From Courtside to Courtroom: The NBA’s Biggest Divorce Payouts

Author

Jatin Hasija
August 15, 2025

Welcome to Buckets and Riches — where NBA stars don’t just shoot threes, they stack Gs. From tunnel fits worth mortgages to endorsement empires and crypto hiccups, we break down how basketball’s elite earn it, flex it, and sometimes… brick it. 🏀💸

The latest edition of our newsletter covers:

  • Jordan’s Costly Breakup Bill

  • Wade’s Costly Fight for Fatherhood

  • Iverson’s Ice-Cold Wake-Up

  • Pippen’s Quiet Divorce Payout

💸A Costly Affair

$168 Million Later: The Real Price of Michael Jordan’s Split

In December 2006, Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy decided to part ways after 17 years together. The divorce stood out not because it was dramatic or messy but because of the $168 million settlement. It is, to this day, one of the biggest divorce settlements in sports history.

The two first met in 1985 through a friend. Juanita was working at a bank and modeling part-time. They had their first child, Jeffrey, three years later. Jeffrey's birth was followed by a messy paternity suit, but they managed to work it out. In 1989, the couple married in the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas. Before long, they had two more kids, Marcus and Jasmine.

The first big crack in their relationship came in 2002 when Juanita filed for divorce, saying things just weren’t working anymore. They reconciled for a while, four years to be precise, but by 2006, their marriage was completely done. Both partners said it was mutual, and they tried to keep the focus on their kids. Honestly, for people as famous as they were, it was surprisingly clean. No name‑calling in the tabloids, no drawn‑out court mess.

By then, Michael wasn’t playing ball anymore, but the money was still pouring in thanks to his Jordan Brand with Nike. As part of the divorce deal, Juanita got $168 million, the Highland Park mansion, and custody of the kids, who were almost adults at that point.

After that, the couple went in very different directions. Michael remarried and kept making money from his Jordan Brand and the sale of his ownership share in the Charlotte Hornets. He is now reportedly worth over $3 billion. Juanita, on the other hand, chose to leave the public view.

💰 Fatherhood Over Everything

Dwyane Wade's Refusal to Give Up on His Kids Despite $15 Million Setback

Dwyane Wade made nearly $200 million during his 16-year NBA career, and that’s not even taking into account his endorsements and other sources of income. He’s done well enough to become a minority owner of the Utah Jazz, Chicago Sky and Real Salt Lake. Even though he retired back in 2019, he still remains extremely busy. Wade currently runs a successful podcast network and is set to join Amazon’s NBA coverage this fall as an analyst after impressing in the same role during last year’s Olympics with NBC.

Wade is doing just fine financially, but he took a big hit as part of his divorce settlement with Siohvaughn Funches. He and Funches started dating as teenagers and married while he was still playing at Marquette.

The relationship turned sour, and Wade initially filed for divorce in 2007. The split was finalized three years later but not before it got messy. Funches accused Wade of cheating on her and giving her an STD, an accusation that was later proven false. 

Things got so bad that Wade filed a defamation suit against Funches, and when the divorce settlement was finalized, it had a non-disparagement clause built in. In the end, Wade was forced to pay Funches $5 million in a lump sum, plus she also received their Chicago mansion and four cars, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Slam Online also reported that Wade’s lawyer fees could have been as high as $10 million, making the total cost of their split somewhere in the $15 million range.

One year after the divorce, Wade got something that money can’t buy, as he won sole custody of the two kids he and Funches had together. He’s parented them ever since with his second wife, actress Gabrielle Union. The two began dating in 2010, were married in 2014 and have since had a child of their own. They also have full custody of Wade’s nephew and share custody of Wade’s other son from another relationship.

Wade has been adamant throughout the years that his kids and family are everything to him, and he has proven it by giving them a loving home even after going through such an ugly divorce.

💸 Moneyball Moments

When Michael Jordan divorced his first wife, Juanita, in 2006, the $168 million settlement became the largest celebrity divorce payout on record at the time. To put it in NBA terms, that’s more than LeBron James made in his first 10 seasons combined.

💰Funds Ran Out

When the Money Runs Out: Allen Iverson’s Divorce and Frozen Accounts

Everything is great when the perks of fame and fortune are accessible. Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson thrived in the life of a professional athlete. His family didn’t have a lot of money while he was growing up in Hampton, Virginia. So, once he began to earn millions of dollars in the NBA, he lacked the financial literacy to manage it.

Despite earning over $150 million throughout his 14-year NBA career, Iverson found himself in a dire financial situation. A plethora of pricey purchases plunged Iverson into quite a deep hole. The Hall-of-Fame guard was an icon for his bold fashion taste, which went against the status quo. Baggy clothes, fitted hats, and his iconic Reebok sneakers comprised his statement outfits. Of course, you can’t forget his blinding bling. Diamonds aren’t cheap! Iverson racked up a tab eclipsing $375,000 worth of jewelry.

The 11-time All-Star didn’t pay off that expense, and that resulted in a lawsuit being filed against the 6-foot guard. In 2011, a Georgia judge ruled that Iverson’s bank account be seized to settle the debt. To make matters worse, his wife, Tawanna, filed for divorce.

During the proceedings for the division of assets, Iverson reportedly told Tawanna, “I don’t even have money for a cheeseburger.” In 2012, Iverson officially declared bankruptcy.

Fortunately for Iverson, his story is one of resilience and never giving up. Iverson’s lifetime deal with Reebok turned out to be quite handy, as the annual income of $800,000 helped get him back on his feet. His net worth currently exceeds $1 million. Things will only get better for Iverson, since, when his birthday in 2030 comes around, he will earn access to a $32 million trust fund set up by Reebok.

🏀 Cordial For the Kids

Scottie Pippen and Larsa Pippen: Divorce Dollars and Custody Co-Parenting

When longtime couple Scottie and Larsa Pippen ended their 21-year marriage, their separation carried both emotional weight and financial complexity.

Their divorce, officially finalized on December 15, 2021, followed filings as early as 2016 and a re-filing in 2018, citing irreconcilable differences. Despite the tense timeline, attorney David J. Glass confirmed that “all issues were resolved amicably,” enabling the former couple to focus on co-parenting their four children, who were minors at the time: Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia.

While many divorce details remain under seal, one financial component surfaced publicly: Larsa was granted 50% of Scottie’s contributions to his Chicago Bulls retirement (401k) account accrued between their marriage and 2016 separation, a sum estimated at approximately $470,000. Additional specifics on spousal or child support have never been disclosed beyond confirmation that support was arranged.

Regarding custody, Larsa filed for joint legal and physical custody, and the final agreement aligns with a cooperative co-parenting framework rather than contentious custody battles. The couple continued to collaboratively raise their four children, with public statements suggesting shared values and parenting goals.

While Scottie hasn’t spoken much about the divorce publicly, Larsa dished during Real Housewives of Miami Season 6. Discussing her various ventures, including a jewelry line, a podcast and being an influencer on social media, she said, "When I was going through my whole divorce, for six years, I didn't get a nickel! I had to make it on my own."

Further, Larsa shared that she felt trapped and said, "There's nothing worse than being in a relationship where you can't leave because you are financially stuck because of your partner. That's like, the worst."

The Pippens’ split highlights how high-asset divorces often hinge on preset holdings like retirement accounts. While many financials remain sealed, the $470K 401(k) split stands out. More than anything, the post-divorce focus seems centered on cooperative parenting and public independence, at least in Larsa’s words.

🏀 Shot Clock Back: NBA Stat of the Year

Wilt Chamberlain played 48.5 minutes per game in the 1961–62 season, more than the actual length of a regulation game (48 minutes). He didn’t just play every game; he played nearly every overtime minute, too.