Scottie Pippen Net Worth: How the NBA Legend Made and Lost Millions

Scottie Pippen is considered to be one of the most exceptional NBA players of all time. He was a key player of the Chicago Bulls dynasty that won six championships in the 1990s alongside Michael Jordan. But how much is Scottie Pippen worth today? And how did he make and lose millions of dollars during and after his basketball career? This article will explore Scottie Pippen's net worth, salary, endorsements, and financial troubles.
Scottie Pippen Net Worth
Scottie Pippen net worth is 20 million dollars as of 2023. This is a fraction of what he earned during his 17-year NBA career, which totaled $109 million in salary alone. He also made tens of millions more from endorsements and other sources of income.
However, Pippen also lost a lot of money due to bad investments, legal issues, divorce settlements, child support payments, and lavish spending habits. He also signed one of the worst contracts in NBA history, severely underpaid him during his prime years with the Bulls.
Past Salaries
He signed a four-year, $5 million rookie contract with the Bulls, which paid him an average of $1.25 million annually.
After winning his first NBA title with the Bulls in 1991, he signed a seven-year, $18 million contract extension with the team. This turned out to be a huge mistake, as he became one of the most underpaid stars in the league. While Michael Jordan earned over $30 million per year in his final seasons with the Bulls, Scottie Pippen made less than $3 million annually.
Pippen finally got a big payday in 1998 when he was traded to the Houston Rockets and signed a five-year, $67.2 million contract with them. He played only one season with the Rockets before being traded again to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent four seasons and earned over $50 million.
Scottie Pippen returned to the Chicago Bulls for his final two seasons in the NBA, signing a two-year, $10 million deal in 2003. He retired from basketball in 2004 at the age of 38.
Financial Troubles
Despite earning over $100 million from basketball and endorsements, Scottie Pippen faced financial troubles that significantly reduced his net worth. Some of his financial woes include:
- Defrauded by his former financial advisor Robert Lunn, who stole over $20 million from him and forged his signature to pay off his debts. Lunn was sentenced to three years in prison for bank fraud in 2007.
- Suing his former law firm for giving him bad advice on a private jet purchase that cost him over $4 million in maintenance and repairs.
- Paying millions of dollars in divorce settlements and child support payments to his ex-wives and eight children from four different women.
- Losing millions of dollars in bad investments such as real estate deals, restaurants, car dealerships, and an airline company.
Conclusion
Scottie Pippen is among the best basketball players ever but not among the richest. Scottie Pippen net worth is 20 million. He made and lost millions of dollars during and after his career due to various factors such as bad contracts, bad investments, bad advisors, and bad luck. However, he still has a legacy that will live on forever in the hearts of basketball fans.