What is Hakeem Olajuwon’s net worth?
| Net Worth: | $300 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 60 |
| Born: | January 21, 1963 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Professional NBA Player |
| Last Updated: | March 8, 2023 |
Introduction
Hakeem had one dream in life, and that was to become a professional basketball player. With his previous experience of soccer and handball, Hakeem was able to quickly learn how to excel on the basketball court.
After relocating to Texas from Nigeria, Hakeem joined the Houston Rockets, helping them to win back-to-back NBA championships during the 1990s.
He went on to play for the Raptors and was instrumental in the USA’s 1996 Olympic gold medal win.
As of March 2023, Hakeem Olajuwon’s net worth is estimated to be $300 Million.
Hakeem Olajuwon Facts
- He was more interested in handball and soccer as a youngster, only learning how to play basketball at the age of fifteen.
- Hakeem is a six times All-NBA First Team, and five times NBA All-Defensive first team player.
- In 2008, Hakeem Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Olajuwon is huge even by NBA standards at 6 feet and 11 inches tall, while the average height of a professional basketball player is only 6’6”.
- Hakeem recorded more than 200 steals and over 200 blocks in the 1988-89 season, the first player to do so, ever.
Early Life
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon was born January 21, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria.
His parents, Salim and Abike Olajuwon, were owners of a cement business in his hometown. Hakeem grew up in a large family with seven siblings who were all taught from a young age to work hard and be disciplined.
Hakeem played soccer as a child, starting as a goalkeeper for his local school team and didn’t even consider other sports until his mid-teens. He had not played basketball until he entered a tournament while attending the Muslim Teachers College at the age of fifteen.
He took an instant liking to basketball and, with commitment and hard work, excelled at the sport in a short time.
Career
With his new liking for basketball, Hakeem emigrated from Nigeria to play at the University of Houston. Hakeem was immediately redshirted and mostly sat on the bench during the season.
It was suggested that Hakeem work with NBA MVP winner Moses Malone. After a summer of constant training, Hakeem returned better than ever.
He seemed to dunk balls effortlessly, which the college described as “looking like a dream”, which gave Hakeem his well-known nickname. With his new-found abilities, Hakeem was able to lead his team to consecutive NCAA championship games.
With Hakeem getting increased attention, he was selected to be a part of the Houston Rockets in 1984. Hakeem immediately improved the team’s win-loss record and led the team to the Western Conference Finals. Shortly after, the team went to the NBA Finals.
With his consistent performances and awesome play, Hakeem earned the name of one of the top centers in NBA history. Leading his team to the 1994 NBA Finals and winning the title, Hakeem brought the Houston Rockets its first win in a professional sports championship. The Rockets had last won 30 years before.
When Hakeem was at the height of his career, he was selected to be a part of the 1996 US Olympic basketball team. Alongside big-league basketball players such as Shaquille O’Neal and Scottie Pippen, Hakeem and the team won the gold medal. It was unfortunate that Michael Jordan was unable to play for team USA in 1996.
Hakeem left the Rockets shortly after winning his 12th All-NBA Team. He refused a $13 million deal to rejoin the Rockets in 2001 and instead was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately, Hakeem was unable to keep up with his past success and reached an all-time career low.
In 2002, Hakeem suffered a back injury and retired from basketball as one of the all-time greats. He spent time working with professional players like LeBron James, who joined him in Houston during the off-season, to help him improve his game.
Hakeem Olajuwon’s Career Earnings
Over the course of his phenomenal playing career, Hakeem managed to earn an enormous amount of money. He carefully invested his earnings and was able to transition to a successful business career after leaving basketball.
Here’s an estimated overview of Hakeem Olajuwon’s annual income:
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2014 – $5 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2015 -$10 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2016 – $11 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2017 – $13 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2018 – $14 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2019 – $12 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2020 – $5 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2021 – $5.7 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Salary In 2022 – $6 million
He is currently retired but continues to earn huge amounts of money from his real estate portfolio and other investments. You can follow his official Twitter account for the latest news on what he is up to.
Hakeem Olajuwon’s Net Worth Annually
Hakeem Olajuwon is Muslim, which precludes him from either earning or paying interest on money. This has not stopped him from creating enormous wealth through real estate and other business interests.
Here’s a breakdown of Hakeem Olajuwon’s annual net worth:
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Net Worth in 2017 – $250 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Net Worth in 2018 – $260 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Net Worth in 2019 – $275 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Net Worth in 2020 – $280 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Net Worth in 2021 – $290 million
- Hakeem Olajuwon’s Net Worth in 2022 – $300 million
Despite being retired, Hakeem continues to enjoy the fruits of his disciplined financial approach to business and investment.
Personal Life
Hakeem got married on the 8th of August 199 to Dalia Asafi. The couple has four children whom they try to keep out of the public eye.
He has a passion for languages and is fluent in French, Nigerian, and Arabic, which helps immensely during his interviews.
Hakeem Olajuwon is devoutly Muslim and, because of his interest in spirituality, found himself in a few arguments about his faith at the beginning of his career.
Awards & Achievements
It was inevitable that Hakeem would garner massive attention in the basketball world after his early on-court performances.
Not only is he above average in height, but he was also extremely agile and talented in his prime, taking on the best in professional basketball and coming out on top.
Here are some of the memorable moments from Hakeem Olajuwon’s career:
- In 1994, Hakeem received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.
- Hakeem also received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in both 1994 and 1993.
- He won the Best NBA Player ESPY Award in 1995 and 1996.
- Olajuwon was named as a member of the All-NBA First team six times: in 1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, and 1997.
- In 1994 and 1995, Hakeem won the NBA Champion Award.
As befits a champion, Hakeem is a humble person who loves to give back to the sport that made him such a rich man.
To this end, he makes a point of helping to train talented youngsters who might otherwise not get the opportunity to play basketball.
How Does Hakeem Olajuwon Spend His Money?
After retirement, Hakeem took a huge interest in real estate investment, successfully transacting over $100 million worth of real estate deals to date.
Hakeem’s modus operandi is to acquire run-down properties that need development and then turn them around into very profitable investments.
He has purchased various types of buildings, from train stops to parking garages and even stadiums. He was also a part-owner of the former World Trade Centre building which he sold a year before the 9-11 tragedy.
While he likes some of the most expensive cars in the world, his huge frame is just not designed to fit into sports cars designed for smaller humans.
Highlights
With a professional career spanning 18 years, Hakeem has produced magic moments for his fans every single season on the court.
It is little wonder that he made All-Star status and became one of the most valuable basketball players of all time.
Here are some of the best highlights of Hakeem Olajuwon’s career:
- One of the biggest highlights of his career was the 1996 Olympics, where he performed alongside major league greats, winning a gold medal in the process.
- During the 1998 to 1999 season, Hakeem made his 12th All-NBA Team.
- Hakeem won the awards for Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year all in 1994. This made him the first player in NBA history to win all these awards within the same season.
- In 1995, Hakeem helped keep his team’s title as NBA champions and became the only Rocket All-Star.
- Hakeem was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 as part of the league’s 50th anniversary.
Being recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in history, Olajuwon was honored as the first non-American All-Star and received the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Favorite Hakeem Olajuwon Quotes
Hakeem grew up in a conservative family with strong family values.
Adherence to the lessons he learned from his parents as a child has helped make him the player and the businessman that he is today.
Here are our favorite quotes from Hakeem Olajuwon:
- “When I look at the system here and look at my position – not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from – I feel so blessed to be from Africa. ” – Hakeem Olajuwon
- “I’m the kind of person who always wants more. I was successful materially, but I know life is much more than worldly success. I saw all these blessings God had given me. The way to give thanks is obedience to God. ” – Hakeem Olajuwon
- “My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players. ” – Hakeem Olajuwon
- “Basketball is in my blood. It is my obligation to try. ” – Hakeem Olajuwon
- “When you get to that level, it’s not a matter of talent anymore – because all the players are so talented – it’s about preparation, about playing smart and making good decisions.” – Hakeem Olajuwon
3 Amazing Lessons From Hakeem Olajuwon
Coming from a background dedicated to hard work, Hakeem Olajuwon has much to offer talented youngsters who see life as an uphill battle and struggle to find the motivation to achieve greatness.
Now that you know all about Hakeem Olajuwon’s net worth, here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Hakeem Olajuwon:
1. Never Give Up
Hakeem credits never giving up as one of the primary reasons that he is successful. He knew his full potential and realized that only hard work and perseverance would allow him to achieve his goals.
2. There Is So Much More To Life Than Fame
Hakeem was able to achieve fame very quickly, but he knew that fame was not all the world had to offer. Doing well and becoming famous is only a small part of what makes life interesting and enjoyable.
3. Stay True To Yourself And Your Beliefs
No matter the criticism of his religion, Hakeem always stood by what he believed in. It is easy to give in to what other people want, especially when there’s a lot of money involved.
Hakeem has proven that you can stand strong in your beliefs yet still be successful.
Summary
Hakeem is one of the greats and took basketball to a whole other level. He holds the record for more than 3,000 blocked shots and over 2,000 steals over the course of his career.
Despite starting with little knowledge of the sport, he eventually played alongside and exceeded the exploits of big-league athletes.
He may be retired, but Hakeem still lives and breathes basketball. He spends time at home in Houston with his family and travels to the Middle East to study his religion and enjoy life.
As of March 2023, Hakeem Olajuwon’s net worth is estimated to be $300 Million.
