Jerry West’s net worth at the time of his death in 2024

At the time of his death, Jerry West's net worth was around $50 million. Nicknamed “The Logo,” West is one of the most important people ever for the sport of basketball. He was one of the league's first superstars, and his excellent play on the court has stood the test of time, as he is still considered one of the best shooting guards ever. After his playing days, West went on to have a long and successful career as an executive.

Even though he played in the NBA during its early days, when players didn't make nearly the amount they do today, he stuck around the league for long enough and had enough of an impact on the sport that it is safe to say he made a pretty good earning for himself. In this article, we are going to take a closer look at West's life and impact on the game of basketball to see exactly how he came to his wealth.

Jerry West's net worth in 2024 (estimate): $50 million

Jerry West's net worth in 2024 was estimated to be about $50 million. This is according to sources including celebritynetworth.com and therichest.com.

West was born in Chelyan, West Virginia, and based off his childhood, no one have guessed that he'd become the basketball megastar that he eventually became. West's father was physically abusive, and he often had to sleep with a loaded shotgun in fear that he would have to use the weapon in self-defense against his father.

Additionally, West was a weak and skinny child, so he was held out of most sports. He did find an early passion for basketball, though, as he spent his days shooting baskets on a neighbors hoop, regardless of the conditions.

West's high school basketball career didn't get off to a hot start. His lack of height left him glued to the bench at the start of his career, but after growing to six foot, West became the starting small forward. Soon after that, West became one of the best players in the state of West Virginia. He was named as an All-State player and eventually became the West Virginia Player of the Year in 1956.

Jerry West's basketball career

West's success on the hardwood led to him being heavily recruited, but he decided to stay close to home and play basketball at West Virginia. At the time, freshmen couldn't play on the varsity, but West led his freshman team to an undefeated record of 17-0. In the three years that followed, West became one of the best collegiate basketball players in history.

West averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game for his career, the latter of which is an unheard-of number for a player his size. He became the 1959 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, a two-time SoCon Player of the Year, a two-time First Team All-American, and a one-time Third Team All-American.

West was most known for his scoring. He could score from any area on the court at any time, and this led to him earning nicknames like “Mr. Clutch” and “Mr. Outside.” His prolific career at West Virginia led to West being a coveted NBA prospect, and he was drafted second overall in 1960 by the Minneapolis Lakers shortly before they relocated to Los Angeles. Oscar Robertson was the only player drafted ahead of him. The duo were the leaders for the 1960 Summer Olympics Team USA squad that won gold.

West's college coach was hired to coach the Lakers, and West made the transition to playing shooting guard full-time. The rookie quickly earned the respect of his new teammates, including Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor. In addition to his scoring prowess, West had an impressive vertical leap, great work ethic, and a knack to play defense.

In his first season, after averaging 17.6 points per game, West became an All-Star despite his rookie status. That was just the start of a magnificent career, though. West's numbers increased drastically in year two. He went on to average 30.8 points per game in his second season. West would continue to dominate the league as a scorer for the rest of his career.

Baylor and West impressed at a guard-wing tandem, but the team's lack of an elite center made it hard for them to compete with Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics. The team made the NBA Finals seven times in the '60s, but they couldn't conquer the dynasty that was the Celtics. Even so, West was named Finals MVP in 1969, the first year the award was ever given out. He remains the only player to ever win the award in a losing effort.

West finally got his coveted ring in 1972 after Wilt Chamberlain came into the mix. That season included a 33-game winning streak that is still the longest NBA winning streak to this day.

All-in-all, West finished his career with averages of 27 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. His versatility and perimeter game were ahead of the time. He was named an All-Star 14 times (every season of his career), he made 12 All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams, and he led the league in scoring and assists at different points in his career.

Jerry West post-retirement

West retired in 1974, but the championship winning that alluded him for most of his career came easy in his post-playing days. West coached the Lakers from 1976-79, and the team made the playoffs in each of those years. After coaching, West worked for three years as a scout before becoming the team's general manager.

West helped built the Showtime Lakers of the '80s that were one of the game's great dynasties. Los Angeles was coached by Pat Riley and had legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. The team won five championships.

West helped usher in the Lakers next dynasty, too, as the Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant-led Lakers won three more championships. West was only a part of the first of Los Angeles' three-peat, though, as he departed from his role after the 1999-2000 season.

The now legendary executive's next stop was in Memphis with the Grizzlies as the team's general manager. While West's vision never turned the Grizzlies into a championship team like it had in Los Angeles, he was still able to make a number of big moves that turned the Grizzlies into perennial playoff contenders. West continued in his role until retiring as a general manager in 2007.

The Logo – nicknamed that because the NBA logo is based on his silhouette – couldn't leave the sport yet, though. He served as an executive board member for the Golden State Warriors from 2011-2017. There, another dynasty was born. West was a part of two of the team's four championships with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and eventually Kevin Durant leading the way on the hardwood.

The Warriors' victories left West with eight championships as an executive to his name. West left the Warriors in 2017 to take on the same role with the Los Angeles Clippers. There, he was influential in creating a superteam with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George at the forefront.

Unfortunately, West passed away on the morning of June 12, 2024. West died peacefully at the age of 86. West's basketball legacy will be remembered forever, as he was one of the sport's most important and influential figures for around seven decades. During that time, he was able to create generational wealth for his family, and he will always be talked about when people discuss basketball's all-time greats.

Rest in peace, Jerry West.