Russell Westbrook’s retirement from the NBA has shifted attention from his record-setting basketball career to the business portfolio he has built away from the court.
He announced his retirement from the NBA on August 12, after playing 18 seasons.
The former MVP has been quietly investing through Russell Westbrook Enterprises across real estate, technology, consumer brands, healthcare, fashion, fintech and sports, Basketball Network reported.
Financially Ready for Retirement
Westbrook founded Russell Westbrook Enterprises in 2020 and has said he aims to become a billionaire because an athlete’s playing career is only a fraction of life.
The Basketball Network estimated his net worth at $375 million.
“Russell Westbrook recently retired from the NBA. And while most people are talking about his on-court career, what he’s building off of it might be even greater,” Malcom Lemmons said, according to Basketball Network.
“Through Russell Westbrook Enterprises, he’s been quietly investing across real estate, tech, consumer brands, healthcare, fashion, and fintech,” Lemmons added.
One of Westbrook’s major investments has been in his former NBA home of Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook Enterprises invested $10 million into the OKC for Soccer group, which was aimed at bringing professional soccer back to the city through Echo’s Sports & Entertainment platform, Sports Illustrated reported.
The larger project was described by Basketball Network as a $121 million multipurpose stadium project intended to boost economic growth and bring professional soccer back to Oklahoma City.
The plans also called for an entertainment center and increased film and television production, according to Sports Illustrated.
“My time with the OKC Thunder shaped so much of who I am, so becoming [Echo founder and CEO Christian Kanady’s] partner and investing in the city’s continued growth is not only exciting personally, but Echo’s Sports and Entertainment vertical is unlike anything else I’ve seen in the space,” Westbrook said in a 2024 press release.
“The opportunity to collaborate on a shared vision — combining the long-term, purpose-driven work I’m developing at RWE with what Christian is building at Echo and Connective Capital — is something I’m incredibly proud to bring to my entire platform,” Westbrook added.
Westbrook also moved into digital banking.
In 2021, he led a $63 million strategic investment in Varo through Russell Westbrook Enterprises while playing for the Washington Wizards, Business Insider reported.
“Russell approached us,” Varo CEO and co-founder Colin Walsh said.
“As we got deeper into exploring the kind of needs of communities of color, and just some of the inequities and some of the barriers to financial equality that exists today, we both got really engaged around this,” Walsh said.
“We got a much higher level of demand than we were anticipating. We were thinking this was going to be $30 million,” Walsh said.
Varo received a national bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in July 2020, becoming the first of the recent U.S. challenger banks to receive one, Business Insider reported.
Westbrook’s portfolio also includes Honor the Gift, the streetwear brand he founded in 2017.
Basketball Network reported that the company had expanded to 300 retail stores globally. He also launched RW Digital, a marketing agency targeting diverse audiences.
His interests have extended into healthcare and science, including CenterWell fitness studios and Wheeler Bio, Inc., a pharmaceutical startup in Oklahoma.
He founded the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation in 2012 to support underserved youth through education, physical and mental health rehabilitation and workforce development.
Following his retirement, Westbrook expanded his involvement in sports business through Project B, an upstart basketball league scheduled to launch in early 2027.
Westbrook joined the league as a co-founder and chief strategy officer, taking an equity stake and serving on its board, The New York Times reported.
“At every step of my career, what was most valuable to me was making sure everyone had a seat at the table,” Westbrook said.
“With Project B, we’re challenging the norm and bringing a new vision to the intersection of premium sport, culture, and entertainment. We’re reimagining the experience with players not only as key value drivers, but also as shareholders and decision makers,” he continued.
Two tech executives founded Project B, and they’ve raised $5 billion, according to the Times.
The league plans to travel across Asia, Europe and South America, with games expected to be broadcast on YouTube.
Westbrook retired at 37 as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209.
He also captured two scoring titles, led the league in assists three times, earned nine All-Star selections, and won the 2016–17 Most Valuable Player award.
