Christian Laettner accumulated his impressive $25 million net worth during his successful basketball career. Since retiring in 2005, Christian has been leveraging his name to create more income streams and expand his already substantial wealth. He owns several businesses related to real estate investments and sports memorabilia, including Christian Laettner Basketball Academy in Florida and Christian Laettner Basketball Academy in Kentucky.
These academies serve as hotbeds of educational resources for amateur athletes looking to better their abilities and understanding of the game. His portfolio also includes sizable endorsements from popular companies such as Nike, which allows Christian’s fortune to continue growing even today.
What’s Christian Laetner’s net worth and salary?
Christian Laettner, a former American basketball player and entrepreneur, has a net worth in excess of $10 million. After a particularly successful period at Duke, Christian Laettner spent 13 seasons in the NBA. Christian was a Duke University student and participated in four consecutive Final Fours. He holds many NCAA Tournament records including the most points scored (407), most free shots made (142), most free throwing attempts (167) and most games played (23).
Blue Devil Ventures (BDV) was Laetner’s first venture into community development. It developed mixed-use communities in Durham. Christian and Brian Davis, a former Duke teammate, purchased Major League Soccer Team D.C. United (MLST) in 2007. In 2011, Laetner started youth basketball training camps. He also served as an assistant coach in the NBA Development League. Christian was the college player who was selected to be on the “Dream Team”, which participated in the 1992 Summer Olympics. The team won a gold medal, a place in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Career Earnings
Christian Laetner made a little more than $61 million as a salary during his NBA career.
Financial Issues
Although he earned more than $60 million playing professionally and had some success as an entrepreneur in his career, Laetner and Davis reportedly owed $30 million to various creditors in 2012.
A group of creditors filed motions in July 2016 claiming that Laetner owed $14.05 million to various unpaid debts. According to reports, the creditors wanted Christian to declare bankruptcy. He reached a settlement agreement that would allow him avoid bankruptcy a few months later.
Early Life
Christian Donald Laettner was born August 17, 1969 in Angola (New York). His mother Bonnie was a teacher and his father George worked at the Buffalo News. Christian is the brother of Christopher and has two sisters, Leanne, and Katie. Christian and Christopher made a lot of money as farm laborers. Laettner went to Nichols School as a private school and worked as a Janitor to pay tuition fees that weren’t covered under his financial aid package. Christian’s score of more than 2000 points was a school record and the Nichols basketball team won two state championships.
College Career
After graduating high school, Laetner attended Duke University where he played for the Blue Devils between 1988 and 1992. He was the team’s star player during his final two seasons and helped them win two national championships, which were the first ever in Duke’s history. Christian was a regular in all four years and led the team to victory in 21 of 23 NCAA tournament games. Laettner was a senior and scored 21.5 points per match. His career, which earned him a place in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is widely considered to be the greatest in college basketball history. In 1992, Duke retired Christian’s #32 jersey.
Opposing fans have vilified Laetner throughout his career. In 2013, he was voted “Most Hated College Basketball Player” by ESPN.com. ESPN produced the documentary “I Hate Christian Laetner” in 2016 for its “30 for 30” series. Rob Lowe narrates the documentary. The film’s description says, “He made perhaps, the most dramatic shot ever recorded in the history NCAA basketball tournament.” He is the only player to have played in four consecutive Final Fours and was integral in Duke’s two national championships. He was smart, beautiful and a great player. Why is Christian Laetner so disliked by so many people for so long? Perhaps it was his actions of hitting a player on the chest, the fights he had against his teammates or a sense of entitlement. Sometimes perception can be distorted.
NBA Career
Laetner was the third overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. He played from 1992 to 1996 for the Minnesota Timberwolves, then the Atlanta Hawks (1996-1999), Detroit Pistons (2000-2001), Dallas Mavericks (2200-2001), Washington Wizards (12001-2004) and Miami Heat (42004-2005). He scored over 11,000 points while playing in the NBA. In his first six seasons, he averaged 16.6 ppg. Christian was selected for the 1993 NBA All-Rookie First Team. He also played in the 1997 All-Star Game with the Atlanta Hawks.
Personal life
Christian married Lisa Thibault in September 1996. They have three children: Summer, Sophie, and Tor. In 2015, Lisa filed for divorce. Laettner donated $1million to the Nichols School in 2001. $250,000 went to a scholarship fund, and $750,000 to Nichols’ gymium fund. Christian and Brian Davis donated $2 million to Duke University in 2005 for a scholarship fund and a new athletic facility.
Awards and Honours
Laettner won a Summer Olympics gold Medal (1992), Tournament of the Americas bronze medal (1989), Tournament of the Americas bronze medal (1989), Goodwill Games gold medal (1990), Pan American Games bronze (91), and FIBA World Championship Bronze medal (1990). Christian was the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1991), Consensus second-team All-American (92), Consensus first-team All-American (92), Consensus National College Player the Year (1992), Consensus National College Player the Year (1992), Consensus National College Player the Year (1992), NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player(1992), ACC Player the Year (1992), ACC Tournament MVP (1992) and NABC Player the Year (1992). Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (2009) and College Basketball Hall of Fame (2010). He was also inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2010).