Bill Russell had a handsome net worth of $10 million before his death. His major source of income was basketball, both as a player and coach. However, he also earned good money from his days on TV.
Russell started making waves in basketball as a high school student, and even though the color of his skin stood between him and success, the legendary player was able to surmount all barriers and emerge as one of the best basketball players in the history of the National Basketball Association. Bill retired with 11 NBA championships, five MVPs, and 12 All-Star appearances. He was also part of the US team that won gold at the Summer Olympics of 1956.
Key Facts
Net Worth: $10 Million
Date of Birth: Feb 12, 1934 – Jul 31, 2022
Place of Birth: West Monroe
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.07 m)
Profession: Basketball player, Coach, Actor
Nationality: United States of America
What was Bill Russell’s Net Worth at the Time he Died?
At the time of his demise on the 31st of July 2022, Bill Russell had a net worth of $10 million. The then octogenarian earned from his days as an active basketball center for the Boston Celtics, and after his time on the court, he started earning as a head coach.
Bill’s name went down in history as one of the highest-paid NBA players of his time. His debut deal with the Celtics in 1956 was worth approximately $24,000; this approximates $239,207 in 2022. The Celtics later started paying him the sum of $25,000 as annual remuneration as a player in addition to what they paid him for coaching.
When he went to Auerbach in 1965, Bill requested a $100,001 salary; this was around the time that Wilt Chamberlain emerged as the first NBA star to be earning $100,000 annually.
With all that said, we must also acknowledge the fact that what Russell left behind after his demise went to his wife number four, Kathryn Limbaugh.
Bill Russell’s Basketball Career Started in College
Bill Russell started playing basketball as a freshman at the Oakland-based McClymonds High School and later proceeded to the University of San Francisco (USF), where he became a collegiate star player with the San Francisco Dons.
He was a Part of the US Basketball Team During the 1956 Summer Olympics
Even before his NBA draft, Russell formed part of the United States basketball team that played at the summer Olympics of 1956 in Melbourne. Under the watch of Gerald Tucker as the coach, Bill aided his team in beating the Soviet Union team 89-55 during the final game to bag the gold medal. All in all, the US team dominated the entire tournament winning by 53.5 points per game on average.
Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics Championship Wins
Following his NBA draft, Bill Russell went to pitch his tent with the Boston Celtics. Debuting in a match against the St. Louis Hawks in December 1956, he proved his mettle with his powerful defense, leading the Celtics to finish with a 44-28 record for the season. This went down in history as their second-best record since the 1946-47 season.
During the Eastern Division Finals (Game 1), Bill finished with a total of 16 points and 31 rebounds, leading his team to sweep the Syracuse Nationals as well as earning the franchise’s debut appearance in the National Basketball Association Finals, which was ultimately won by the Celtics.
The next season heralded more success for the NBA center as the Celtics emerged winners in 14 games consecutively. As an individual, Bill averaged 16.6 points per game, including 22.7 rebounds average per game. The star basketball player also led his team to break the league record during the 1958-59 season, winning 52 games which led to reclaiming of the NBA title.
1960 was another record-breaking year for Bill Russell and his team, as the Celtics won 59 games during the regular season. The 1960 finals saw the team earn its third championship within four years, which marked the onset of a legendary run for the Boston Celtics. The team would eventually bag additional seven NBA championships consecutively, marking a streak unsurpassed in any professional sports league in the entire United States of America.
During Bill Russell’s active years in the field of play, the legendary basketball center earned fame for his exceptional shot-blocking, rebounding, and man-to-man defense. tactics.
His Coaching Career and Final Playing Years
Following Red Auerbach’s retirement as head coach prior to the 1966-67 season, the Celtics coaching job was given to Bill Russell. With this appointment, he made history as the NBA’s first Black coach. However, his stint as a coach was not successful as the Philadelphia 76ers dominated the Boston Celtics.
Russell was able to bounce back as a player, recording victory in his penultimate season. In a face-off against the 76ers during the Eastern Division Finals, Russell and his team started with a 3-1 deficit. Nevertheless, they rallied back, emerging victorious in the ensuing three games in what was described as an incredible come-from-behind victory. In the long run, the Celtics won in the NBA finals against the Lakers, giving Bill his 10th championship title.
The NBA center’s resurgent success notwithstanding, he experienced a breaking point during his final year; this was orchestrated by the shock he had after hearing about the assignations of both Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. The legendary player also got disillusioned by the ravages of the Vietnam War, which convinced him that he was actually wasting valuable time on basketball. The disillusionment led him to neglect important aspects of his career, skipping NBA coach meetings, gaining unnecessary weight, and displaying lethargy on the court.
Knowing Bill Russell, he was able to overcome all his shortcomings in the end, leading his team to the NBA Finals, where they played against the Los Angeles Lakers, bagging the trophy in a narrow victory; this marked Russell’s 11th championship within the 13 years of his basketball career.
After he finally retired from active play, Russell served with the Seattle SuperSonics as the head coach from 1973 to 1977. From 1987 to 1988, he was the head coach of Sacramento, but unfortunately, his two coaching stints were unsuccessful. His coaching career ended in 1988.
Russell’s Career Life After Basketball
Retiring from both active play and coaching, Bill Russell tried his hands at TV. He made stops at both CBS and TBS, where he functioned as their color commentator. During the 1990s, the former basketball center became the host of the Saturday Night Live television show.
Towards the end of his life, he started living as a near-hermit in his Mercer Island, Washington, home, making very few public appearances. However, the basketball superstar kept supporting the Celtics till his demise.
Bill Russell went down in history as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. What’s more, he bagged a plethora of prestigious awards to show for his years in the NBA.
Key Facts About Bill Russell
- What was Bill Russell’s estimated net worth?
- Bill Russell had an estimated net worth of about $10 million at the time of his passing in 2022. He accumulated his wealth primarily through his successful basketball career.
- How tall was Bill Russell?
- Bill Russell stood at a towering height of 6 feet 10 inches, making him one of the taller players of his time in basketball.
- Where was Bill Russell born?
- Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in West Monroe, Louisiana. He moved to Oakland, California with his family when he was eight years old.
- Where did Bill Russell attend college?
- Bill Russell attended the University of San Francisco, where he played college basketball on a scholarship. He had a successful basketball career at USF.
- How many NBA championships did Bill Russell win?
- Bill Russell won a record 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in his 13-year career. He secured these wins in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969.
- What role did Bill Russell play in activism?
- Beyond his basketball career, Bill Russell was a key voice for the civil rights movement. He used his platform to stand up against racism, even visiting Jackson, Mississippi following the assassination of Medgar Evers.
- Was Bill Russell involved in coaching after his player career?
- Yes, after retiring as a player, Bill Russell went on to coach the Seattle SuperSonics from 1973 to 1977, and the Sacramento Kings from 1987 to 1988. He was also the first black head coach in the history of the NBA when he was appointed by the Celtics before the 1966-67 season.
- What honors and recognitions did Bill Russell receive?
- For his outstanding contributions to the NBA, Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Collegiate Hall of Fame, and the FIBA Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the inaugural class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He also received honorary doctorates from Suffolk University and Harvard University.
