What was Kobe Bryant’s net worth?
Kobe Bryant, a renowned American professional basketball player, producer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, had a net worth of $600 million before his tragic death in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. He was an 18X NBA All-Star, a 5X NBA Champion, and 2X NBA Finals MVP.
Despite retiring from basketball, Kobe was still one of the highest-paid athletes in sports. He earned hundreds of millions of dollars from salary and endorsements throughout his lifetime. He also made incredibly shrewd business investments, such as his equity stake in the drink BodyArmour, which was worth $200 million at the time of his death. He had paid only $6 million for the stake just six years prior.
In October 2021, Coca-Cola acquired 100% ownership of BodyArmour for $5.6 billion, making Kobe’s investment even more profitable.
Kobe Bryant’s Net Worth Would Have Been $700 Million in a Different Reality
At the time of his death, Kobe Bryant’s net worth was $600 million, which included $200 million in pre-tax value from his investment in BodyArmour. However, by the time Coca-Cola acquired 100% of BodyArmour at an $8 billion valuation in October 2021, the Bryant estate’s equity had been reduced to 5%. This resulted in his estate grossing $400 million pre-tax from the transaction, equating to around $270 million after taxes.
If Kobe were still alive during this deal, his net worth would have increased from $600 million to $670 million, accounting for a $200 million increase in the BodyArmour valuation and a $130 million decrease due to taxes. Taking into account other deals and transactions, it is safe to assume that in a different reality, Kobe Bryant would have started 2022 with a net worth of $700 million.
Kobe Bryant’s Early Life and Basketball Career
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23rd, 1978 in Philadelphia to former NBA player Joe Bryant and his wife. He was named after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan. The family moved to Italy when Kobe was six, where he learned to speak Italian fluently. During summers, he returned to the US to play basketball in summer leagues. The family later moved back to Philadelphia, where Kobe attended Lower Merion High School and led his team to their first state championship in 53 years. He was named Gatorade’s Men’s National Basketball player of the year and the USA Today’s All USA first team player. Despite having a high enough SAT score for college, Kobe opted to go straight to the NBA and became the youngest player in history to be drafted.
Kobe Bryant’s Early Years in the NBA
Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Hornets but was traded to the Lakers in a prearranged deal. His rookie contract was cosigned by his parents, as he was only 17 at the time. His first NBA contract was a three-year $3.5 million deal.
At 18, Kobe became the youngest starter in NBA history. It wasn’t until his third year with the Lakers that he really hit his stride and started to be compared to the likes of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. His third year also brought him a $70 million 6-year contract extension.
In 1999, Phil Jackson became coach of the Lakers, and Kobe, Jackson, and the Lakers went on to win the NBA championship five times, including three consecutive years from 2000-2002.
Kobe Bryant’s Career Earnings and Endorsements
Kobe Bryant earned over $328 million in salary during his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. His most notable contracts include a three-year $90 million extension signed in 2010 and a 2-year $48.5 million extension signed in 2013. In his final year in the NBA, Kobe earned $25 million in salary.
In addition to his salary, Kobe earned approximately $350 million from endorsements during his lifetime. His most notable endorsements included Nike, Sprite, McDonald’s, Turkish Airlines, Lenovo, Hublot, and Panini. Kobe also signed lucrative Chinese-specific endorsement deals with companies including Alibaba, Sina.com, and Mercedes Benz due to his popularity in China.
While Kobe was signed to Adidas for the first years of his career, many of his endorsement deals were canceled in 2003 following sexual assault allegations. However, Nike continued to sponsor Kobe, signing him to a 4-year deal that paid $10 million per year. Nike did not use Kobe in any sponsorship works for two years.
Despite the controversy, endorsement deals eventually returned in full-force for Kobe. In total, his career earnings from salary and endorsements amounted to $680 million.
Kobe Bryant’s Investment in BodyArmor Pays Off with $400 Million Windfall
In 2014, Kobe Bryant purchased a 10% equity stake in sports drink BodyArmour for $6 million. Four years later, Coca-Cola bought a 15% stake in the company, valuing it at $2 billion, which meant Kobe’s investment was worth $200 million. Coca-Cola eventually acquired a total of 30% equity stake. In October 2021, Coca-Cola purchased the remaining 70% of BodyArmour for $5.6 billion, valuing the brand at $8 billion. Despite his stake being reduced to 5%, Kobe’s estate still earned a massive $400 million from the transaction.
Kobe’s Olympic and Academy Awards Achievements
Kobe Bryant won gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. He was a key player for the United States Olympic basketball team, helping them secure victories against Spain and France.
In 2018, Kobe Bryant made history by winning an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. His film “Dear Basketball” was based on a poem he wrote to announce his retirement from basketball. The film was directed by Glen Keane and produced by Kobe Bryant. It tells the story of Kobe’s journey from a young boy with a dream to a legendary basketball player.
Kobe Bryant’s Venture Capital Company
Kobe Bryant and business partner Jeff Stibel launched a venture capital company called Byrant-Stibel in August 2016 with $100 million in funding. The fund aimed to invest in technology, media and data companies and the partners invested in numerous firms including LegalZoom, The Players Tribune, Juicero and Scopely. In 2019, they revealed that their venture capital fund had grown to $2 billion, as reported on CNBC.
Kobe Bryant’s Marriage and Family Life
In 1999, Kobe Bryant married 17-year-old Vanessa Laine whom he met while she was working as a background dancer in a music video. They got engaged within six months of their first meeting and tied the knot in April 2001. The couple had four daughters, Natalia Diamante, Gianna Maria-Onore, Bianka, and Capri.
However, their marriage hit a rough patch in 2011 when Vanessa filed for divorce after 10.5 years of marriage. The couple had no pre-nup and Vanessa’s divorce settlement could have cost Kobe $100-150 million. They eventually reconciled and continued to raise their family together.
Kobe’s dedication and contribution to the game of basketball were recognized even after his passing. In February 2020, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver renamed the All-Star Game MVP Trophy as the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award to honor Kobe’s legacy.
Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash
Kobe Bryant, the former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star, died on January 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash at the age of 41. The crash also claimed the lives of eight other people, including Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna. The news of his sudden death came as a shock to fans and the sports world as a whole.
