Scottie Pippen Net worth
Net Worth Scottie Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who has a net worth of $20 million. Over his 17-season NBA career, Pippen earned $109 million in salary alone and tens of millions more from endorsements.
NBA Career Scottie Pippen spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Bulls, playing nine of his seasons there. He was pivotal in the Bulls’ success, contributing to six NBA championships, including the record-breaking 1995–96 season with 72 wins. Pippen was a seven-time NBA All-Star and the MVP of the NBA All-Star Game in 1994.
He was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History during the 1996–97 season. Pippen is one of four players to have his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls. Notably, he is the only NBA player to have won an NBA title and an Olympic gold medal in the same year twice (1992, 1996).
Contracts and Salary Scottie Pippen’s earnings in the NBA have been a subject of much discussion. While often cited as the most underpaid player, this is only partly true. Before the 1991 season, Pippen signed a 7-year, $18 million contract extension. Despite his invaluable contribution to the team, he earned $2.6 million per year, a far cry from Michael Jordan’s $30+ million per year at the time.
Pippen later expressed that he signed the contract to ensure financial security for his family, who faced significant challenges during his upbringing. Although he felt underpaid during his peak years, Pippen’s career earnings eventually surpassed those of Jordan, totaling $109 million compared to Jordan’s $94 million. The bulk of his earnings came from a five-year $67.2 million contract with the Houston Rockets before the 1998–1999 season, and an additional $10 million when he returned to the Bulls for his final two seasons.
Endorsements Scottie Pippen initially wore Avia sneakers but later switched to Nike, with whom he released several signature shoes, most notably the Pippen 1 in 1997. He also secured endorsement deals with major brands like Ameritech Cellular TV, Frito-Lay, Visa, McDonald’s, Right Guard, and Coca-Cola.
Early Life Scottie Maurice Pippen was born on September 25, 1965, in Hamburg, Arkansas. He is the youngest of 12 children born to Ethel and Preston Pippen. His parents were both tall, with Pippen himself reaching 6 feet 8 inches after a significant growth spurt in college. Pippen’s father suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed, significantly impacting the family’s financial situation.
Pippen excelled in basketball at Hamburg High School but did not receive any college scholarship offers. He began his college basketball career at the University of Central Arkansas as a walk-on, growing from 6’1″ to 6’8″. Pippen’s college stats were impressive, with per-game averages of 23.6 points, 10 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a nearly 60% field goal shooting percentage.
Career Scottie Pippen was selected in the first round of the 1987 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics but was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he made his debut on November 7, 1987, against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Pippen quickly established himself as a key player, taking the starting small forward position during the 1988 NBA Playoffs. By the 1990-91 season, he had become the Bulls’ primary defensive stopper and a significant scoring threat, earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors and helping lead the team to their first NBA championship.
Pippen was instrumental in the Bulls’ three consecutive championships from 1991 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, then played for the Portland Trailblazers before returning to the Bulls for his final seasons. Pippen retired in 2004 but made a brief comeback in 2008, playing two games for teams in Finland and Sweden.
In 2010, Pippen rejoined the Bulls as a team ambassador and was later named senior advisor to Michael Reinsdorf, the Bulls’ president and COO. Pippen is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and skilled players in NBA history, known for his defensive prowess and ability to make impactful plays.
Olympic “Dream Team” In 1992, Pippen was a member of the original Dream Team at the Barcelona Olympics, where the U.S. team won the gold medal. Pippen, alongside Michael Jordan, became one of the first players to win both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.
Personal Life Scottie Pippen has been married twice. His first marriage was to Karen McCollum in 1988, with whom he had a son, Antron, born in 1987. They divorced in 1990. Pippen later married Larsa Younan, known from the “Real Housewives of Miami,” in 1997. The couple had four children: Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia.
They divorced in 2021. Pippen also has two other children from previous relationships: a daughter, Sierra, with former fiancée Yvette De Leon, and another daughter, Taylor, with former girlfriend Sonya Roby. Taylor’s twin sister, Tyler, passed away shortly after birth. His son, Scotty Jr., plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, and his daughter, Sophia, appeared on “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors.”
Financial Issues There have been rumors and allegations about Scottie Pippen experiencing financial troubles after his NBA career. While some claims have been exaggerated, Pippen did face significant financial setbacks, notably involving a former financial advisor, Robert Lunn. Lunn reportedly squandered $20 million of Pippen’s money, including advising him to purchase a non-working private jet that required substantial additional investment to be airworthy. Lunn was sentenced to three years in prison in 2016 for multiple counts of fraud, including forging Pippen’s signature.
Real Estate Scottie and Larsa Pippen purchased a 10,000-square-foot home in Highland Park, Illinois, for $2.225 million in 2004. The property, which features a custom indoor basketball court, was listed for $3.1 million in 2016 but eventually sold for just under $2 million in 2021. Pippen also owned a Venetian-style mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which he listed for $16 million in 2010. After a decade on the market, it sold for $10.54 million in September 2021. The property, located in the exclusive Harbor Beach neighborhood, included luxury amenities like a pool, basketball court, gourmet kitchen, and waterfront views.
