Kobe Bryant net worth: house, salary, how much was he worth in 2020?

Kobe Bryant was a highly acclaimed former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Recognized by fans simply as Kobe, he amassed a multitude of accomplishments, records, and truly remarkable moments throughout his career. One of the standout moments of his career was his astounding 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Over his 20-season tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe earned a substantial fortune through both his salary and endorsement deals. As expected, Kobe Bryant’s net worth ranks among the top echelons of basketball legends.

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, to parents Joe and Pam Bryant. His basketball journey commenced during his time at Lower Merion High School, where he achieved the status of being the top high school basketball player in the nation.

Following his high school graduation, Kobe initially joined the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. His ascent to stardom brought forth numerous lucrative endorsement agreements, including partnerships with Nike, Nutella, Turkish Airlines, Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and several others.

How much is Kobe Bryant worth?

The retired NBA athlete amassed a substantial fortune through his career earnings and various endorsement contracts. Kobe Bryant’s current estimated net worth stands at $770 million, firmly establishing him as one of the most financially prosperous athletes in history. To delve into how the basketball icon built his wealth, we can start with his income from his 20-season tenure with the Lakers, which totaled approximately $328 million.

• 1996-1997 Season: $1,015,000
• 1997-1998 Season: $1,167,240
• 1998-1999 Season: $1,319,000
• 1999-2000 Season: $9,000,000
• 2000-2001 Season: $10,130,000
• 2001-2002 Season: $11,250,000
• 2002-2003 Season: $12,375,000
• 2003-2004 Season: $13,500,000
• 2004-2005 Season: $14,175,000
• 2005-2006 Season: $15,946,875
• 2006-2007 Season: $17,718,750
• 2007-2008 Season: $19,490,625
• 2008-2009 Season: $21,262,500
• 2009-2010 Season: $23,034,375
• 2010-2011 Season: $24,806,250
• 2011-2012 Season: $25,244,493
• 2012-2013 Season: $27,849,149
• 2013-2014 Season: $30,453,805
• 2014-2015 Season: $23,500,000
• 2015-2016 Season: $25,000,000
• Total career salary earnings: $328,238,062

Kobe Brant net worth and career earnings

At the conclusion of his NBA career, Kobe Bryant had amassed a total of $680 million in earnings, comprising both his playing salary and endorsements. This achievement positioned him ahead of the iconic Michael Jordan in terms of career earnings. Notably, Bryant also held the record for the most lucrative career in team sports, with only athletes in individual sports like Michael Schumacher (Formula 1 Racing), Tiger Woods (golf), and Floyd Mayweather (boxing) surpassing his earnings.

Kobe entered the NBA scene with his first contract, a three-year deal worth $3.5 million when he joined the Lakers. Over the following seventeen years, the team compensated the superstar with over $300 million. Bryant held the distinction of being the NBA’s highest-earning player for six out of his 20 career seasons. Furthermore, he became only the second player in history to earn an annual salary surpassing $30 million in a single year (2013-2014), a milestone initially reached by Michael Jordan.

Despite having only seven career starts, the player expressed his disapproval of the 1999 NBA collective bargaining agreement, which imposed limits on player salaries. This decision likely stemmed from the player’s belief that he could amass considerable wealth through his NBA career. Beyond the basketball court, Bryant secured earnings exceeding $350 million through lucrative partnerships with leading brands in the automotive, food, and entertainment industries.

One of Kobe’s most significant corporate sponsorships was with Nike. In 2003, the sportswear company inked a deal worth $10 million per year with Kobe, positioning him as the successor to Michael Jordan. This strategic move proved highly successful, especially in Asian nations where Kobe’s playing style and the Lakers’ achievements drew substantial audiences. Notably, Kobe’s Nike endorsement was marked by his immense popularity in China. His jersey became the top-selling NBA jersey in China for a period spanning a decade. Such was his appeal among the Chinese audience that he actually became more popular in China than in his home country, the USA.

Kobe’s popularity in the Chinese market facilitated endorsement agreements with companies like Sin.com, Mercedes-Benz, and the e-commerce giant Alibaba. Alibaba even featured merchandise branded with Kobe’s name on their online platforms. Over his 20-year career, Kobe made substantial contributions to the Lakers’ growth. When he joined the team in 1996, the franchise was valued at $200 million. By the time he left, the team’s value had surged to $2.6 billion.

Corporate endorsements

At one point, the athlete had endorsement agreements in place with the following companies:

McDonald’s

In 2001, Bryant entered into a $10 million endorsement agreement with McDonald’s. This deal involved the NBA star making appearances in the fast-food giant’s commercials. Many fans may remember the advertisement in which Kobe was seen enjoying a mouthwatering Big N’ Tasty burger. However, the franchise terminated its corporate partnership with the NBA star in 2003 when he faced sexual assault charges.

Nike

A lesser-known aspect of Kobe Bryant’s career is his earlier deal with Adidas before joining Nike. Adidas missed the opportunity to capitalize on the player’s rising career. In 2003, Nike secured a ten-million-dollar-a-year contract with the basketball superstar. This agreement turned out to be highly lucrative for Nike, as they sold over $100 million worth of Kobe’s sneakers in the USA alone in 2015. It’s worth mentioning that Nike was one of the major companies that did not sever ties with the player following his sexual assault charges.

Nutella

In 2001, an Italian hazelnut spread company entered into a lucrative six-figure agreement with Kobe. The company featured the basketball player in various promotional activities, including magazine advertisements, in-store and online media campaigns. Furthermore, in 2002, life-size displays of Kobe were employed in supermarkets to boost the company’s product promotion. However, in 2003, the company terminated its endorsement deal with Kobe, citing his legal troubles as the reason for this decision.

Turkish Airlines

In 2010, the Lakers’ guard entered into a global sponsorship agreement with Turkish Airlines. The airline was emphasizing its dedication to U.S. flights and saw Bryant as the ideal ambassador for this initiative. The basketball star was featured in an international promotional film broadcast in more than 80 countries around the world. Additionally, the airline incorporated Bryant into various advertising mediums, including print, digital, and billboard campaigns.

Hublot

In 2013, Kobe entered into a personal endorsement agreement with the Swiss watch brand, Hublot. This partnership designated him as a brand ambassador for the company, joining the ranks of other sports stars such as Diego Maradona, Usain Bolt, and Dwayne Wade. As part of this collaboration, Hublot created the Hublot King Power Black Mamba, a signature watch in honor of Kobe Bryant, with “Mamba” being his nickname.

The watch featured a snake-themed design at nine o’clock and displayed the player’s jersey number, 24, at six o’clock. Additionally, as part of the agreement, the Swiss watchmaker committed to supporting the player’s charity, the Kobe and Vanessa Family Foundation, by contributing a portion of the proceeds generated from the sales of the King Power Black Mamba watch.

Mercedes Benz

In 2003, Mercedes-Benz established a Chinese website to promote its automobiles in China. The website developed promotional content that featured Kobe Bryant in commercials. The site highlighted the car’s safety, convenience, compact size, and environmentally friendly features. The brand’s utilization of Kobe proved to be highly effective. Subsequently, in 2011, Mercedes-Benz even launched a limited edition of the vehicle known as the Black Mamba model.

Investments contributing to Kobe net worth

The major portion of Kobe Bryant’s net worth in 2020 came from the returns on his investments. The basketball icon ventured into the realm of investments, following the path of legends like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Here are the most noteworthy investments Kobe made over the years:

BodyArmor

In 2014, Bryant invested $6 million, constituting a 10% stake, in the sports drink company BodyArmor. The company produces BodyArmor drinks, positioning them as a healthier alternative to the widely popular Gatorade. Then, in 2018, the beverage giant Coca-Cola acquired a minority interest in BodyArmor. Following this deal, Kobe’s initial $6 million investment surged in value to $200 million, marking a remarkable increase of over 33 times its original worth.

Bryant Stibel

This represents a venture capital (VC) fund established in 2013 by Kobe Bryant and Jeff Stibel. The fund offers strategic, operational, and financial assistance to companies centered on media, data, and technology. The co-founders initially invested $100 million to launch this venture capital initiative. Thus far, the VC fund has collaborated with companies including Dell, House Canary, Legal Zoom, Scopely, RingDNA, and The Players’ Tribune, among others.

Kobe Bryant house and other properties

The former NBA star held ownership of several properties that he acquired over the course of his career. Among these properties, there is a residence in Orange County, California, valued at $21.3 million. This 15,760-square-foot house boasts Mediterranean architectural features and was custom-built for the Bryant family. The player also previously owned three other residences in the same area.

The player’s primary residence epitomized his lifestyle, featuring amenities such as an integrated gym, sauna, and steam room. Outdoors, there is a spacious swimming pool surrounded by terracotta and stone pavement, and the garden area showcases a tropical ambiance, accentuated by elegant rows of palm trees.

In addition to his real estate holdings, the former player possessed an impressive collection of automobiles. Some of the most remarkable vehicles in his possession included a Ferrari 360 Modena, Lamborghini Aventador, Lamborghini Murcielago, and a red Ferrari 458 Italia.

Charity work

A portion of Kobe’s earnings was dedicated to charitable endeavors. In 2007, the former player established the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (formerly known as the VIVO Foundation). The foundation’s mission is to offer young individuals the opportunities necessary to expand their horizons and aims to enhance the lives of underprivileged families and youth. It actively promotes sports as a way for young people to maintain an active lifestyle.

This comprehensive analysis of Kobe Bryant’s net worth serves as an inspiration to numerous young individuals. It demonstrates that with unwavering commitment and diligent effort, one can ascend to the highest echelons of their chosen field. Even following his tragic passing on January 26th, Kobe’s legacy endures. The legend, along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside. Fans will dearly miss the iconic swoosh shots that were synonymous with Kobe’s games, and may he rest in peace.