Scottie Pippen Net Worth: NBA Salary, Businesses, Endorsements, and More

Would you believe it if I said that an NBA superstar who helped his team to 6 NBA titles was paid much less than his teammates? Scottie Pippen had nearly earned $100 million from his career. And still, Pippen’s net worth is nowhere close to what he earned during his NBA career. There were several more issues with one being bizarre contracts in the league’s history. Why would an elite player who played an instrumental role in the league’s surge in popularity not be adequately compensated during his prime? 

Interestingly, not only did he realize the financial gap but also asked to fill the same. However, all his requests went in vain. But things are changing. It is worth knowing how there was a drop in the Bulls legend’s net worth and how he is slowly building it back.

What is so weird about Scottie Pippen’s deal with the Chicago Bulls?

Growing up in a family of 12 siblings was tough for Pippen. He wanted financial security for his family over anything. But in his haste, the Bulls legend ended up making a decision that he went on to regret for around 8 years of his career. That’s a long time. Unlike the modern era, which has sufficient laws and rules to protect players, the ’90s lacked such concepts. 

As a 5th overall pick, the rookie signed a 6-year rookie deal with the Bulls in 1987. Again, that might be a shocker to the current generation as rookies now only have a 4-year deal. The problem began in 1991 when the Bulls star was seeking financial stability as he feared that injuries would cause issues. He thought a 5-year extension worth $18 million was worth it and signed it even before the end of his fourth year.

At that time, the salary cap was only $11.9 million. He was either not aware of or concerned about how much the salary cap would be changed in the future. By the time the Bulls rose to prominence, the salary cap had doubled.

The most frustrating part was Pippen’s deal with the Bulls turning into an 8-year commitment. This was mainly because the last two years of his rookie deal were not voided. It was extended by one more year as he signed the extension during the 1991 NBA Finals game. Then, Pippen was earning $2.6 million every year. Luckily, after his contract ended, Pippen was able to make more than what earned with the Bulls.

Early in his career, Pippen had a deal with Avia and later switched to Nike. Most of Pippen’s earnings are from his endorsement deals with McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, Right Guard, Visa, Coca-Cola, and more. 

A 5-year deal worth $67.2 million from the Houston Rockets came knocking. He ended his career with the Bulls with a 2-year deal that paid him $10 million. As a whole, he earned nearly $109 million in his career. But here comes the shocking part: Pippen now only has a net worth of $20 million. That is because some poor financial decisions have also been problematic for the Bulls legend.

Wrong financial advisor caused problems for Scottie Pippen

Even after his retirement, the 6x NBA champ couldn’t catch a break. Alas, he met a financial advisor who was actually a fraud. Before Pippen could realize it, he was already robbed of $20 million. While the advisor was later imprisoned, the damage had already been done. A significant portion of his salary was paid in child support for Pippen’s eight children.

In 2021, the 7x NBA All-Star divorced Larsa Pippen. The two shared four children, Scottie Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia. In 2023, the court ordered Pippen to pay half of his Chicago Bulls retirement funds as part of the divorce settlement. In simple words, this settlement covered half of his earnings throughout their 20-year marriage, from 1997 to 2016. 

But, he is turning the tides for himself by shifting his focus to business. Once in a while, Pippen also makes public appearances. The Game 5 ball from the 1991 championship that he had been holding on for years had also been put in blockchain through the $Ball Token project. And he will be soon releasing a new documentary on the 1991 Bulls’ championship. Then there’s his book Unguarded. Had his circumstances been a bit different, Pippen might have been one of the richest NBA players in the present.