Introduction

Yao Ming is a Chinese former professional basketball player with an estimated net worth of $175 Million.

During his eight NBA seasons, Yao Ming played with one team and one team only, the Houston Rockets. He averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and earned more than $93 million in salary and bonuses. The center was also one of the most endorsed players in the league, signing deals with Apple, Gatorade, Reebok, and many other globally renowned brands.

In this profile, we examine Yao Ming’s net worth, NBA contracts, career earnings, endorsement deals, investments, and philanthropic endeavors.

Quick Facts

• Earned $93.4 million during his NBA career
• Peak annual salary of $17.7 million in his final season
• Most lucrative contract: 5-year, $75.4 million deal with the Rockets
• Signed a 10-year, $75 million endorsement deal with Reebok
• Past sponsors include Nike, Apple, Garmin, McDonald’s, and Pepsi
• Previously owned a $3.5 million, 11,838-square-foot home in Texas

NBA Contracts & Salary

In 2002, Yao Ming signed a four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract worth $18 million with the Houston Rockets. Ming earned $3.9 million for his first season in the NBA, gradually increasing to $5.6 million by the end of the contract.

In 2006, Ming signed a five-year rookie extension with the Rockets valued at $75.4 million, increasing his average annual salary from $4.5 million to $15.1 million. He earned $12.5 million in the contract’s first year, which increased to $17.7 million for the 2010/11 season.

In 2011, Yao Ming retired, having earned $93.4 million in the NBA, all of which came from the Houston Rockets.

Reebok Endorsement Deal

During his career, Yao Ming earned a ridiculous amount of money from brand endorsements. While he was sponsored by more than a dozen brands, one stands out from the rest. Ming was briefly signed to Nike for his rookie season in the NBA; however, a year later, in 2003, he switched to Reebok and signed one of the largest endorsement deals in sports history. 

According to reports, Ming’s contract with Reebok was valued at between $70 million and $75 million over ten years, effectively paying him $7.5 million per year. Remember, the Chinese star was earning less than $5 million per year in salary at the time. The Reebok deal became his primary source of income.

Additional Endorsement Deals

While Ming’s contract with Reebok dominated the spotlight and his bank account, it was just one of the many companies he endorsed. As far as we’re aware, his compensation from these other brands remained confidential. Nonetheless, here’s a complete list of all Yao Ming’s past sponsors:

• Apple
• Coca-Cola
• Garmin
• Gatorade
• McDonald’s
• Nike
• Pepsi
• Reebok
• Tag Heuer

Real Estate

In May 2003, a year after joining the Houston Rockets, Yao Ming purchased an 11,838-square-foot, six-bedroom home in Houston, Texas, for an undisclosed sum. After retiring and returning to China, Ming listed the house for sale at $3.99 million. The price was reduced to $3.49 million. However, the closing price was also undisclosed.

Philanthropy

Yao Ming is now the president of the Chinese Basketball Association and owns the Shanghai Sharks, the team where he started his professional career. He has also invested in a winery, Yao Family Wines, which complements his other restaurant investment interests.

In his free time, Yao Ming is passionate about charitable causes, especially those related to animal rights. He has served as an ambassador for elephant conservation and is a spokesman for the group WildAid. His fame and influence have allowed him to bring attention to important issues, such as the dangers of shark hunting and the threat of extinction.

Despite his success and fame, Yao Ming is known for living a reasonably modest life and for not using social media very often. When he tweets or posts to Instagram, it’s usually to congratulate other basketball players or to promote his charitable work.

Summary 

Yao Ming was a dominant force in the NBA, playing for the Houston Rockets and earning All-Star honors seven times. After hanging up his sneakers, he found success in various business ventures in China and gave back through his charitable foundation.

Overall, Yao Ming has had an impressive and impactful career on and off the court, amassing substantial wealth through his athletic success.

Introduction

Ben Simmons is an Australian professional NBA player for the Brooklyn Nets with an estimated net worth of $6 Million.

In this profile, we highlight the sources behind Ben Simmons’ net worth, including his NBA contracts and salary, endorsement deals, and the many events that have negatively impacted his fortune.

Quick Facts

• Projected to earn $40.3 million for the 2024/25 season
• Lifetime earnings total $203.4 million from salary
• Received over $17 million in fines from the NBA
• The most fined player in NBA history
• Signed a 5-year, $177.2 million extension with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020

NBA Salary

In 2016, as a promising star, Ben Simmons signed a four-year, $26.6 million rookie contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, valued at $6.65 million per year. He earned approximately $5.9 million during his first NBA season, and by 2019, his annual salary had increased to $7.6 million.

This is where things get interesting. In 2020, following the completion of his rookie contract, Ben Simmons inked an incredible five-year, $177.2 million extension with the 76ers. While the deal increased his salary to an average of $35.4 million per year, several problems arose. A year later, the team considered trading Simmons in exchange for James Harden, which ultimately rubbed him the wrong way. In the months that followed, his performance declined, and he eventually demanded a trade. Simmons stopped attending training sessions, media appearances, and pre-season games. According to our research, he then refused to play in a total of 42 regular-season games.

As a result, the 76ers fined Simmons $360,305 for every single game he missed, eventually adding up to a record-breaking $19 million in fines. He is now known as the most fined player in NBA history. 

Ben Simmons was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets, where he continued earning between $35 million and $40 million per year, though several question marks now hung over his name. Late into the 2024/2025 season, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers, and even though the 2025/26 season is now well underway, he’s still currently a free agent.

Endorsements

Simmons signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2016, when he entered the NBA. He initially had a five-year contract with Nike that guaranteed him at least $20 million, plus bonuses tied to career milestones. When the contract came up for renewal in 2021, Simmons signed a three-year extension with Nike; however, the specific dollar amounts of the extension are unknown.

He has also partnered with prominent brands such as Beats by Dre, SmartWater, Foot Locker, and Verizon.

The initial deal with Nike would have been worth at least $4 million per year. When you include all the other partnerships, Simmons is estimated to earn between $6 million and $8 million per year from endorsements.

Media & Politics

In 2016, Ben Simmons appeared in the documentary film “One & Done,” a Showtime production that explored his early college career. In the same year, he significantly increased his net worth thanks to an endorsement from Nike, which resulted from his representation with the Klutch Sports Group. Simmons endorsed the 2020 United States presidential campaign of Democratic nominee Joe Biden, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Real Estate

Despite never playing for a team on the West Coast, Simmons purchased a farmhouse in the Hidden Hills neighborhood of California for $17.5 million in 2021. The acquisition came just after signing his first nine-figure deal. According to records, the property had a $17 million mortgage, with estimated monthly payments of $110,000.

Just one year later, Simmons re-listed the house for sale at $23 million, citing “it often goes unused” as the reason for the listing. The house eventually went to auction, selling for only $12.1 million to the highest bidder. After accounting for fees, Simmons lost almost $8 million on the deal.

More Philadelphia 76ers players:

• Al Horford
• Charles Barkley
• Tobias Harris
• Joel Embiid
• Jayson Williams
• Allen Iverson

Introduction 

Trevor Ariza is an American former professional NBA player with an estimated net worth of $20 Million. 

Throughout his career, Ariza won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009. Ariza played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins. He has played for the Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Portland Trail Blazers.

Our research into Trevor Ariza’s net worth covers his NBA contracts, salary history, and the numerous financial struggles that have impacted his wealth since retirement.

NBA Contracts & Salary

In 2004, Trevor Ariza signed a two-year rookie contract worth $1.1 million, which the New York Knicks fully guaranteed. Ariza’s salary for his first season in the NBA was $385,000, increasing to $682,000 for the second year of his contract.

After his rookie deal, Ariza signed a three-year, $9.3 million contract with the Orlando Magic. He earned $3.1 million with Orlando before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007. Arisa finished the contract with the Lakers, taking home the entire $9.3 million.

In 2009, he signed a five-year, $33.9 million contract with the Houston Rockets; however, he would only spend one season with the team. Under the deal, Ariza earned $5.9 million with the Rockets, $6.3 million with the New Orleans Hornets, and $20.4 million with the Washington Wizards.

In 2014, he returned to Houston after signing a four-year, $32 million sign-and-trade deal. During this period, he earned an average annual salary of $8 million.

After leaving Houston in 2018, Ariza played for seven more teams, earning an additional $42 million. During his NBA career, Trevor Ariza earned $116.9 million, split between 11 teams. Most of his earnings came from five seasons at Houston, where he earned $37.9 million, and four seasons at Washington, where he earned $30.4 million.

Divorce Proceedings

Trevor Ariza married Bree Anderson in April 2018, and the couple has two children together, Taylor and Tristan. Ariza also has a child from a previous relationship, and Bree took on the role of stepmother to the child. In September 2022, Anderson filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason.

Interestingly, this was the year immediately following his retirement from the NBA, and as a result, he experienced a significant drop in his annual income. According to court documents, Anderson alleged that Ariza was earning up to $5 million per month from salary, bonuses, and endorsements. Based on our research, we could not find any information that suggests Ariza was earning anywhere near this figure. His highest annual salary in the NBA was $15 million in 2018 – that’s a yearly amount, not a monthly one.

Anderson also claimed that her mortgage was $18,000 per month, and her monthly expenses totaled $49,000, which she could not afford. This led to Anderson launching a dispute for both child support and spousal support following the divorce.

Child & Spousal Support

In her request for support, Anderson asked for $60,000 per month to maintain her previous standard of living. She also asked for $250,000 in legal fees to support her during the case. During the legal proceedings, Trevor Ariza submitted a CPA statement to the courts, which proved his monthly income was only $21,000 at the time. That’s a pretty big difference from the $5 million figure Anderson had previously claimed. Ariza argued that he could only afford $3,086 per month in support. 

Based on the financial statements Ariza provided, the judge awarded Anderson $10,000 per month in child support, plus a one-time payment of $664,000. She also received the San Diego property that the couple previously owned.

In March 2025, Ariza initiated efforts to reduce his monthly child support obligations, stating that his income had continued to decline and he could no longer afford $10,000 per month. He also requested that the courts provide him with full custody of Tristan, who’d been living with him for at least a year. This case is currently ongoing.