5. Kobe Bryant – Net Worth $280m
One of the most instantly recognisable figures in the NBA, Kobe Bryant retired this year and played with the Lakers his entire career.
Bryant has signed a variety of major branded endorsements, including a six-year contract with Adidas in 1996 which was worth $48 million at the time.
He’s also endorsed the Coca Cola Company, Nintendo, Nike, and Turkish Airlines. Bryant has also widely appeared in various NBA video games, all of which has contributed to him being named 2013’s 5th highest paid sports star in the world.
