Jeremy Lin Net Worth

What Is Jeremy Lin's Net Worth?

Jeremy Lin is a retired American professional basketball player who has a net worth of $36 million. Over his nine-season NBA career, Lin earned over $65.7 million in total cash salary. He earned around $15 million from endorsements.

After starring at Harvard, Lin went undrafted in 2010, then fought for roster spots with the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets before landing with the New York Knicks during the 2011-12 season.

His life changed in February 2012, when a wave of injuries gave him unexpected playing time. Over a sensational stretch that became known as "Linsanity," Lin led the Knicks to a winning streak, scored 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, and became a global phenomenon almost overnight. His story resonated because he was an overlooked Ivy League guard, one of the few Asian-American players in NBA history, and a player who had nearly been cut before becoming the biggest story in basketball.

After leaving New York, Lin signed with the Houston Rockets and later played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors. His best post-Knicks seasons came in Houston and Charlotte, where he proved he could be a productive NBA guard beyond the "Linsanity" spotlight. Injuries, especially a serious knee injury with Brooklyn, disrupted his prime years.

In 2019, Lin won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors, becoming the first Asian-American player to win a title. He later continued his career overseas, playing in China and Taiwan, where he remained a major star and cultural figure. His career is remembered as a breakthrough moment for Asian representation in basketball and one of the most improbable rises in NBA history.

Endorsements

As a cross-cultural icon with a massive following in both North America and Asia, Jeremy Lin's endorsement portfolio vastly supplemented his on-court earnings, bringing in an estimated $10 million to $15 million+ over his lifetime. Key partnerships included:

Nike: Originally signed Lin to a humble $200,000-per-year rookie deal in 2010. Following his breakout with the Knicks, Nike locked him into an extension valued between $2 million and $5 million annually, leveraging his massive appeal to expand their basketball footprint in China and Taiwan.

Adidas: In January 2014, Lin officially signed a lucrative multi-year footwear and apparel endorsement with Adidas. The deal was valued between $2 million and $5 million per year and featured heavy marketing campaigns across Asia.

Volvo: In March 2012, Lin signed a massive two-year global endorsement contract to become the corporate face of Volvo, specifically targeting Chinese and international markets.

Other Major Brands: Lin built a diverse corporate portfolio acting as a brand ambassador or partner for Gatorade, Tag Heuer, China Airlines, Joico, and Mentholatum.

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Early Life and College Career

Jeremy Shu-How Lin was born on August 23, 1988, in Torrance, California. He was raised in the Bay Area in Palo Alto. His parents, Taiwanese immigrants Shirley and Gie-ming, came to the United States in the 1970s, first settling in Virginia before attending college in Indiana. Jeremy has an older brother named Josh and a younger brother named Joseph. All three were taught to play basketball by their father at the local YMCA; additionally, Lin played in a National Junior Basketball program his mother helped form. As a senior at Palo Alto High School, he captained his basketball team to a 32-1 record and the California Interscholastic Federation Division II state title. In recognition of his success, he was named first-team All-State and Northern California Division II Player of the Year.

Although Lin wished to attend nearby Stanford University, he was unable to go when the school didn't offer him a scholarship. Instead, he went to Harvard, where he was named to the All-Ivy League Second Team in his sophomore season. By his junior year, Jeremy was the only NCAA Division I men's basketball player ranked in the top ten of his conference for scoring, assists, and steals, among other areas. As a result, he was a consensus pick for the All-Ivy League First Team. For his senior year, he was once again a unanimous selection for the same honor. Lin achieved national attention for a game against the Connecticut Huskies, in which he scored a career-best 30 points. He finished his collegiate career as the first-ever player in the Ivy League to record at least 1,450 points and 450 rebounds.

Warriors and Rockets

Failing to be drafted out of college, Lin ultimately signed with his hometown Golden State Warriors in 2010. However, he seldom played during his rookie season, instead receiving assignments to the NBA Development League. In late 2011, Lin was waived by the Warriors and claimed by the Houston Rockets. After playing seven minutes in two pre-season games in Houston, he was waived by the Rockets.

New York Knicks and "Linsanity"

Lin joined the New York Knicks for the 2011-12 season. Initially, he played sparingly for the team and was again sent to the NBA D-League to play for the Erie BayHawks. In early 2012, however, Jeremy was promoted to the Knicks' starting lineup and went on to lead the team on a seven-game winning streak. Not only did his incredible playing during the season help the Knicks make the 2012 playoffs, it also launched him to international stardom. The craze surrounding his meteoric rise became dubbed "Linsanity." He appeared on the covers of both "Time" and "Sports Illustrated" and was listed as one of the most influential people in the world in the "Time" 100. In July of 2012, Jeremy won the ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

Back to the Rockets

In 2012, Lin returned to the Houston Rockets. He finished his first season with averages of 13.4 points and 6.1 assists per game. For the 2013-14 season, Jeremy was replaced in the starting lineup by Patrick Beverley and became the second unit's primary ball handler and scoring option. In November, he posted the highest two-game scoring total of his career with 65 points. He finished the season with averages of 12.5 points and 4.1 assists per game.

Lakers, Hornets, and Nets

Lin was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014. During the season, he managed to shoot a career-best 36.9% on his three-pointers. However, his role with the team was largely undefined, and he struggled under coach Byron Scott's offense. Subsequently, in July 2015, Jeremy signed a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He had a good season with the team, scoring a season-high 35 points in a December game against the Raptors. The season came to an end after the Hornets were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat.

In July 2016, Lin signed a three-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Although he was beset with injuries for a large part of the season, he finished with a respectable 14.5 points and 5.1 assists per game. However, the next year, Jeremy had to miss the majority of the season after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.

Hawks and Raptors

Lin was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2018; the team intended for him to become a mentor to rookie point guard Trae Young. However, in early 2019, Jeremy was waived by the Hawks. He was quickly signed to the Toronto Raptors, where he initially struggled. Although still somewhat impeded by his old knee injury, Lin bounced back to lead the Raptors to the NBA Finals. The team ultimately won the series in six games over the Warriors, making Lin the first Asian-American player to win an NBA title.

Beijing Ducks and Santa Cruz Warriors

In August 2019, Lin signed with the Beijing Ducks of the CBA. He finished his first season with averages of 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. During the offseason, Jeremy returned to the NBA to play for the G-League's Santa Cruz Warriors.

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