Jerry West Net Worth

What Was Jerry West's Net Worth?

Jerry West was an American professional basketball player who had a net worth of $50 million at the time of his death in 2024. Jerry West was a legendary basketball player, coach, and executive whose influence on the NBA spanned more than six decades. As a player, West was known for his scoring ability, clutch performances, and intense competitiveness. He played his entire 14-season career (1960–1974) with the Los Angeles Lakers, earning 14 All-Star selections and 10 All-NBA First Team honors. Nicknamed "Mr. Clutch," West led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals appearances and finally captured a championship in 1972. He remains the only player in league history to win Finals MVP (1969) despite being on the losing team.

West was renowned for his smooth jump shot, relentless work ethic, and all-around skill, finishing his career with over 25,000 points. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and later honored as one of the NBA's 50 and 75 greatest players.

After retiring as a player, West seamlessly transitioned into coaching and front office roles. As Lakers general manager in the 1980s and 1990s, he helped build dynasties—first with the "Showtime" Lakers led by Magic Johnson and later with the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal era. He also played a pivotal role in acquiring Bryant in the 1996 NBA Draft and signing O'Neal that same summer.

West later worked in executive roles with the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and LA Clippers, helping shape multiple playoff contenders. His eye for talent and team-building acumen made him one of the most respected executives in sports.

In addition to his on-court legacy, West's silhouette famously served as the inspiration for the NBA's iconic logo. His impact on the game—both as a player and architect of champions—is unmatched, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in basketball history. Jerry West died on June 12, 2024, at the age of 86.

Early Life and College Career

Jerry West was born on May 28, 1938, in Chelyan, West Virginia. He was the fifth of six children of Cecil and Howard West. Although initially outgoing as a child, Jerry became timid and introverted following the death of his older brother David in the Korean War. From 1952 to 1956, he went to East Bank High School, where he played basketball under coach Duke Shaver. West soon became the captain of the freshman team and then the starting small forward. From 1953 to 1956, he was named All-State; in the latter year, he was named All-American. It was in 1956 that he led his school to a state championship title.

Drawing the interest of over 60 universities, Jerry ultimately decided to stay in his home state and attend West Virginia University. During his freshman year, he was part of a squad that achieved a perfect record of 17 wins with no losses. For his junior year, he tied the NCAA five-game tournament record of 160 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four that year. West recorded several career highs his senior year, including 29.3 points per game and 134 season assists. Overall, he finished his collegiate playing career with 2,309 points and 1,240 rebounds.

Start with the Lakers

In 1960, West was drafted with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, just before the team relocated to Los Angeles. Almost an immediate success, Jerry helped the Lakers improve their season to reach the 1961 NBA Playoffs. The next season, he established himself as the primary scorer for the Lakers, averaging 30.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and winning All-NBA First Team honors. Once again, the Lakers made it to the playoffs, and then to the finals, ultimately losing to the Boston Celtics in the beginning of one of the NBA's greatest rivalries.

For the 1962-63 season, Jerry was again named NBA All-Star and All-NBA First Team. The Lakers competed again in the finals against the Celtics with the same results as the year before. The team struggled the following season, winning only 42 games and falling to the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

Salaries & Career Earnings

Jerry West played in the NBA from 1960 to 1974, an era when player salaries were dramatically lower than they are today. Exact year-by-year salary records from that time are scarce, but some estimates and reported figures help build a rough picture of what he earned during his playing career.

Key Salary Estimates:

• Rookie Salary (1960–61): Roughly $17,000
• Mid-1960s: Salaries for stars like West reportedly climbed into the $40,000–$60,000 range.
• 1970–71 Season: West signed a contract extension worth $180,000 per year, which made him one of the highest-paid players in the league at the time.
• Final Seasons (1971–1974): He likely earned $180,000–$200,000 per year, with some reports suggesting he became the first NBA player to earn a $250,000 annual salary, though this may have included bonuses or endorsements.

Based on available figures and rough extrapolation, Jerry West likely earned between $1.5 million and $2 million in total salary over his 14-year playing career.

NBA Logo

The NBA's famous logo is a silhouette of Jerry West. In the photo of Jerry below, the logo on the chairs in the background is the famous logo that is based on his silhouette:

Stephen Dunn/ Getty Images

Further Playing Career

In the 1965 playoffs, West averaged an NBA record of 46.3 points per game. Still, the Lakers were defeated once again by the Celtics in the finals. The next season, Jerry averaged a career-best 31.3 points and notched an NBA record of 840 free throws; as a result, he earned further All-Star Team and All-NBA First Team nominations. In the finals, the Lakers lost again to the Celtics. After a disappointing 1966-67 season and another finals loss to the Celtics in 1968, the Lakers brought in reigning NBA MVP Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers. The team fought hard to progress to the sixth finals series against the Celtics in eight years. Despite West's triple-double of 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, the Lakers lost 108-106.

Jerry had one of his best seasons in 1969-70, leading the NBA in scoring average and earning his first of four All-Defensive First Team votes. In the first NBA Finals between the Lakers and the New York Knicks, West made a buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that became one of the most famous moments in NBA history. However, the Lakers were defeated by the Knicks in an upset. Greater success came in the 1971-72 season when Jerry and the Lakers embarked on a record 33-game win streak en route to 69 wins in the regular season. West was consequently named All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense First Teamer and was voted as the 1972 All-Star Game MVP. The next season, Jerry and the Lakers finally emerged victorious at the finals, beating the Knicks; it was West's first-ever NBA title. He had his final season as a player in 1973-74, winning 47 games and losing in five to the Bucks. After this, he retired due to contract disagreements. At the time of his departure, Jerry had scored more points than any other player in Lakers history.

Coaching and Executive Career

West became the Lakers' head coach for the 1976-77 season. During his three years as coach, he led the Lakers to a 145-101 record, reaching the playoffs every season and the Western Conference Finals in 1977. Following his coaching tenure, Jerry was a scout for three years and then became the Lakers' general manager. In this latter position, he helped the Lakers notch five championship rings in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.

In 2002, West became general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and subsequently helped the team win its first-ever playoff berth. In recognition of his management of both the Lakers and the Grizzlies, Jerry twice won the NBA Executive of the Year Award. Later, after retiring as general manager, West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member. In 2017, he became an executive board member of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Personal Life

Jerry married Martha Jane Kane, his college sweetheart, in 1960. They had three sons, David, Mark, and Michael, and divorced in 1976. Two years later, West married again. Jerry and Karen West remained together until his death in 2024. They had two sons, Ryan and Jonnie.

Who's Richer?

Jerry
West

Compare!

Wilt
Chamberlain