Introduction 

James Franco is an American professional actor, screenwriter, and film producer with an estimated net worth of $30 Million.

Quick Facts

• Reportedly earned $6.5 million from The Interview
• Settled a sexual misconduct lawsuit for $2.23 million in 2021
• Absent from Hollywood for five years between 2019 and 2024

Film Earnings

Unfortunately, there isn’t much information online about James Franco’s film salaries. During our research, we found salaries for just three of his films. This included a $2 million paycheck for starring alongside Neve Campbell in the 2003 film, The Company.

Reports suggest he earned $7 million from Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), which featured actors such as Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, and Mila Kunis. Additionally, Franco earned approximately $6.5 million from his infamous film with Seth Rogen titled The Interview. This film was banned in multiple countries and led to North Korea threatening the United States.

Highest-Grossing Movies

Franco’s recurring role as Harry Osborn in the first three Spider-Man movies contributed to a total box-office gross of $2.5 billion. The original Spider-Man movie grossed $821 million globally. It became the third highest-grossing movie of 2002, behind only LOTR: The Two Towers ($936 million) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ($879 million).

The following two movies on the list were Oz the Great and Powerful ($493 million) and Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($482 million). Franco’s remaining box office hits are mainly from cameos and minor appearances, so here are some of his lead roles that didn’t make the overall list:

1. This is the End – $126 million (2013)
2. Why Him? – $118 million (2016)
3. Pineapple Express – $102 million (2008)
4. 127 Hours – $61 million (2010)
5. Spring Breakers – $32 million (2012)
6. The Interview – $12 million (2014)

Some of Franco’s most beloved characters are from R-rated comedies that had to take risks at the box office. One of the most notorious is 2014’s The Interview with Seth Rogen. The film was banned in multiple countries, including China, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and North Korea. The North Korean government reportedly threatened action against the US if Sony were to release the film. 

Here is the complete list of James Franco’s ten highest-grossing movies:

1. Spider-Man 3 – $896 Million (2007)
2. Spider-Man – $826 Million (2002)
3. Spider-Man 2 – $790 Million (2004)
4. Oz the Great and Powerful – $493 Million (2013)
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $482 Million (2011)
6. Alien: Covenant – $241 Million (2017)
7. The Green Hornet – $228 Million (2011)
8. Knocked Up – $220 Million (2007)
9. The Holiday – $206 Million (2006)
10. Eat Pray Love – $205 Million (2010)

Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit

In 2014, James Franco established the Studio 4 acting school, which operated for roughly three years before closing down in 2017. Two years later, in October 2019, two of Franco’s former students filed a sexual misconduct lawsuit against him. They alleged that the actor sexually exploited them and coerced them into performing scenes involving nudity. The suit also alleged that the students were misled about possible acting opportunities.

In 2021, Franco agreed to pay a settlement of $2,235,000, which comprised $894,000 for the sexual exploitation claim and $1,341,000 for the claims of fraud. Despite settling the lawsuit, Franco denied the allegation, and no admission of wrongdoing was included in the proceedings. After the suit was settled, he admitted to sleeping with his students and stated that, though it was consensual, it was wrong.

Ultimately, the lawsuit led to the actor’s five-year absence from Hollywood, and several projects were canceled. His last role prior to the lawsuit was as the voice of Lemmy in Arctic Dogs. He didn’t reappear in any project until the Karantina TV series aired in 2024.

Who’s the Richest Franco Brother?

All three of the Franco brothers (James, Dave, and Tom) are professional actors. At the time of writing, James is the richest in the family with an estimated net worth of $30 Million. His younger brother Dave has an estimated net worth of $10 Million, while Tom is worth roughly $500 Thousand.

Real Estate

In May 2006, James Franco paid $2.33 million for a 5,215-square-foot, three-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Los Angeles, California. He lived in the property part-time for several years before selling it for $3.3 million in February 2010.

In 2012, Franco purchased a 1,496-square-foot duplex in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, for $775,000. Following the purchase, neighbors complained that the house was being used to operate a production company and shoot scenes. Franco returned the home to the market in 2017 with an asking price of $949,000, though reports suggest he actually sold it for $1.35 million.

Introduction

Carmelo Anthony is an American former professional NBA player with an estimated net worth of $160 Million.

Melo played 19 seasons in the league, racking up almost half a billion dollars in earnings, including an estimated $145 million from endorsements.

Quick facts

• Earned $262.5 million in salary while playing in the NBA
• Peak annual salary of $26.2 million in 2017
• Signed a 6-year, $40 million endorsement deal with Nike in 2003
• Earned an estimated $145 million from endorsements during his career

Net Worth History

When we first began tracking Carmelo Anthony’s net worth in 2022, he had just retired and was already estimated at $160 million. A significant portion of Melo’s wealth was built between 2012 and 2017, during which he earned $137 million in salary (just over 50% of his lifetime earnings). Based on our research, we estimate that one-third of Anthony’s net worth was generated through endorsement income. In 2024, estimates of his net worth remain at $160 Million.

NBA Salary

Endorsements

Carmelo Anthony stacked a significant amount of cash through endorsements during his 19-season career. It’s estimated that slightly over one-third of his total earnings, $145 million, came from endorsement deals.

Anthony was the first athlete to officially have a signature shoe under the Nike Jordan brand, signing a six-year, $40 million deal in 2003. A year later, Carmelo released his first shoe, the Jordan Melo 1.5, named for blending the styles of the Jordan 1 and Jordan 2. In 2017, Jordan and Carmelo released their final shoe together, the Melo M13.

Anthony endorsed many other brands throughout his athletic career, including Samsung, Foot Locker, and IWC. It’s estimated that during the peak of his career, between 2012 and 2017, he earned approximately $8 million/year from endorsements. After his shoe deal with Nike ended, this figure dropped to a reported $6 million/year.

Divorce Settlement

In 2004, Carmelo Anthony became engaged to Alani “La La” Vazquez, and their son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony, was born in 2007. Three years later, the couple married at Cipriani’s in New York City, and VH1 filmed the ceremony for its reality series La La’s Full Court Wedding. In the late 2010s, it appeared the couple was separating, with Alani allegedly already having moved out of Anthony’s apartment. She officially filed for divorce in June 2021, citing irreconcilable differences.

This led to extensive media speculation about potential alimony/child support payments. Alani had signed a prenuptial agreement before the couple tied the knot, and thus, a 50/50 split of the couple’s assets was unlikely. At the time, initial reports suggested Carmelo might have to pay as much as $60,000 per month in child support. However, later estimates put the range at $15,000 to $25,000 per month. 

Nonetheless, since their son Kiyan was born in 2007, he would have been around 14 years old at the time of the divorce. Thus, regardless of the figure, Melo would only be required to pay child support for approximately four years. Based on the estimated figures, this would place Carmelo’s total child support obligations at between $720,000 and $1.2 million. That said, this is all based on legal experts’ opinions, and none of the official details were ever disclosed to the public.

Real Estate

Carmelo Anthony has owned several properties over the years, primarily in Colorado and New York City. Unfortunately, none of his real estate purchases has been the wisest of investments. For the three homes we’re about to discuss, he paid a total of $26.5 million. He has since sold all of these homes, receiving a gross sale value of $20.2 million. This figure doesn’t account for property taxes, listing fees, or agent commissions.

Lakewood Mansion

In April 2004, Carmelo Anthony paid $3.5 million for a 12,836-square-foot mansion in Lakewood, Colorado. The seven-bedroom, ten-bathroom property was built in 2002 and overlooks a reservoir. Among the home’s amenities are a wet bar, a game room, a gym, and a home theater. Carmelo ultimately sold this property exactly three years later, for $3.5 million as well. He would have incurred a substantial loss after accounting for agent commissions and property taxes.

Littlewood Mansion

Following the sale, Carmelo upgraded to an even larger mansion in Littlewood, Colorado. This 21,083-square-foot mansion, featuring eight bedrooms and fifteen bathrooms, cost the former NBA player $12 million. It sits on 5.74 acres and features a separate guest house, a 7-car garage, a gym, and a horse-stall barn.

Unfortunately, his timing couldn’t have been worse. His purchase occurred just one year before the 2008 financial crisis, which destroyed property values across the country. When Carmelo returned the property to the market in 2011, he was asking for just $9.5 million. He let it go for $6.18 million in June that year. That’s almost a $6 million loss before accounting for commissions and taxes.

NYC Condo

Finally, in 2015, Anthony paid $11 million for a 4,556-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom condo in New York City. He listed the property for sale at $12.85 million in 2020, with no takers. Two years later, he relisted it at $12.5 million. It sold for just $10.5 million in 2023.

Philanthropy

Along with his expensive homes, Anthony also gave generously to various charities and institutions, including $1.5 million to the Living Classrooms Foundation, $3 million to Syracuse University for its basketball program, and $35,000 to relief efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Introduction

Kevin Garnett is an American former professional NBA player with an estimated net worth of $120 Million.

Quick Facts

• Earned $334.3 million in salary during his NBA career
• Peak annual salary of $28 million in 2003
• Most valuable contract: 6-year, $126 million deal with the Timberwolves
• Typically earned $2 million per year from his Adidas endorsement

NBA Salary

Kevin Garnett’s 1995 NBA debut with the Minnesota Timberwolves saw him earn $1.6 million. In 1998, Garnett signed a new six-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves worth $126 million. Within just a couple of years, he was earning more than $20 million per season, with his career-high salary coming in 2003 at $28 million.

In 2004, Garnett signed another 9-figure contract with the Timberwolves, worth $100 million. Not many NBA players have signed multiple 9-figure contracts in the league’s history. At one point, Garnett was the NBA player with the most lifetime earnings in the sport’s history.

Kevin Garnett earned a jaw-dropping $334.3 million in salary during his NBA career. His time spent playing in Minnesota accounts for nearly $218 million.

After retiring from basketball, Kevin was looking for business opportunities to join. He was particularly interested in buying a basketball franchise as he felt that players who helped to build the business should get a shot at owning a piece of the action.

Endorsements

Garnett joined Nike after graduating from high school, departed after five years to join AND1, and then joined Adidas. He introduced the first Air Garnett at the 1998 All-Star Game, becoming just the 10th Nike player to do so. His most well-known pair would turn out to be the Air Garnett 3.

Kevin Garnett was the first All-Star player to secure a multi-million-dollar endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear company Anta in 2010. He had previously made around $2 million annually at Adidas when the Chinese sportswear giant approached him with a better offer.

AS Roma Planned Investment

In December 2011, Kevin Garnett had plans to acquire a minority stake in the Italian Serie A soccer team AS Roma. Unfortunately, this deal was blocked by the NBA due to a conflict of interest. James Pallotta, the club’s primary shareholder, also owned a minority stake in the NBA’s Boston Celtics. Since Garnett was playing for the Celtics at the time, the NBA viewed this as a conflict of interest. This is quite a shame, since AS Roma’s valuation has tripled since the proposed deal.

Real Estate

Unfinished Miami Mansion

In July 1997, Kevin Garnett paid $3.6 million for a 7-acre plot of land along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. Garnett spent many years designing and obtaining planning permission to build an 11,000-square-foot home on the property. He began construction but decided to sell before the mansion was fully completed. In 2018, he listed the property for $19.9 million. It sold for $16 million in 2021.

Minnesota Home

In August 2006, while playing for the Timberwolves, Garnett paid $6.05 million for a 12,129-square-foot home in Long Lake, Minnesota. Regarding the sale of this home, most news websites reported that he sold it in October 2022 for $9 million. However, according to public records, the house was also sold in February 2007 for $6.45 million, roughly four months before he was traded. 

Thus, he either bought the property for $6.05 million in August 2006, realized he would be traded, and sold the house for $6.45 million shortly after. Alternatively, he paid $6.45 million in February 2007 and waited until 2022 to sell.

Summary 

Garnett played twenty-one seasons in the NBA and achieved great things with every team he played for. He was regarded as one of the most valuable players in the NBA, and his huge contracts proved this. Now that he is retired, he still tries to help where he can and has invested substantial sums in sports to help others achieve greatness.