How much is Charles Barkley worth?
| Net Worth: | $50 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Basketball Player |
| Date of Birth: | February 20, 1963 (age 59) |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.98 m) |
About Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is one of the greatest basketball players that have ever played the game. He is also a top-five all-time power forward. Even if Chuck was undersized for that position, he played the game with so much power, ferocity and a knack of rebounding that he dominated guys who were taller than him. He is also considered one of the biggest freak athletes the NBA has ever seen with a unique combination of speed, power and weight.
He was born in Alabama and was the first black baby to be born in a segregated all-white hospital. His early life was a struggle, mostly due to his father abandoning the family. He wasn’t started on his high school team until his senior year. He was always undersized, until his senior year when he grew 6 inches. In his first season the team averaged 19 points and 18 rebounds and led his high school to the state semifinals. It was that semifinal game where he was highlighted as one of the best players. An assistant to Auburn University’s head coach, Sonny Smith, reported seeing “a fat guy… who can play like the wind.” Barkley immediately began getting college offers.
The college that he went with, was Auburn. Their coach was shocked to see how explosive and fast Barkley really was. While he was listed at 6’6 and played center in college, he was really 6’5. At that height the fact that he led his college conference in rebounding every year was an astounding accomplishment. He would stay with the Auburn Tigers for three years and become their greatest player. He also won numerous awards and still leads the school with the highest field goal percentage of 63%. He was a fan favorite from the first season onwards. Barkley knew how to get the crowd going and they especially enjoyed his coast to coast dunk and ferocious blocks where he would send the ball flying a couple of rows high. He led the team to their first-ever National Tournament. In 2001, Auburn retired his jersey with the number 34.
After his third year at Auburn, he went into the NBA draft where he was supposed to go high, a top 10 player in most mocks. He was selected as the fifth pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Charles had struggled with his weight and conditioning in college and high school, however he overcame all that and ended up with a team full of all-time great veterans like Moses Malone and Julius Erving. They helped Chuck greatly during his first few years. Under their guidance, he became one of the best players in the league in just three years.
In his fourth year with the 76ers, he was selected as the second-best player in the league, behind only Magic Johnson. His sixth season with the team would be his last. He had grown frustrated with the team ownership. As a top 5 guy in the league, he felt that he didn’t have enough help around him. He knew if he wanted to win a title he needed to move to another franchise.
During the 92-93 season, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. That first season with the Suns was incredible, he averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists and was named the NBA MVP for that regular season. Everyone thought that the Suns had a shot at the NBA title that season. One man had another idea. Sadly for Charles Barkley, that man was the undefeated Michael Jordan. He stayed with the Suns for four seasons, but due to injuries and some controversies, he never repeated the success both him and the team enjoyed in his first season.
Charles Barkley was traded to the Houston Rockets where he stayed for four years. He was one of the greatest players of his generation, but he failed to win a title. He won other awards and was even 13 times all-star. After his playing career was over, and as he stated, “just what America needs, another unemployed black man”, he was hired by TNT to do their NBA on TNT show, provide commentary about the games and events around the league.
Barkley’s Total Net Worth
During his time in the NBA, Barkley earned a total of $43.6 million dollars in earnings. His biggest earnings in the league came from his time with the Houston Rockets where he was paid $9 million. During his sports career, he also earned around $25 million dollars from his endorsements with Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Nike, Right Guard, and T-Mobile. In total, Barkley has earned estimated total career income of $68.6 million dollars.
Of that amount, $4-6 million is expected to have been paid in business related costs. The remainder, $63.6 million, will have been taxed at a rate of around 38% as Barkley resided in various states during his career, but mostly in Texas, Arizona and Pennsylvania. After tax, it is estimated that his career earnings are at around $39.43 million dollars, having paid $24.17 million dollars in taxes.
Charles Barkley married Maureen Blumhardt in 1989 and they remain together. While some ball players have lost large sums in divorce settlements, or simply from over spending, Barkley allegedly lost around $20 million dollars gambling. He has likely earned some from his investments, perhaps in the region of $7-8 million. However, it is considered that his net worth today could have been around $60-65 million today, if it was not for his gambling addiction. Fortunately, Barkley is an excellent television sports analyst and earned a $30 million dollar deal with TNT. Therefore, it is estimated that Charles Barkley has a net worth of around $50 million dollars.
Barkley succeeds twice in his life. First, as an NBA player, and then his second success has been as a sports analyst and commentator. Barkley was a hard worker from the start, and also a basketball prospect with incredible athletic potential. A lot of people didn’t know what to do with someone like him, the Auburn coach knew how to foster his talents. Barkley had the power of a center, combined with the speed of a guard and the leaping ability of some of the finest dunkers of all time. All that fused into one of the best power forwards ever.
Charley Barkley is also a smart, witty man. His interviews were always a must-watch. His personality, ability to analyze and crack jokes at both players and his co-hosts on NBA on TNT has made him a beloved figure all around the world.
Summing-Up
A child raised by a single mother, a high school player with zero offers and playing time until his final year of high school, to an athletic freak who would become the greatest player in Auburn history. Not to mention one of the most dominant power forwards of all time. Charley Barkley has lived an immense life in the NBA but has also shown that athletes are more than just their bodies. He has charmed and at times infuriated the public with his witty comments as a sportscaster. Love him or hate him, you have to congratulate him on all his amazing accomplishments.
