Nikola Jokic Highest-Paid Basketball player in the World

It's been a rough year for the basketball player, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 31-year-old Nikola Jokic has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid basketball players for 2026 with an estimated $75 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 21/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Nikola Jokic tops annual list of highest-paid basketball players

In 2023 it looked like the basketball player’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Friday (March 20) that Jokic is the highest-paid basketball player in the world, pulling in an astonishing $75 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $40 million lead over his closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The Serbian basketball player has an estimated net worth of $215 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Jokic Burger” chain) in Belgrade, a Football Team (the “Sombor Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderjokic - Serbia), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Nikola) and a fashion line called “Nikola Jokic Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Nikola fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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