What is NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s net worth?

It’s now been more than a decade since Adam Silver took over as commissioner of the NBA and as such he’s now most definitely a familiar face for basketball fans. Yet, just who is he and what is he worth? Let’s explore the details of the man who leads the league.

Adam Silver has revitalized the NBA

When he assumed office in February 2014, many were unsure as to what to expect from the successor of the late David Stern. Indeed, Stern had been commissioner of the league for three decades. Yet, it’s got to be said that under Adam Silver’s leadership not only has the league blossomed, it’s become much more profitable. Today, the league is worth roughly $90 billion with the average team worth approximately $3 billion. The Golden State Warriors are of course the most profitable franchise with an estimated value of $7.56 billion.

Through the years with Adam Silver

Aside from the significant financial gains that he has brought to the league, Silver has also had to deal with his fair share of tests during his tenure. Fans may recall that just after he took on the role of commissioner in 2014, the controversy involving former Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, ensued. Sterling was caught on tape making extremely racist comments to his girlfriend about players on his team. Within days of the tapes being made public, Silver and the NBA announced their decision to ban Sterling from all NBA events for life. Silver and the NBA also announced that they would do whatever was necessary to force Sterling to sell the team, which indeed they did. Today the Clippers are owned by former Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer

Another notable issue that faced the league was the political upheaval caused by then Houston Rockets general manager, Daryl Morey, who spoke in support of the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Morey’s tweet caused political controversy, which in turn led to the Chinese government bringing into question its partnership with the NBA. So much so in fact that the state directly threatened to cut ties completely with the NBA. Interestingly, Silver stood his ground, stating that Morey had a right to self-expression and freedom of speech. Most recently Silver and the league took the decision to give Memphis Grizzlies star, Ja Morant, a significant suspension - 25 games to be precise - after he was seen brandishing a gun - for the second time - in a viral video.

What’s Adam Silver’s contract situation and net worth?

As mentioned above, Silver took on the role of commissioner back in 2014 with an average annual salary of $10 million. That contract was duly extended in 2018 and now runs through the 2023-24 season, meaning that by the time it expires, he will have pocketed roughly $100 million. On that note, his net worth was estimated at $40 million as of March 2023 according to Celebrity Net Worth. It’s worth noting that Silver has in fact been in the league for more than three decades. Having joined the NBA back in 1992, he served as both deputy commissioner and chief operating officer prior to the role he now has as commissioner.

With the 60-year-old at the helm, the NBA has in fact posted record-breaking profits, which is to say it’s almost certain that he will be offered a contract extension. After all, the NBA now offers strong competition to the NFL when it comes to viewership, something no other sport in the United States can boast. To that end, it’s fair to say that Silver’s work has been greatly appreciated, however, there are those that believe it’s precisely why he may look to move on in the near future. A need for new things so to speak. There have even been links to the CEO post of Disney. Yet, for the moment Silver continues to maintain his love for his job.