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What Is LaVar Ball’s Net Worth?
As of 2024, LaVar Ball, the American businessman, former football player, and media personality, has an estimated net worth of $4 million. This valuation reflects his entrepreneurial ventures, most notably as the co-founder of the sports apparel company Big Baller Brand, and his brief foray into professional sports.
LaVar Ball’s Early Life and Career
LaVar Ball was born in 1967 in Los Angeles, California, to Maria and Anderson Ball. He grew up with four brothers and two sisters. During his time at Canoga Park High School, Ball showcased his athletic abilities as the quarterback of the football team and as a forward on the basketball team. In a single season, he set a school record with 316 rebounds. Following high school, he pursued collegiate basketball at West Los Angeles College, Washington State University, and Cal State Los Angeles.
After his college basketball career, Ball transitioned to football, playing a single season at Long Beach City College. He then signed with the NFL’s New York Jets, who subsequently sent him to the WLAF’s London Monarchs. As a tight end for the Monarchs, Ball did not record any catches. He also served on the practice squads of the Jets and the Carolina Panthers but did not play in any NFL games due to an injury. Ball retired from professional sports and transitioned to becoming a personal trainer.
Big Baller Brand and LaVar Ball’s Entrepreneurial Ventures
In 2016, LaVar Ball co-founded Big Baller Brand with Alan Foster, taking on the role of CEO. The company aimed to disrupt the traditional sports apparel industry by offering an alternative to major shoe brands. In April 2017, it was announced that major shoe brands would not offer LaVar the licensing endorsement deal he sought.
On May 4, 2017, LaVar unveiled the ZO2, a signature shoe for his son Lonzo Ball, priced at $495. For context, Michael Jordan’s Jordan I debuted in 1985 with a retail price of $64, which is approximately $150 when adjusted for inflation. An autographed pair of the ZO2 was offered for $995, and Big Baller Brand also sold a $220 sandal. LaVar justified his unconventional shoe deal by stating, “We said from the beginning, we aren’t looking for an endorsement deal. We’re looking for co-branding, a true partner. But they’re not ready for that because they’re not used to that model. But hey, the taxi industry wasn’t ready for Uber either.”
The association of Lonzo Ball with Big Baller Brand while he played basketball at UCLA raised potential NCAA rule violations. The company later created a signature shoe for LaVar’s youngest son, LaMelo Ball, further complicating his NCAA eligibility. In 2019, Lonzo Ball severed ties with Big Baller Brand, alleging that manager and co-founder Alan Foster had embezzled $1.5 million from the company. Following this, Lonzo switched to Nike shoes.
Junior Basketball Association and LaVar Ball’s Influence
In 2017, using funds from Big Baller Brand, LaVar Ball established the Junior Basketball Association (JBA). The league was designed as an alternative to college basketball, allowing high school and junior college players to play professionally without NCAA involvement. Players were required to wear Big Baller Brand merchandise, including shoes and uniforms. The JBA faced criticism for failing to honor contracts and for being perceived as a means to promote Ball’s sons at the expense of other players. The league was discontinued in 2019.
LaVar Ball’s Media Controversies and Public Statements
Beginning in 2016, LaVar Ball gained notoriety for his outspoken media appearances and controversial public statements. He initially predicted that his son, playing for UCLA, would win the NCAA Division I Tournament and that all three of his sons would become top NBA prospects after a single year in college. Over time, Ball’s comments became increasingly provocative.
In March 2017, he claimed that Lonzo was a better player than NBA MVP Stephen Curry and that his son was the best player in the world. In the same month, Ball asserted that he could “kill” Michael Jordan in a one-on-one game during Jordan’s playing prime. In May 2017, on the Fox Sports show “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Ball displayed sexist behavior, refusing to face female host Kristine Leahy and stating that his Big Baller Brand was not for women. He also told her to “stay in your lane” when she inquired about sales, a phrase that was later printed on T-shirts sold by Big Baller Brand, generating further backlash.
In July 2017, at the Adidas Summer Championships, Ball requested that a female referee who gave him a technical foul be replaced. In 2019, he was unofficially barred from ESPN after making a sexually suggestive comment to the host of the network’s show “First Take.”
Incident in China Involving LaVar Ball’s Son
In November 2017, prior to UCLA’s basketball season opener in Shanghai, China, LaVar’s son LiAngelo Ball, along with teammates Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, were arrested for shoplifting from a luxury mall in Hangzhou. LiAngelo faced potential penalties ranging from a fine to three to ten years in prison. LaVar downplayed the incident. Despite Chinese authorities dropping the charges, LiAngelo and his teammates were suspended indefinitely by UCLA. During this period, Ball engaged in a Twitter feud with then-President Donald Trump, who falsely claimed responsibility for the players’ release.
LaVar Ball’s Personal Life and Family
In 1997, LaVar Ball married Tina Slatinsky, whom he met while attending Cal State Los Angeles. They have three sons: Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo. LaVar began training his sons in basketball at a young age, and all three have gone on to play in the NBA. LiAngelo and LaMelo also played with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas of the Lithuanian Basketball League, where LaVar served as an assistant coach and later as a head coach.
