Having Earned $110 Million in 18 Years, Here?s How Hakeem Olajuwon Cracked the Code to Tripling His NBA Salary

NBA pros have always been turning to off-the-court ventures to grow their million-dollar earnings. Some turn into success stories worth noting. Hakeem Olajuwon is one of them. Coming off an illustrious NBA playing career, The Dream?built an empire that matches his nickname. Now he’s sharing how he didn’t let his fortunes stay stagnant after retiring from basketball.

The Houston Rockets legend is worth a cool $300 million as of 2023. He built it with business acumen developed in the Rockets turf. Because an NBA star knows a thing or two about home court advantage.

Hakeem Olajuwon established himself in H-Town

Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon came to the US to attend the University of Houston. He’d go on to start his professional basketball career in 1984 with the Houston Rockets and win two championship titles with them. After a stint with the Toronto Raptors, he retired in 2002. He returned to Houston thereafter but didn’t stay idle.

Olajuwon made a killing over 18 years in the NBA. His total earnings amount to $110 million. Across two decades, he’s grown it to $300 million with strategic real estate dealings. He would credit H-Town for his realty skills too. He told The New York Times, “I try to see its potential; what it could be used for,? about the properties he buys.

Olajuwon lived in Houston long enough to know the real estate hotspots. He strategically flipped properties near the city’s light-rail line, near the Texas Medical Center, and close to the Houston Astros’ Minute Maid Park.

He’s also surrounded himself with experts who study satellite views to identify traffic patterns and good investment areas. What made him go from the court to escrow? “I like real estate because, you know, it’s real,” as per his account.

He’s not the first NBA player who turned their passive income into a real estate empire. But he has a distinct advantage. Olajuwon always pays cash for the properties as it’s against his faith to charge or pay interest. ?I have been blessed thus far to be able to work with my own capital, which gives me the ability to decide when I want to sell...,” he said.

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“As opposed to having a bank loan hanging over my head that in some cases, can force you to sell even though you may not be ready to,” explained the 1994 NBA MVP.

Hakeem Olajuwon’s attachment to Houston

Even NBA players elevate The Dream?over themselves. Now he’s leaving Houston’s movers and shakers in awe of his astute realty sense.

His strategies have won acclaim within Houston’s business community. But can his tactics work in another city? Olajuwon is open to expanding beyond Houston but not anytime soon. “It’s where I have the home court advantage.”

Within four years of retirement, Olajuwon had at least 25 properties in his portfolio.

He grew it to not only residential places but also parking garages, commercial buildings, homes, and apartment complexes. What do you think about?The Dream’s?fascinating new career?

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