Scottie Pippen Net Worth, Early Life, Career, Personal life, Real Estate And More
Scottie Pippen Net Worth
High School Shine Great Neck South in 1972.The basketball legend Scottie Pippen may have a healthy $20 million nest egg, but his NBA career was something out of a fantasy. Just just his on-court achievements over his amazing 17-year career, Pippen earned an extraordinary $109 million. Not to mention the substantial sums of money he received from those lucrative endorsement deals.
In contemporary discussions about the Chicago Bulls’ heyday, Michael Jordan is frequently the first name that comes to mind. He helped the team win six NBA titles and shatter records in that historic 1995–96 season with an incredible 72 wins. He was the glue that held the team together during their reign. Not to mention his abilities: in the 1994 All-Star Game, he won MVP. He was chosen seven times for the NBA All-Star team.
Pippen’s genius was promptly recognized by the Chicago Bulls and the NBA, who named him one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History for the 1996–1997 season. He is now among the select few as his jersey has been retired.
But wait, there’s more! Pippen wasn’t just a hoops hero—he was an Olympic champ too, snagging both an NBA title and Olympic gold in the same year, not once, but twice! Yup, in ’92 and ’96, he pulled off that incredible feat.
His story? It’s one that still lights up basketball courts and fires up fans today, proving that with talent, grit, and a whole lot of heart, anything is possible.
Contracts And Salary
You know, there’s this story in NBA legend that suggests Scottie Pippen was perhaps the most underpaid player of all time. Although it’s not the complete story, there is some truth behind it. Scottie signed a seven-year, $18 million contract in 1991, right as the Bulls were at their zenith. Now, think about it—in those glory days, Michael Jordan was banking over $30 million annually in salary, while Scottie was making a humble $2.6 million. Crazy, right? But here’s the kicker: Scottie wasn’t thinking about himself when he signed. He was thinking about his family. Growing up, he knew what it was like to scrape by—dirt poor, one of 12 siblings, with a father and brother both in wheelchairs. Security for them meant more than any paycheck.
However, that contract started to irritate Scottie over time. He believed that he was treated unfairly and that he was entitled to more. Interestingly, though, when you add up all of Scottie’s NBA earnings, he actually made more money than Michael ($94 million), coming in at $109 million. A substantial five-year, $67.2 million contract with the Houston Rockets prior to the 1998–1999 season provided the most of that money. When he returned to the Bulls for his last gasp, he even added an additional $10 million to his total.
It’s weird how that’s life, huh? The man who had previously felt underappreciated ultimately made a sizable profit.
Scottie Pippen Endorsements
Scottie had quite the journey when it came to his kicks. Back in his early NBA days, he was rocking Avia sneakers, but just like Mike, he eventually made the switch to Nike. And let me tell you, that move opened up a whole new world for him. With Nike by his side, Scottie dropped some seriously iconic signature shoes, none more legendary than the Pippen 1, hitting the shelves back in ’97.
But wait, the shoe game wasn’t the only arena where Scottie was making waves. Oh no, he had a whole squad of big-name endorsements backing him up. Think Ameritech Cellular TV, Frito-Lay, Visa, McDonald’s, Right Guard, and Coca-Cola—yeah, he was in good company. From the court to the commercials, Scottie was everywhere, leaving his mark in style.
Scottie Pippen Early Life
Scotty Maurice Pippen was born on September 25, 1965, and raised in Hamburg, Arkansas. And here’s the thing: Ethel and Preston Pippen are parents to a staggering twelve children. He is the youngest. Tall genes? You betcha. Mom was a solid 6 feet, and Dad wasn’t far behind at 6 foot 1. But Scottie? Well, he took the cake in the height department.
Growing up wasn’t an easy life. His father put a lot of effort into his work at the paper mill until a stroke rendered him mostly crippled. Scottie needed to be the leader, on and off the court. He was also a fierce player at Hamburg High School, where in his final season he was named an all-conference player and guided his team to the state playoffs.
This is where the story gets more complicated. He wasn’t exactly flooded with college scholarships, despite his brilliance. But that didn’t stop Scottie. He walked on at the University of Central Arkansas, standing tall at 6’1″ as a freshman. But then, bam! A growth spurt hit, and suddenly, he’s towering at 6’8″.
Life in college? It belonged to Scottie. He was the real deal, averaging 23.6 points, 10 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and shooting close to 60% from the field each game.
Fast forward to the big leagues—1987 NBA Draft day. Scottie gets picked up in the first round by the Seattle Supersonics. But hold on, the Bulls had their eyes on him too. Problem was, their draft pick wasn’t quite low enough to snag him. So, what did they do? They orchestrated a trade with Seattle to bring Pippen to the Windy City.
Scottie Pippen Career
In 1987, Scottie Pippen made his NBA debut while playing for the Bulls against the 76ers. In just over 20 minutes of play, he scored 10 points, grabbed a board, assisted 4, and committed a steal. It was a good game for him. With the victory, the Bulls began what would prove to be an incredible career.
The following season, when the playoffs arrived, Pippen solidified his place as the starting small forward, collaborating with MJ to lead the Bulls to their greatest point total in years. They achieved a significant turnaround for the squad by making it to the conference semifinals.
However, Pippen’s genuine breakthrough season came in 1990–91. He developed into a formidable defender and a dangerous scorer, recording his first triple-double against the Clippers. In just thirty minutes of play, picture yourself scoring thirteen points, giving out twelve assists, and getting thirteen rebounds. That alone demonstrates a great deal of versatility.
Who could forget those Bulls’ three-peat seasons, of course? In order to secure his place among the greatest, Pippen was instrumental in helping the team win those titles.
Even after leaving Chicago in ’98, Pippen kept on ballin’. He did stints with the Rockets and the Trail Blazers before circling back to the Bulls in various roles.
However, it goes beyond statistics and titles. When it comes to making incredible plays, like swiping the ball or launching a huge dunk, Pippen is renowned for his lockdown defense. His influence on the game will always be remembered, and he is a legend both on and off the court.
Olympic “Dream Team”
In ’92, Pippen got the nod to join the Dream Team for the Olympics in Barcelona. That was a major moment. They went all the way, bringing home the gold for the USA. And what made it even sweeter? Pippen and MJ made history by clinching both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold in the same year. Now that’s what you call a winning combo!
Scottie Pippen Personal Life
There have been highs and lows in Scottie Pippen’s romantic life. His marriage to Karen McCollum took place in 1988, and the following year they welcomed their son, Antron, into the world. However, they unfortunately went through a challenging time in their marriage and split up in 1990.
Later, Pippen rekindled his romantic relationship with Larsa Younan, who was most famous for portraying Larsa Pippen on “Real Housewives of Miami.” Following their 1997 wedding, the couple welcomed four children: Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia.However, even that marriage eventually ended, sadly, in 2021.
However, Pippen’s family doesn’t end with his unions. He was previously in a relationship with Yvette De Leon, and the two had a daughter, Sierra, and Taylor, who was with model Sonya Roby. It is terrible to learn that Taylor’s twin sister Tyler passed away nine days after Taylor was born.
Currently, Scotty Jr. is continuing his father’s basketball career by playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Even on television, Sophia became well-known for her performance in the first season of “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors.” It seems that there are talented members of the family!
Financial Issues
Over the years, there’s been talk about Scottie facing some tough times financially after hanging up his jersey. Some stories even suggested he was practically broke not long after leaving the NBA. But from what we’ve dug up, those tales are stretching the truth a bit.
Sure, Scottie’s had his share of money woes, and the biggest hit came from a guy named Robert Lunn, his former financial advisor. Scottie trusted him, especially since he came recommended by the Bulls themselves. However, it proved to be an expensive error. Scottie filed a lawsuit against Lunn in 2016 on the grounds that the man had recklessly spent $20 million of his hard-earned money.
It’s a crazy story. Lunn supposedly handed over millions to a dodgy friend for real estate investments, which ended up going bust. And get this – he even convinced Scottie to drop $4 million on a private jet that turned out to be a lemon, needing another mil just to get it up in the air.
In the end, justice caught up with Lunn. He got slapped with three years behind bars for fraud, including forging Scottie’s signature on a hefty loan to cover his own debts. Talk about a financial nightmare!
Scottie Pippen Real Estate
Just outside of Chicago in Highland Park, Scottie and Larsa Pippen discovered their ideal house back in 2004. With six bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, a movie theater, a sauna, a game room, a wine cellar, and even an indoor basketball court with Pippen’s Bulls jersey directly on the floor, the sprawling 2.6-acre property had every luxury anyone could ask for. It felt like a five-star resort!
But things took a turn when Scottie decided to sell in 2016. He initially hoped to fetch a cool $3.1 million for the place, but the market had other ideas. Despite its charms, the house languished on the market for three whole years. Scottie had to face reality and dropped the price down to $1.899 million just to drum up some interest. To keep the bills paid, he rented it out for a hefty $16,000 a month until finally, in late 2021, someone snapped it up for just under $2 million. It was a relief to finally close that chapter!
And Scottie’s adventures on property didn’t end there. He owned a magnificent property in the Harbor Beach district of Fort Lauderdale, down in warm South Florida. This house was genuinely wonderful with its Venetian-style building, pool, basketball court, gourmet kitchen, game room, and movie theater in addition to its breathtaking views of the canal leading to the beach. He tried to get an amazing $16 million for it in 2010, but it didn’t seem like any bidders were interested. He even made the astounding offer to rent it as a luxury residence for $40,000 a month at one time! For Scottie, the world of real estate was quite the rollercoaster.
Facts
- NBA Earnings: Over his 17-year NBA career, Scottie Pippen earned a staggering $109 million in salary alone. His highest-paying contract was a five-year deal worth $67.2 million with the Houston Rockets.
- Endorsements: Pippen also earned substantial income from endorsement deals, including partnerships with Nike, Ameritech Cellular TV, Frito-Lay, Visa, McDonald’s, Right Guard, and Coca-Cola.
- Early Underpayment: Despite his immense contributions to the Chicago Bulls dynasty alongside Michael Jordan, Pippen initially signed a seven-year, $18 million contract in 1991, significantly less than his teammate’s salary. However, he eventually earned more than Jordan over his career.
- Real Estate Ventures: Pippen invested in luxury real estate properties, including a 2.6-acre estate in Highland Park, Illinois, and a Venetian-style mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He faced challenges in selling these properties, including price reductions and extended time on the market.
- Financial Issues: Pippen faced financial challenges, notably due to mismanagement by his former financial advisor, Robert Lunn. Pippen filed a lawsuit against Lunn for reckless spending of $20 million and forgery of his signature on loans.
Summary
Basketball icon Scottie Pippen, who is well-known for his role in the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty, accumulated a sizeable net worth from his earnings in the NBA, lucrative endorsement contracts, and real estate endeavors. Even though he signed a small salary at first, Pippen became one of the wealthiest players of his day when his career earnings topped $100 million. But because of his prior advisor’s poor management, he had financial difficulties. Despite these difficulties, Pippen has a sizable net worth.
FAQ
How much did Scottie Pippen earn in his NBA career?
Pippen earned $109 million in salary over his 17-year NBA career, including a lucrative contract with the Houston Rockets.
What endorsement deals did Scottie Pippen have?
Pippen had endorsement deals with Nike, Ameritech Cellular TV, Frito-Lay, Visa, McDonald’s, Right Guard, and Coca-Cola, among others.
Did Scottie Pippen face financial challenges?
Yes, Pippen faced financial challenges, including mismanagement by his former financial advisor, resulting in lawsuits and losses of millions of dollars.
What real estate properties did Scottie Pippen own?
Pippen owned luxury properties in Highland Park, Illinois, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but faced challenges in selling them, including price reductions and extended time on the marke.
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