Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant Reach $1 Billion in Career Earnings
LeBron James is no longer the only active NBA player to have surpassed $1 billion in career earnings. According to Sportico's Kurt Badenhausen, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have joined James in reaching billionaire status by combining their on-court earnings with endorsement deals.
Top Earners in the 2025-26 Season
James, Curry, and Durant are the only NBA players earning at least $100 million this season through salary and endorsements. Giannis Antetokounmpo is close behind with $99.1 million.
- LeBron James leads the NBA with $132.6 million total this season, including $52.6 million from the Los Angeles Lakers and $80 million from endorsements.
- Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant each earn $80 million in endorsements for the 2025-26 season.
On-Court Earnings Milestones
James and Durant are the only NBA players with career on-court earnings exceeding $500 million. Durant reached this milestone this season, helped by a $53.3 million salary from the Houston Rockets.
Curry ranks third in on-court earnings with $470.1 million from the Golden State Warriors and is expected to surpass $500 million in the 2026-27 season when his salary hits $62.6 million.
"Curry has the highest salary in the NBA for the ninth consecutive season," noted Badenhausen. "He has maintained this by staying with the Warriors and extending his previous supermax contracts signed in 2017 and 2021."
Summary
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant have each topped $1 billion in total career earnings, driven by historic salaries and lucrative endorsements.
Author's summary: Three NBA stars—James, Curry, and Durant—have reached $1 billion earnings through unmatched contracts and endorsements, marking a new era in player compensation.