| Photo by Keith Allison / CC BY-SA 2.0 Caption: LeBron James is no stranger to extravagance.
NBA players are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world, which is unsurprising since the 30 teams in the league generate billions of dollars in revenue each year. The life of a premier-level basketball player is high-octane, to say the least, with certain star players who make eye-watering incomes not afraid to live lavish lifestyles. Whether it’s priceless collections of vintage cars, first-class travel across the globe or impressive real estate portfolios, in this post, we’ll look at the extravagant spending of the NBA’s richest players.
Stephen Curry’s Mansions
The Golden State Warriors are currently performing as predicted this season, plowing through All-Star weekend thanks primarily to the sharp-shooting skills of Stephen Curry, who also happens to be the highest-paid player in the league for the second season running. His record five-year contract worth an incredible $201.2 million was a bargain at the time of signing, but there’s nothing budget about Curry’s lavish lifestyle. On the court, he’s known for his unique way of handling the ball and for that Hall of Fame-esque jump shot, both of which have so far earned him an MVP award and three championship rings. Off-court, however, Curry is quite the real estate mogul, purchasing three separate homes and counting.
His first purchase was a relatively modest $1.275 million house in his native North Carolina back in 2008. More of a summer home than a year-round base, during season time, Curry would find himself renting a penthouse in the East Bay in California but returned home to relax where he “felt most comfortable” off-season. After five years, he took the plunge and bought his first property in California: a $3.1 million, 5,000-square-foot mansion. After signing with the Warriors, however, he outgrew the impressive property and upgraded to a $5.775 million estate spread out over 10,290 square feet and situated half an hour from that all-important Oracle Arena. Given that his present mansion’s value is not even worth a quarter of his yearly salary, we wouldn’t be surprised if Curry upgrades once again before his contract expires.
Dwayne Wade’s Smooth Rides
He may have played the final game of his 16th season with the Miami Heat, but the 2003 draft Dwayne Wade remains the team’s all-time leader in shots made, assists and steals, number of games and points. Fittingly, the 13-time NBA All-Star enjoys an extravagant lifestyle that perfectly complements his superstar persona on court. Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union (who he married in a $13 million-dollar castle, complete with a moat) currently reside in a $10.6 million dollar beach house in Miami, which takes up a total of 13,000 square feet and comes with a basketball court — naturally. The pair also own a five-bedroom, $6 million summer house in the San Fernando Valley.
The updated list of Wade’s luxury car collection
However, it’s Wade’s prized collection of luxury cars that gives us an indication of his star status, and there are even several YouTube videos dedicated to the vehicles that he owns. According to Forbes, Wade’s collection has featured not one but two McLaren MP4-12C cars — including a $230,000 model gifted to him as a 30th birthday present — a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Wade’s current net worth is around $120 million, and with those stunners in his garage, he and his wife will ride in style for some time to come.
LeBron James’ Smart Investments
Before Stephen Curry knocked him off the top spot, LA Lakers’ LeBron James was renowned as the highest-paid player in the NBA. Arguably the most dominant force in professional basketball, James has a place in history as one of the best players to set foot on the court: he has four MVP awards, three NBA titles and still gives everything in his 16th year in the league. He’s a talented man, for sure, but he also made some smart investments with his $440 million fortune that will see him and his family set for life.
James’ extravagant purchasing habits have been in full swing since the age of 18 when he bought a plot of land in Akron and turned it into a 30,000-square-foot estate, complete with a recording studio, six-bedroom mansion, a barbershop and even an online casino. He purchased a second property, worth $13.4 million during his time playing for the Miami Heat and most recently, dropped a cool $23 million on a luxurious property in the Brentwood area. As if investing in premium real estate wasn’t lucrative enough, James has expanded his investment portfolio with a 2 percent share in the Liverpool Football Club. He first bought the stake in the Premier League FC for $6.5 million in 2011, but it is now reportedly worth an estimated $32 million (such is the power of Premiership football). Even if James retired tomorrow, his outrageous personal fortune would continue to support this ultimate extravagant lifestyle.
