. And she’s busy off court, too. The Phoenix Mercury guard runs her own website and advertises products such as Bodyarmor on social media.

The WNBA is home to some incredibly exciting athletes, and Napheesa Collier has to be near the top of the tree. She doesn’t appear to be letting it get to her head, though. Collier’s Instagram page shows she’s just like any other glamorous young woman – posing for photos here, there, and everywhere.

Is Breanna Stewart the best female basketball player in the world today? You could certainly make that argument! Mind you, as deserving as all the praise is, you can’t forget about her work outside the sport. Stewart has ties to an organization named RAINN, which handles the national hotline for sexual assault. She’s also popped up on ESPN’s The Boardroom.

However WNBA stars perform on the court, though, they make just a fraction of their NBA counterparts. And you may see that as unfair – especially when you hear just how much cash some pro ballers have in the bank. Yep, these guys are super, super-rich, but we bet they’d trade it all in for the love of the women standing behind them.

Michael Finley enjoyed a 15-year career in the NBA, most notably winning a championship title in 2007 as the San Antonio Spurs’ small forward. Nowadays, though, he’s a film producer with credits including awards-bait movies The Birth of a Nation and The Butler. His net worth is reportedly $65 million.

Finley and Rebekah Hosey were already parents to son Micah by the time they wed in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, in 2006, and since then the couple have gone on to have two other children. Hosey earned herself a degree in business management before becoming a personal trainer and keen supporter of charities.

Lucrative marketing deals with the likes of Attitude Drinks have helped Paul Pierce achieve a reported current net worth of $70 million. In fact, in 2013 the ex-Los Angeles Clippers small forward was, according to Forbes, one of the 100 highest-paid sportsmen in the world. Four years after he was honored with that accolade, though, Pierce wound up his basketball career.

Pierce met his future wife Julie Landrum in 2006, and approximately two years later the couple had their first of three children, Prianna Lee. Then, in 2010, the lovebirds married on the sunny Californian coast – complete with Prianna as their flower girl. The Pierces would later add to their family unit with the births of Adrian Tanya and Prince Paul.

In an interview with The Boston Globe in 2010, Jermaine O’Neal claimed he “never knew” he was among the NBA’s highest-earning players at that time. The former Boston Celtics star was so well paid, in fact, that he’s now thought to be worth $70 million. And perhaps O’Neal is content to sit back and enjoy his fortune, too, as although he has never properly announced his retirement, he hasn’t been seen on court since 2014.

O’Neal has two kids – Asjia and Jermaine Jr. – with his wife Mesha, whom he met aged 17 and later married in the Bahamas. Back in 2010 Mesha appeared on the popular VH1 reality show Basketball Wives. Asjia, meanwhile, has made a name for herself playing volleyball for the University of Texas.

Elton Brand amassed most of his $70 million fortune playing for five NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers. And the twice-selected NBA All Star has remained within the sport after retiring as a power forward. In 2018, in fact, he was appointed as the general manager of the 76ers.

Brand’s wife, Shahara Simmons, is a very talented woman in her own right, too. She actually met the NBA star while studying at Duke University, and she has an interior design master’s degree from New York’s Pratt Institute. The pair welcomed their first child, Elton Peace Brand, into the world in 2008.

Former swingman Tracy McGrady turned out for seven NBA teams during his illustrious 16-year basketball career – most notably for the Houston Rockets between 2004 and 2010. Then, following his retirement, the star spent several months as a pro baseball pitcher before landing an analyst position with ESPN. Today, his net worth is estimated to be $75 million.

McGrady said ‘I do’ to CleRenda Harris in 2006 – no fewer than eight years after meeting her in North Carolina. CleRenda herself is a life coach and the founder of Project P.U.S.H, which aims to empower women. She and McGrady also have four kids together: Layla Clarice, Laymen Lamar, Layden and Laycee Aloa.

Point guard Tony Parker has earned four NBA Championships with the San Antonio Spurs and achieved six NBA All Star selections. Yet Parker, reportedly worth $75 million, also has a secret talent. He has released several hip-hop records, one of which even reached the top spot in France in 2007.

Parker became a tabloid regular in the mid-’00s thanks to his three-year marriage to Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria. But Parker and Longoria divorced in 2010, and three years later the NBA star walked down the aisle with Axelle Francine, a French journalist. The pair now have two children together.

Larry Bird is widely regarded as one of the most talented players ever to step foot on a professional court. As fans know, the versatile NBA star enjoyed no fewer than 13 seasons playing for the Boston Celtics from the late 1970s until the early 1990s. And while amassing a fortune that is said to be in the region of $75 million, Bird went on to serve as the Indiana Pacers’ head coach.

In 1989 Bird also tied the knot with Dinah Mattingly, his girlfriend of many years. But despite the forward’s vast wealth, the ceremony was far from a lavish one. Both Bird and Mattingly sported stonewashed jeans for the occasion, which was witnessed by only five other guests. The couple subsequently adopted two kids, Mariah and Connor.

Also known as “The Mailman,” serial deliverer Karl Malone played for the Utah Jazz for 18 years – and for the Los Angeles Lakers for one – before finishing his career in 2005. The ex-power forward went on to become the Jazz’s big man coach in 2013. And he has a reported net worth of $75 million.

Malone fell for 1988 Miss Idaho USA pageant winner Kay Kinsey after the pair met at an autograph-signing event in Utah. The couple tied the knot on Christmas Eve 1990, and since then they’ve added Kadee, Kylee, Karlee and Karl Jr to their family. Malone also has three other kids from former relationships as a young man.

Jason Kidd no doubt made a pretty penny when he left one endorsement deal with Nike to join another with PEAK in 2008. Now, in fact, it’s estimated that the former New Jersey Nets player has a net worth of at least $75 million. And in 2019 the ex-point guard got right back in the game when he was appointed as assistant coach by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kidd tied the knot with Porschla Coleman – his second wife – in the fall of 2011. Formerly a model for companies such as RocaWear, Danskin and Frederick’s of Hollywood, Porschla has since served as the executive director of the foundation that her husband set up in his name. The couple also have two children: Noah and Chance.

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dikembe Mutombo had an impressive 18-year NBA career between 1991 and 2009. The celebrated center turned out for several franchises including the Denver Nuggets, the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks. His net worth is believed to be in the region of $75 million.

Mutombo proposed to fellow Congolese-American Rose the moment that he met her, with the pair going on to walk down the aisle together in 1996. The couple are both actively involved in the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation and have no fewer than six children – four of whom they took on as adoptive parents.

In 2019 Paul George famously became a dream team with Kawhi Leonard at the Los Angeles Clippers. And the savvy move certainly paid off for the small forward, who had previously enjoyed a successful stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder and won an Olympic gold at Rio 2016. The star’s endorsement deal with YouTube has also helped him to amass an impressive $80 million fortune.

Throughout much of his NBA career, though, George has been supported by Daniela Rajic. The pair first met in 2013 and went on to have two children together, with Olivia arriving in 2014 and Natasha three years later. And Rajic may be raking in the cash herself, too, after launching her own swimwear brand Nude Swim.

Pat Riley played for the San Diego Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns during the ’60s and ’70s before taking a behind the scenes role as the president of the Miami Heat. The game has certainly been good to the former guard/forward. His net worth is thought to now stand at approximately $80 million.

Riley tied the knot with blonde, blue-eyed Chris way back in 1970 – a couple of years after they met on a beach in San Diego. And after returning to class to finish her studies in psychology, Chris went on to work for several years as a family therapist. She and her husband also have two grown-up children: Elisabeth and James.

Former Miami Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard enjoyed a 19-year NBA playing career before retiring in 2013. He was such a star that he was the NBA’s first player to be offered a $100 million contract and he had several lucrative sponsorships. His net worth is estimated at $80 million.

Howard tied the knot with Jenine Wardally on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the summer of 2001. Now, the pair have two sons together, Jett and Jace – both of whom have followed in their father’s sporting footsteps. Jenine is also the founder of the Juice Foundation, which promotes healthy living to help fight cancer.

Chris Webber was named an NBA All-Star five times and in 2001 he signed an amazing $127 million contract to play for the Sacramento Kings. He’s worked as a TV analyst since retiring in 2008 and also has an investment company. His net worth is thought to be at least $80 million.

Webber married his long-term partner Erika Dates in 2009, with the pair saying their vows during a private ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s thought that as many as 200 friends and family witnessed the event. And in 2017 the pair became parents for the first time with the birth of their twin son and daughter.

Chris Bosh was, according to Forbes, the planet’s 52nd-best-paid sports star in 2015, with his $20.8 million salary topped up by $3 million of endorsements. Such lucrative deals have undoubtedly helped the former Miami Heat power forward amass a personal fortune said to be in the region of $80 million. After having battled a pulmonary embolism, however, Bosh was finally forced to retire from the NBA in 2019.

Bosh tied the knot with Adrienne Williams in 2011, with the pair going on to welcome sons Jackson and Dylan and twins Lennox Noel and Phoenix Avery. The one-time Heat star also has a daughter, Trinity, from another relationship. And in 2015 Adrienne opened the Miami Beach-located boutique Sparkle and Shine Darling, which stocks “sparkly-shiny pieces” for women.

Zach Randolph was something of an NBA journeyman, having played for no fewer than five teams over the course of his lengthy career. The erstwhile Memphis Grizzlies star was also twice selected for the NBA All-Star team before retiring in late 2019 – a decision he made after having reportedly amassed a personal fortune of $85 million.

After 14 years together, Randolph married his wife Faune in a lavish ceremony staged at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis in 2014. The pair have three children together, MacKenley, MaZiya and Lil Z-Bo, too. Randolph is also a father to several other kids from his past relationships.

Tyson Chandler accrued his reported $85 million fortune playing as either center or power forward for numerous teams over the years. He’s earned himself plenty of titles, too, along with a gold medal as part of Team USA at the London Olympics. In 2012 Chandler was also crowned the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2005, though, Chandler walked down the aisle with Kimberly before going on to have three children: Sacha-Marie, Tyson II and Sayge Jozzelle. And the couple also work together to promote various charities. For instance, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Chandlers helped suffering families all over New Orleans.

Derrick Rose came out all guns blazing in his early career, winning the Most Valuable Player Award at the record-breaking age of 22. This no doubt helped the point guard bank an estimated $85 million. However, he has also boosted his coffers via deals with Adidas, Powerade, Skullcandy and more.

In 2018 Rose walked down the aisle with Alaina Anderson. The pair welcomed baby daughter Layla into the world later that same year, and she was followed in 2019 by son London Marley. Rose also has a son, Derrick Jr., from a previous relationship with Mieka Reese.

Shooting guard Reggie “Knick Killer” Miller spent 18 seasons racking up three-point scores with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. He also won an Olympic gold medal at Atlanta 1996 on his way to an estimated $90 million fortune. These days he brings in the big bucks as a commentator for TNT.

In 2001 Miller dissolved his eight-year marriage to Marita Stavrou – and the divorce was far from a harmonious one. It would be another ten years before Miller apparently settled down with Laura Laskowski. The pair welcomed their first child, Ryker, in 2013 and their second, Lennox, three years later.

In 2016 Kyrie Irving guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA title. Then, after a brief spell with the Boston Celtics, he inked a contract worth an astonishing $141 million with the Brooklyn Nets. However, it’s not just on the basketball court where Irving has made his reported $90 million fortune. He has a lucrative deal with Nike, for one. The point guard also possesses partial rights to his Uncle Drew character – the protagonist of a hit movie in 2018.

After much speculation, Irving announced in the summer of 2019 that he was dating Golden, a.k.a. Marlene Wilkerson. And after the Instagram influencer was pictured wearing an impressive piece of jewelry on her left ring finger, rumors began flying that the pair were about to get hitched. Irving had previously been engaged to R&B vocalist Kehlani, but the couple called time on their relationship in 2016.

Steve Nash spent a whopping 18 seasons in the NBA. For the majority of those he served as a point guard for the Phoenix Suns, accruing an alleged net worth of $95 million. He now co-owns MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps FC and enjoyed a seven-year stint as the Canadian national basketball team’s general manager.

Six years after divorcing his first wife Alejandra Amarilla, Nash announced his engagement to ex-volleyball player Lilla Frederick; the star had proposed to his girlfriend during a romantic getaway in Europe. They married shortly afterwards, and in 2017 Frederick gave birth to their first child – and Nash’s fourth – Luca Sun.

With the help of past endorsement deals with the likes of Webster Bank and Nike and a previous contract worth $80 million, Ray Allen has reportedly achieved an impressive net worth of $100 million. The shooting guard spent his final years on the court playing for the Miami Heat before officially retiring in 2016. He’d racked up an impressive 18 seasons in the NBA.

In 2004 Allen started dating Shannon Walker Williams. The singer and actress had started her career in Motown Records group Shades before landing a small role in the long-running CBS soap As the World Turns. The pair, who now have four kids together, walked down the aisle together four years later.

Isiah Thomas’ loyalty to the Detroit Pistols seemed to pay off, as in 1994 he stepped away from the court with team records in points, steals and assists. The former point guard then went on to mastermind the Toronto Raptors, serve as an analyst for NBC and acquire the Continental Basketball Association. And this illustrious career is said to have netted Thomas a reported $100 million.

Throughout, Thomas has been supported by wife Lynn Kendall, although their marriage has had its fair share of ups and downs. The pair had their first encounter at Indiana University, and after romance blossomed, they walked down the aisle in 1985. Since the big day, they’ve also welcomed children Joshua and Lauren.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that 7’6” center Yao Ming excelled during his five years with the Shanghai Sharks and a further decade with the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Yet he wasn’t just a star on the court. His reported $120 million net worth is apparently a combination of salaries and lucrative sponsorship deals.

Yao isn’t the only basketball star in his household, though. Wife Ye Li actually competed in the same sport for China at the 2004 Olympics in Athens – the same event where the couple took their relationship public. The pair married in 2007 and are parents to a daughter named Yao Qinlei.

In 2020 Chris Paul was, according to Forbes, the 35th-best-paid sports star on the planet. And given the point guard’s salary of $35 million and an estimated net worth of around $120 million, it’s fair to say that he’s done pretty well for himself. Paul continues to excel on the court, too, after leaving the Houston Rockets for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.

Paul met future wife Jada Crawley at high school. They married in 2011 and today reside, with their two kids, in a Bel Air mansion that once belonged to Avril Lavigne. The pair also both have their hands in the CP3 Foundation – an organization designed to provide educational, sporting and living opportunities for areas in need.

It seems Tim Duncan, who was with the San Antonio Spurs from 1997 for 16 years until his retirement, has been handsomely rewarded for his loyalty. In 2012 Forbes named him the planet’s 73rd-best-paid athlete, with his multi-million dollar contract being supplemented by $2 million in endorsements. His net worth is thought to be at least $130 million.

Duncan, who divorced his ex-wife Amy in 2013, is now dating reporter Vanessa Macias. She’s currently the in-house announcer for two San Antonio-based sports teams and is a host on Talk Now SA. Famously, Macias also competed on season 20 of long-running reality show The Amazing Race. In 2017 the pair welcomed a daughter, Quill.

Widely hailed as one of the NBA’s greatest ever shooters, point guard Stephen Curry is also one of the richest. In fact, his current contract with the Golden State Warriors is worth a whopping $201 million over five years. This will only add to his presently reported $130 million net worth.

And Curry’s wife is very much a star in her own right. Yes, Ayesha Curry has her own Food Network show and is the author of cookery book The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith and the Joy of Eating Well. She married Curry in 2011, and the couple have since welcomed three kids: Riley, Ryan and Cannon.

After hitting form with the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard looked destined to ultimately become an NBA great. But the center never truly realized his early potential, with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers failing to sufficently reverse his fortunes. Nonetheless, Howard has still earned an estimated $140 million during his inconsistent career.

And there are signs that Howard may finally be ready to settle down, too, as in 2020 reports emerged that the star had proposed to his girlfriend Te’a Cooper. Cooper is no stranger to the basketball court herself, having played for both the University of South Carolina and Baylor.

Despite being described by Fox Sports in 2011 as “the most marketable player on the planet,” Dirk Nowitzki has – Nike shoe deal aside – tended to shun lucrative endorsements. However, the ex-Dallas Mavericks power forward is already thought to have an enviable net worth of $140 million – a sum that has set him up nicely for life after the game.

Back in 2010, Nowitzki met Swede Jessica Olsson at a bash for Amadou Gallo Fall’s SEED Project. The pair, who now have two sons and a daughter, married in Dallas, Texas, two years later. And, interestingly, Olsson, who works in the art world, has yet another link to sports. She’s the sister of Martin and Marcus Olsson – professional soccer players who have both been part of Sweden’s national team.

Point guard Russell Westbrook has earned much of his reported $150 million fortune during a lengthy spell at the Oklahoma City Thunder. In fact, in 2017 he signed the most valuable guaranteed contract – worth $233 million for six seasons – ever handed to an NBA player. Less than two years after inking that deal, however, Westbrook transferred to the Houston Rockets.

And Nina Earl has been with Westbrook since they started dating in college. The pair eventually walked down the aisle in 2015, and two years later they welcomed their first child, Noah, into the world. In 2018 they also added to their family unit with the birth of twin daughters.

Houston Rockets small forward Carmelo Anthony has the honor of being named the world’s 42nd-best-paid sportsperson of 2019, with Forbes totaling his earnings for the previous 12 months at $34 million. Anthony also has multiple sponsorships as well as a venture capital firm, and his net worth is reported to be somewhere in the region of $160 million.

La La Anthony is possibly the most well-known basketball wife and is undoubtedly just as much of a celebrity as her husband. Indeed, she’s a reality star, a TV and radio host, an actress, a writer, and – last but not least – a mother to the couple’s son Kiyan. And despite the gossip about Anthony having strayed from his multi-talented partner, the pair still seem to be going strong.

High-profile sponsorships and profitable contracts have helped Dwyane Wade’s net worth reach an estimated $170 million. The celebrated shooting guard, who once had the NBA’s biggest-selling jersey, spent most of his career with the Miami Heat, although he did also enjoy brief spells with the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers before hanging up his shoes in 2019.

In 2009 Wade started seeing Gabrielle Union, the actress best known for her role as cheerleader Isis in Bring It On. And while work commitments forced them to split temporarily, the pair later got engaged at the end of 2013 and married the following year. In 2018 the couple welcomed their first – and Wade’s fourth – child.

Celebrated Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon’s incredible career, which included consecutive NBA titles with the Houston Rockets, came to an end in 2002. Since then, though, the former center has reportedly made $100 million in real estate deals. His overall fortune, meanwhile, is estimated to be a pretty cool $200 million.

In accordance with Olajuwon’s Islamic faith, it was prearranged that he would tie the knot with the then 18-year-old Dalia Asafi in 1996. The star said at the time that his spouse possessed “wisdom beyond her years.” And the couple now share two children, Rahmah and Aisha. Olajuwon’s other daughter, Abisola, has also enjoyed time in the WNBA.

David Robinson spent the entirety of his 14-year professional basketball career with the San Antonio Spurs. He also won the NBA championship twice and has two Olympic gold medals to his name. Then, after he retired from the court, Robinson entered the world of private equity and is today worth at least $200 million.

The former center married Valerie Hoggatt in December 1991. And the following year, Hoggatt was head of the David Robinson Foundation, putting her degree in business and her experience with community outreach to good use. She and her husband also have sons David Jr., Corey and Justin together, and it appears that the two youngest boys are both attempting to follow their dad to sporting glory.

Former NBA All-Star participant Grant Hill had an amazing 19-season career, including seven years with the Orlando Magic, who got him on their books in 2000 with a contract worth $93 million. In 2018 Hill signed a lifetime endorsement contract with Fila. And today the Hall of Fame player is reportedly worth a whopping $250 million.

Hill married Canadian R&B star Tamia in 1999, with the pair first introduced to each other in Detroit by none other than Grammy Award-winning singer Anita Baker. They have a couple of daughters together, Lael Rose and Myla Grace. And in 2019 the whole family embarked on a Bahamian vacation to celebrate Hill and Tamia’s 20th wedding anniversary.

Four-time NBA winner Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal’s imposing 7’1” frame is eclipsed only by his reputed net worth of some $400 million. The star, who has also seen success in both acting and music, earned this figure mostly through salary and sponsorships as well as several successful sneaker lines. O’Neal himself sports a considerable size 23 shoe.

And Shaq has allegedly been dating actress Annie Ilonzeh, who appears in NBC’s popular series Chicago Fire. The two were seen clasping hands during a stroll in the Big Apple in early 2019, although they have seemingly kept schtum about their relationship ever since.

Two-time NBA champion LeBron James turned pro in 2003 and has a net worth that some claim tops $480 million. “King James” is, according to Forbes, the world’s 17th-highest-paid celebrity and the 6th-best-paid athlete. As well as being widely regarded as the best ball player in the world, James co-owns a production company and has even had a go at acting having appeared in 2015’s Trainwreck and HBO show Entourage.

James’ wife Savannah Brinson has long supported him, with the pair’s romance harking right the way back to high school. They already had three kids when they married in September 2013. And the couple aren’t afraid to splash the cash; they own a $23 million LA mansion and a swanky private jet worth around $22 million.

Five-time NBA champion Earvin “Magic” Johnson was on a salary of $14.6 million a year before he retired from the game in 1996. His net worth today, though, is thought to be a massive $600 million – largely thanks to his company Magic Johnson Enterprises, which operates in the entertainment and promotional sectors. And he consistently appears in Forbes’ lists of best-paid retired athletes.

Magic tied the knot with Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly in 1991, shortly before discovering that he was HIV positive. This potentially devastating development, however, doesn’t appear to have compromised their marriage. And the couple now share two children – a son, Earvin III, who starred on reality show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, and an adopted daughter, Elisa.

Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman – whose iconic number 2 jersey was discontinued by the Milwaukee Bucks following his retirement in 1988 – apparently has a fortune of no less than $600 million. How? Largely thanks to his hugely successful franchise empire. Yes, the star once partly owned more than 360 separate Chili’s and Wendy’s outlets before selling the whole lot on in 2016.

Bridgeman has been married to wife Doris for more than 40 years, too. And the pair’s three grown-up kids – Ryan, Justin and Eden – have all done their bit within the super-lucrative family firm. In 2015 both the NBA icon and his partner were handed honorary degrees by the University of Louisville.

Former Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan is perhaps the finest basketball player to have ever graced the court. He earned $93 million in his playing days, but his current fortune has been mainly amassed through endorsements, especially for Nike. Jordan’s net worth today sits at a huge $2 billion dollars, comfortably earning him the top spot in this list.

Jordan married his longtime sweetheart, Latin American model Yvette Prieto, in April 2013 at a ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida. The pair met on a night out in 2008, two years after Jordan had divorced from first wife Juanita Vanoy. In 2014 Prieto gave birth to identical twins Victoria and Ysabel.

Veteran Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard – and five-time NBA champion – Kobe Bryant reportedly earned $600 million over the course of his career. Tragically, though, in 2020 his life was cut short following a fatal helicopter crash. The eight other passengers traveling with Bryant, including his eldest child Gianna, also died in the accident.

Bryant is survived by his wife and three kids. The NBA hero and Vanessa Laine walked down the aisle in November 2001, with the couple later going on to welcome daughters Gianna, Natalia, Bianka and Capri. And while the Bryants briefly split in 2011, they ultimately managed to reconcile before a divorce was finalized.