15 NBA stars who tragically lost their fortunes NBA players often earn substantial salaries, but not all manage to preserve their wealth as skillfully as they handled the ball. Here’s a look at 15 NBA stars who faced significant financial losses, typically due to lavish spending, poor financial choices, risky investments, legal issues, or personal challenges. Sourced from reports on financial mismanagement in the NBA, these stories highlight cautionary tales, even if some players later recovered. Each entry lists the player’s name, estimated career earnings (when known), and primary reasons for their financial struggles.
Allen Iverson Career Earnings: ~$200 million ($155 million salary, $50-60 million endorsements) Lavish spending on clothes, restaurants, and supporting a large entourage of 50 people. Iverson filed for bankruptcy in 2010 after failing to pay debts, including to a jeweler. His lifestyle included $10,000 monthly on clothes and $126,000 on creditors/mortgages. A lifetime Reebok deal has provided some financial recovery.
Antoine Walker Career Earnings: ~$108 million Excessive spending on sports cars, homes, jewelry, and gambling debts nearing $1 million to casinos. Filed for bankruptcy in 2007, a year after winning an NBA title with the Miami Heat. His ex-wife’s spending and legal expenses also contributed. Walker has since rebuilt his life, focusing on financial education.
Vin Baker Career Earnings: ~$100 million Alcoholism led to poor performance and eventual release from the NBA. Bad investments squandered his fortune, and he owed over $1 million in back taxes. By 2014, Baker was working at Starbucks. He later became an NBA analyst and started an anti-addiction foundation.
Shawn Kemp Career Earnings: ~$91 million salary, $11 million endorsements Supported seven children from six women, leading to costly child support and lifestyle expenses. Cocaine and alcohol addiction required rehab, and legal troubles drained his wealth. His net worth dropped to $5 million.
Derrick Coleman Career Earnings: ~$91 million Poor real estate investments and a lavish lifestyle reduced his net worth to $3 million. Despite being a No. 1 overall pick and an All-Star, Coleman never fully recovered financially.
Eddy Curry Career Earnings: ~$70 million Generous spending on friends and family, including frequent $1,500-$3,000 handouts to multiple people, depleted his wealth. His net worth fell to $3 million due to financial mismanagement and lifestyle choices.
Kenny Anderson Career Earnings: ~$60 million Filed for bankruptcy after buying expensive sports cars and investing poorly in real estate. By 2010, he had less than $150,000. Anderson’s lack of financial guidance contributed to his downfall.
Joe Smith Career Earnings: ~$60 million Bought homes in every city he played for, leading to overwhelming real estate costs. By 2018, he was broke, but Alex Rodriguez helped him stabilize through a financial advisor and a reality TV show.
Clifford Robinson Career Earnings: ~$60 million Declared bankruptcy two seasons after retiring, with $7.1 million in assets against $12.4 million in debts. Despite later success in a marijuana business, his financial troubles marked a significant loss. Robinson passed away in 2020.
Latrell Sprewell Career Earnings: ~$60 million Rejected a $21 million contract, leading to financial strain. Owed $3.5 million in back taxes, faced a $200 million lawsuit from his ex-wife, and had his yacht and home repossessed. Sprewell stabilized but lost his fortune
Scottie Pippen Career Earnings: ~$109 million Lost $20 million to a fraudulent financial advisor, who was jailed in 2016. While Pippen’s current net worth is $50 million, the significant loss impacted his post-NBA finances.
Dennis Rodman Career Earnings: ~$27 million Lavish lifestyle, including partying with celebrities, and a financial scam by advisor Peggy Ann Fulford reduced his net worth to $500,000. In 2014, Rodman claimed he was “sick and broke” while owing child support.
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Jason Caffey Career Earnings: ~$29 million Fathered ten children with eight women, leading to massive child support payments. Jailed in 2008 for failing to pay support, Caffey avoided bankruptcy to prevent lawsuits but lost his financial stability.
Erick Strickland Career Earnings: ~$13 million Trusted a con artist posing as a friend for an investment opportunity, losing his entire fortune. Strickland’s story highlights the risks of misplaced trust in financial dealings.
Delonte West Career Earnings: ~$16.23 million Struggled with bipolar disorder, leading to erratic behavior and NBA suspension. By 2016, he was nearly broke with $100,000 left, spotted disoriented and shoeless. Mental health issues compounded his financial collapse.
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