Until his demise in a helicopter crash in 2020, Kobe Bryant was among some of the highest-earning retired NBA players of all time. He was among the most outstanding NBA stars ever to play, thanks to a series of decisions, his brilliant skills, grit, dedication to the game, and the numbers he garnered.
His success on the court saw him rake in several endorsement deals in addition to his NBA earnings, which totaled $323.3 million. His endorsement deals formed the bulk of his net worth, which included deals with multinational firms like Nike, Sprite, McDonald’s, Turkish Airlines, Lenovo, Hublot, and Panini. He also signed lucrative deals with Chinese firms like Alibaba, Sina.com, and Mercedes Benz, which reportedly amounted to $350 million.
However, his most significant deal and biggest earning move was his investment in a sports drink called ‘BodyArmor,’ which he decided to invest in after just one sip. By 2014, it was generating over $250 million in revenue, prompting Coca-Cola to acquire 15% of the company for $300 million. When BodyArmor’s evaluation hit $6 billion, Bryant’s initial $6 million investment turned into a $200 million valuation.
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Despite being rich with a reported net worth of $600 million, the former NBA player was careful with his finances and did not want to spend recklessly. He refused to indulge in extravagant spending with those around him, and instead, he gave money to his close associates and relatives according to his own terms. This included his two elder sisters, Sharia and Shaya.
In a 2016 interview, the NBA star talked about how he cut off financial assistance to his sisters. “It was tough for me to do,” said Bryant. “But it’s something you have to do—something you have to be very strong about.”
Two months later, the Black Mamba further explained why he won’t splash money on his family.
“Precisely giving material things to your siblings and friends may appear to be the right decision. You love them, and they were always there for you growing up, so it’s only right that they should share in your success and all that comes with it. While you were feeling satisfied with yourself, you were slowly eating away at their own dreams and ambitions,” he wrote in his ‘Letter to My Younger Self‘ published in The Players Tribune.
“You were adding material things to their lives, but subtracting the most precious gifts of all: independence and growth,” he added.
Bryant’s sister Sharia went on to graduate with a degree in International Business from Temple and became a certified personal trainer. His other sibling Shaya also studied business at La Salle Academy and started working for ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Basketball Network reported.
The NBA Hall of Famer and one of the world’s most celebrated basketball icons died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Bryant was flying along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, John Altobelli, head baseball coach at Orange Coast College, and a few others.
In a career that spanned two decades, the Black Mamba’s face became synonymous with the LA Lakers, where he won five Championship titles playing with the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Steve Nash.
