Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is the highest paid player in the NBA getting paid $23.5 million in 2014-2015. Reuters

In the last 20 years, NBA contracts balloon to heights never witnessed before. NBA stars started to sign nine-digit contracts. As such their wealth inflated at the same rate. Here are the top 5 richest NBA players in 2014.

1 Michael Jordan
Net Worth: $1 Billion

Michael Jordan's $1 billion net worth makes him the richest NBA player of all time. Also known by his initials MJ, the 51-year-old has already retired for more than a decade but his constant endorsements and businesses bring millions of dollars every year. He is the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.

2 Magic Johnson
Net Worth: $500 Million

Magic Johnson is a retired American NBA player and he is considered as one of the most famous NBA players of all time. Also one of the wealthiest at $500 net worth, Magic played in one of the biggest basketball rivalries against Larry Bird in the 1979 NCAA finals, which was also the most watched basketball game on TV. He played with the Los Angeles Lakers for 13 seasons.

3 Shaquille O'Neal
Net Worth: $350 Million

Shaquille O'Neal, nicknamed Shaq is a retired American NBA player for a couple of years now, but he still brings home millions of dollars from sports brands and vehicle endorsements. He also appeared in a number of TV commercials and movies as a rapper, actor and analyst on the TV program Inside the NBA.

4 Kobe Bryant
Net Worth: $260 Million

Kobe Bryant grew up from a family of basketball players and despite his good school standing; he skipped college and went to pro right away. At 36, he is already aging but he remains one of the highest paid NBA players. He is playing for the Los Angeles Lakers as a shooting guard.

5 LeBron James
Net Worth: $250 Million

LeBron James is arguably the most famous basketball player today but in the NBA standards, the 30-year-old NBA superstar is still a baby. Playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron has a couple of endorsements that bring him $53 million annually. Currently, James is nursing a sore knee and missed their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

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