The Bad Boys Pistons were always ahead of their time. While we’ve seen athletes maintain financial stability after retirement, this NBA legend didn’t just maintain it, he boosted it with his business knowledge. He turned his NBA career earnings into a business empire that could rival the one Shaquille O’Neal built with years of hard work. It wasn’t easy for this Pistons legend either. It was smart business plans and wise investment decisions that helped him grow his empire.

The man behind this success story is none other than the Pistons legend Vinnie Johnson. The NBA legend was able to turn his $5 million into a massive fortune. But how?

Vinnie Johnson made history with the Piston Group 

In those days, it was uncommon to see athletes achieving such massive success in business after retirement. After the tiring schedule, it wasn’t possible for the athletes to focus on their business. The Pistons legend might not be as familiar to today’s generation, but avid fans certainly know him.

The 2x NBA Champion wasn’t focused only on financial stability, he also wanted to contribute to the community. His vision led to the founding of his automotive company, Piston Group. The aim of the brand was to create more job opportunities for Detroit residents. The company’s primary business was supplying auto parts to three of the biggest automotive companies, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. The names are well known among automotive enthusiasts.

Gradually, the company began expanding its reach. Taking a significant step forward, it started supplying parts to Japanese automotive companies such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. Today, the company operates in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri and it continues to expand its presence.

After all these years, Piston Group boasts consistent growth and productivity. It started from earning just $1 million and the latest annual revenue earned in 2023 was a whopping $3.4 billion. And with growth, it has welcomed more people into the organization.

This success is a major contributor to Johnson’s net worth, which now stands at $500 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Yes, his net worth rivals the Los Angeles Lakers legend O’Neal’s wealth. The Lakers legend also boasts some of the lucrative deals and investments.

“Piston Group wasn’t just founded to make things. It was founded with a vision to make things better. And that begins with building better teams solely dedicated to achieving excellence at every level of execution through a combination of experience, expertise, and a deep seeded passion for what we do. Our companies consistently set the standard because our people consistently raise the bar,” this is what the official page of the brand reads. 

It further read, “We create solutions and breakthroughs. But at the end of the day, what we really create is value. And that has become the purpose that our entire Piston Group family lives and breathes every day — to not just build, but to build value.”

Vinnie Johnson’s stellar NBA Career

When we think of the NBA in the ’80s, names like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird come to mind. Vinnie Johnson is also one such name that deserves a place on that list. However, the rules and circumstances were very different back then. Not only was the playing style different, but NBA salaries were also far lower than mentioned before, and players earned significantly less than they do now.

Drafted as the 7th pick by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, Johnson spent 13 years in the NBA. Despite this, his total earnings of $5 million pale in comparison to those of today’s players. However, he is well aware of how to turn the tables with his business acumen.

He was nicknamed “The Microwave,” by Danny Ainge who was impressed with his offense game. The ex-NBA player played for three different teams throughout his career and if he were to be a player in the current generation, he would have easily earned more than $150 million. His highest salary in a single season was $1.4 million.

The Detroit Pistons were one of the teams that gained significant popularity. Their style of play was extremely physical for the NBA at the time, which is uncommon now with many rules having changed. The Pistons and Vinnie Johnson were crucial parts of this era. 

Having played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Detroit Pistons, and San Antonio Spurs, Johnson scored 11,825 points in his career. He won NBA titles with the Pistons in 1989  against the Lakers. In 1990, he led the Pistons again to win against the San Antonio Spurs. His 14-foot shot to bring down the Portland Trailblazers in 1992 is one of the memorable highlights of his career. After Johnson’s retirement in 1992, his jersey number 15 was retired by the Detroit Pistons. “It was a huge honor. The fact that they retired my jersey tells me that I did some great things for the organization,” Johnson said.

Both skills and business are two important elements that Johnson mastered despite the situation that wasn’t so advantageous for the athletes and built an impressive career both on and off the court.