YAO MING—$120 MILLION

They say that basketball is a big man’s game, and when we talk about the Chinese basketball legend, Yao Ming, that statement can never be more accurate. The rise of basketball in China is not necessarily due to his credit, but if it wasn’t for Yao Ming, it would not be as big as it is today. He was China’s biggest international player and one of the brightest stars in the NBA. He is the only foreign player to win the most votes in all-stars.

Ming used to be an NBA All-Star every season of his eight NBA years. Because he’s one of the most popular stars in the league’s roster at that time, endorsements and contracts started to pour into his account. On top of that, his salary as an NBA superstar was through the roof. Due to his NBA career and endorsement, his estimated net worth is $120 million.