Top 3 NBA players with over $500 million in career earnings
Over the past 10-15 years, the NBA has seen player salaries reach historic numbers. This has resulted in a handful of superstar talents being able to make astronomical numbers in their careers.
For the second straight summer, the league saw a player sign a record-breaking contract. The most recent star to ink a massive deal was Steph Curry, who agreed to a one-year extension with the Golden State Warriors worth $62.6 million.
Curry has regularly been one of the highest-paid players in the NBA for some time now. With this new extension, he has joined some exclusive financial company. By the time his new deal ends, Curry will have surpassed $500 million in career earnings.
As the two-time MVP achieves this financial feat, here is a breakdown of some of the highest earners in league history.
Top NBA players with $500 million in career earnings:
3) Kevin Durant
Rounding out the top three is Kevin Durant. By the time his current contract ends, the Phoenix Suns star will surpass the $500 million threshold in his career.
At the moment, Durant's career earnings sit at $396.7 million. However, he is signed through the next two seasons. In 2025, Durant is slated to make $51.1 million. 2026 is the final year of his current deal, where he will make a whopping $54.7 million.
By the end of his current contract, Durant's NBA earnings will sit at $502.5 million. Seeing that he is still playing at a high level, this number could grow even more by the time he decides to hang it up.
2) Steph Curry
Coming in at No. 2 is Steph Curry. With his new extension, he too is signed through the next two seasons.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, the Golden State Warriors star has already made over $410 million during his time in the NBA. This is even more impressive when considering his second contract was far from a max due to injury concerns.
Since becoming one of the NBA's top superstars, Curry has seen his earnings skyrocket. He'll be among the top-paid players in the league next season, making just shy of $60 million. Then, his newly signed extension will kick in during the 2026 season.
On this current path, Curry's career earnings will sit at $532.6 million in two years.
1) LeBron James
As one of the top stars in NBA history, it's not surprising to see LeBron James land atop this list. Not only is he on track to surpass $500 million, but he could be the first player to reach $600 million in career earnings.
Over the past two decades, the LA Lakers star has made $479.4 million just from his contracts. Next season, his salary is locked in for $48.7 million. After that, he'll once again have to make a decision regarding his future.
Under his current deal, LeBron has a player option for the 2026 season valued at $52.6 million. If he decides to opt into the second year of his contract, his career earnings will reach $580.8 million. In the event he declines it, this number will change depending on what his new contract looks like.