Russell Westbrook may not be the richest star in the National Basketball Association (NBA) — but he’s certainly up there.
As AfroTech previously reported, Westbrook was one of the top-paid players in the NBA for the 2021-2022 season. He made more than $44 million just for his work on the court alone. But that’s nothing compared to the money he’s making due to the variety of wise business moves he’s been making as of late.
Russell Westbrook has been investing in everything from Varo Bank to car dealerships. He even has some great real estate deals under his belt. And all of this is a great way to re-invest the money he’s made in his NBA career, which is actually one of the richest NBA deals ever made in terms of value in history.
And, like many successful NBA players, Russell Westbrook even has his own signature shoe line with the Jordan Brand at Nike.
“The nine-time All-Star extended his deal with Nike’s Jordan brand in 2017 for another ten years, and in 2018 received his first signature shoe,” Forbes reports.
Despite all the money he’s made, he’s remained humble and philanthropic.
“Giving back to his community is important to Russell and he was recognized for his philanthropic efforts in 2015 when he received the NBA’s season-long Community Assist Award,” according to Westbrook Enterprises’ official website.
Let’s take a look at how Russell Westbrook has amassed an estimated $59 million net worth (as of 6/3/21), according to Forbes.
Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.
NBA Salary
Westbrook has one of the most valuable contracts in the NBA today, Forbes says. Even though he’s not on the road to a billion dollars like LeBron James (at least not yet), he’s still managed to sign valuable NBA contracts in terms of value.
“In 2017, Westbrook signed a five-year, $207 million extension with the Thunder, at the time the NBA’s biggest-ever contract in terms of the total value,” reports the outlet.
Sponsorships & Endorsements
Russell Westbrook earns a lot of his money through endorsements with some big names like the Jordan Brand. Based on stats from Forbes, of Westbrook’s fortune, endorsements make up $26 million.
Varo Bank
In February 2021, AfroTech reported that Russell Westbrook had joined the advisory board of Varo Bank and that his company led the neo-bank’s $63 million funding round.
Philanthropy
Russell Westbrook has frequently used the power of his influence to help people in need. Recently, he teamed up with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office of Education and Comp-U-Dopt to donate 650 computers to children in Houston. The initiative was led by his Why Not? Foundation created with the mission of using education-focused programs to empower youth in underserved communities.
Hennessy
In June 2021, AfroTech reported that Russell Westbrook formed a partnership with Hennessy to kick off a new initiative that aims to support minority business owners.
The “Make Moves That Start Movements” program expands upon Hennessy’s Unfinished Business initiative — a platform created to provide material resources to Black, Asian and Latinx entrepreneurs who found themselves impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Car Dealerships
Russell Westbrook also has ten car dealerships in the Southern California area. According to CheatSheet, Westbrook opened up his first car dealership in 2016. The idea to own car dealerships initially came when he starred in a commercial for Oklahoma car dealer Bob Nouri. Westbrook and Nouri eventually became friends, and Nouri helped Westbrook open up his dealerships.
Real Estate
Russell Westbrook has also made some advantageous real estate deals. According to the Los Angeles Times, he sold his Oklahoma mansion for just a little over $1 million, for nearly half of what he paid for it, in 2020. Also in 2020, Westbrook sold the Beverly Hills mansion he bought from Scott Disick for $4 million, according to Hilton & Hyland.
