The Golden State Warriors superstar is projected to earn an astonishing $203.6 million over the coming year, creating a huge gap between him and some of basketball’s biggest names. Stephen Curry is heading towards a financial milestone that could put him in a league of his own. LeBron James remains a commercial powerhouse, but his decision to accept a veteran-minimum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers has changed the financial picture. The difference highlights how Curry has turned his success on the court into an enormous business empire.
Curry has secured the top position on Forbes’ 2026 list of the NBA’s highest-paid players for a second consecutive year. His projected earnings include $62.6 million from basketball and another $141 million from endorsements and business ventures. The agreement includes a signature footwear collection expected to launch early next year. It gives Curry another major platform to build his brand beyond the NBA.
Curry is the first active NBA player projected to cross $200 million in earnings over a 12-month period, according to Forbes. James has slipped to fourth place on the list after spending 11 consecutive seasons at the top of NBA earnings rankings. The ten highest-paid players are projected to generate a combined $958 million, with $469 million coming from endorsements and commercial ventures. At 38, he has built a business portfolio that continues to grow even as the competition for NBA earnings intensifies.
The wider numbers reveal just how valuable NBA stars have become outside basketball. For Curry, the achievement goes beyond his basketball salary. James remains one of the sport’s biggest commercial names, but Curry currently holds the financial advantage.
Only Floyd Mayweather, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jon Rahm have previously reached that mark among athletes tracked by the publication.