Isiah Thomas made waves in the NBA in the 1980s as part of the infamous Detroit Pistons “Bad Boys” that won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. However, he remained relevant in the league long after that, and even beyond his playing days.

Thomas also ended up becoming a very successful entrepreneur, and this turned out to be his primary source of income after he hung up his laces.

Let's look at Isiah Thomas' net worth, and how he became one of the wealthiest athletes in the United States.

Estimated Isiah Thomas net worth: $100 million

Celebrity Net Worth lists Thomas with a net worth of $100 million as of 2020. That's quite surprising considering how he retired from professional basketball in 1994, so let's try to shed some light on this.

Thomas' NBA career started in 1981 when he was selected second overall by the Detroit Pistons. He's a lifer, and he spent his entire career with the Pistons, earning a grand total of $16.7 million in salaries over a span of 13 years. He earned his biggest payday during the 1991-92 campaign, during which he pocketed $3.0 million for that single season.

Aside from winning the championship twice, Thomas is also a 12-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA team member, a two-time All-Star MVP, and the 1990 Finals MVP winner. For all his contributions to the sport, the 6-foot-1 point guard was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2000.

After retiring in 1994, Thomas entered the world of business. As it turns out, he had quite the acumen, and he founded a very successful holding company, the Isiah International LLC, which operates a substantial amount of businesses in several industries, including waste removal and recycling.

Thomas also operates the Isiah Thomas Real Estate construction company in his native of Chicago. To date, his company has overseen developments of retail establishments, residential structures, as well as a few hotels. He also owns a majority stake in American Speedy Printing Centers Inc., which he turned from near bankruptcy to one of the biggest printing companies in the country. Thomas was also part of the Board of Governors of the Chicago Stock Exchange between 1999 and 2002.

As of writing, Thomas' most recent venture involves the importation of liquor. One of his subsidiary companies is the exclusive importer of high-end liquor brand Cherulin Champagne.

While it is unknown how much earnings Thomas pocketed from his business ventures, his current net worth proves that he earned much more from his investments as compared to his basketball career. Kudos to him.

Aside from making a splash in the world of business, Thomas also had several behind-the-scenes stints with other NBA teams other than the Pistons. In 1994, he was named as the executive vice president of the newly established Toronto Raptors franchise. He bought into the team as well, reportedly owning up to a 9% stake of the organization by 1996. He also tried to buy out then-majority owner Allan Slaight, in a coup attempt that eventually failed. This eventually led to Thomas selling of his ownership for an estimated $15 million.

Thomas also took on a couple of coaching jobs in the league as well. He was appointed as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 2000 — a job that lasted for only three seasons. After a three-year hiatus, Thomas was back at it again. This time around, he was hired by the New York Knicks as their new head coach. That did not exactly turn out well for him as well, and he eventually parted ways with the Knicks after two unsuccessful seasons at the helm.

Thomas also gave coaching at the college level a shot, joining the Florida International University as the top shot-caller between 2009 and 2012. In 2015, Thomas entered the world of the WNBA, where he was named as the president of the New York Liberty — a triumphant return to the Big Apple, only with a different franchise.

As a commentator and basketball analyst, Thomas first entered the industry following his stint with the Raptors. He first served as a commentator for NBA on NBC in the late 1990's. More than a decade later, he would make his comeback as a host, joining the NBA TV team as part of an analyst panel. It is believed that Thomas' broadcasting contract is in the millions of dollars range.

Thomas is a prime example of how basketball players can succeed even after their career on the hardcourt. We've heard so many rags to riches to rags narratives involving former players who just couldn't manage their money well, and it's great to come across an ultimate success such as that of Thomas' every now and again.

Isiah Thomas: the hundred million dollar man.