Charles Wade Barkley was born on 20 February 1963, in Leeds, Alabama USA, and is a retired American professional basketball player listed as one of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and now a basketball analyst on the television program ‘Inside the NBA’.
So just how rich is Charles Barkley? Sources estimate that Charles’ current net worth is over $50 million, one of many millionaires in the sports industry. Charles has earned most of his net worth as a basketball player, as he played at the top level in the NBA League for more than sixteen years.
Charles Barkley Net Worth $50 Million
Charles Barkley was a tall and well-built teenager when he played basketball at Leeds High School. Charles continued his career as a college basketball player at Auburn University, although it took some time for him to hit the highlights, as he had trouble controlling his weight, but his skill was undeniable, even being dubbed The Round Mound of Rebound. He still holds the record for career field goal percentage at 62%. It was only a question of time before he was noticed by professional basketball teams.
Charles Barkley did not graduate from Auburn, instead entering the NBA draft in 1984 and being signed to contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, and playing for the team until 1992, which was a significant opening of his net worth account as a professional basketball player – he later admitted to being paid, illegally, while at Auburn. From 1992 to 1996 Barkley played for the Phoenix Suns and the last team in his career was the Houston Rockets where he played from 1996 until 2000. Charles Barkley played in the position of power forward; being 198cm of height and 114kg of weight he was perfectly suited for that position. As the outstanding player he was further nicknamed Sir Charles or just Chuck.
Of course Charles increased his net worth as his value to teams increased, particularly by setting a list of records in the regular season and playoffs. In 2000, he retired as the fourth player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. Moreover, Barkley owns a long list of awards, including NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA All-Star eleven times, All-NBA First Team five times, All-NBA Second Team five times, All-NBA Third Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, NBA rebounding leader, all of which also helped increase Barkley’s net worth. In addition to this, he is the winner of Olympic gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games as a member of the United States’ “Dream Team”.The basketball player has twice been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
After his retirement from the professional basketball in 2000, Charles Barkley has worked as a studio analyst on the NBA for Turner Network Television, and more recently also for CBS, which has continued to add to his net worth.
Charles Barkley is active in politics too. He ran for Alabama’s governorship elections three times, expressed his support for the president Barack Obama during the presidential elections, and has supported gay rights in a number of events.
In addition, Charles Barkley has increased his net worth publishing two books, ‘I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It’ and ‘Who’s Afraid of a Large Black Man?’.In both he protests that basketballers and other sportspeople should not be lauded as role models, but that parents should take much more responsibility.
Barkley is also a passionate golf player, even appearing in the reality series ‘The Haney Project’ alongside Hank Haney as a golf instructor.
Further, Charles has been featured in the popular video games such as ‘Barkley Shut Up and Jam!’ and its sequel ‘Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden’.
Barkley does not sit on any laurels he may have earned, so has also promoted the company Weight Watchers International. Charles is hooked on gambling too.
In his personal life, Charles Barkley married his long term girlfriend Maureen Blumhardt in 1989. They have a daughter together. There are rumours that Charles has something of a gambling habit, and is believed to have lost more than $10 million over time on this ‘hobby’.
