Lamar Odom, a former NBA star and reality television personality, has an estimated net worth of $30 million. Over the course of his basketball career, he accumulated $115 million in salary earnings (pre-tax), with his most lucrative season being 2008-2009, when he earned $14 million with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite facing personal and financial setbacks, Odom remains a significant figure in sports and entertainment, continuously working to rebuild his wealth and reputation.
Early Life and Challenges
Lamar Joseph Odom was born on November 6, 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York. His early life was filled with hardships—his mother passed away from colon cancer when he was 12, and his father struggled with heroin addiction. Raised by his grandmother, Mildred, Odom found solace in basketball, excelling at three different high schools: Christ The King Regional High School, Redemption Christian Academy, and St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
In 1997, he was recognized as Parade Player of the Year, USA Today All-USA First Team, and Parade All-American First Team. Though he considered entering the NBA straight out of high school, Odom decided he wasn’t ready and initially accepted a scholarship to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). However, due to issues concerning his ACT score and an arrest for solicitation, he lost his scholarship and instead enrolled at the University of Rhode Island, where he played one season before declaring for the NBA Draft in 1999.
NBA Career and Major Achievements
Odom was drafted fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1999. His rookie season was impressive enough to earn him a spot on the 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team. After spending several seasons with the Clippers, he joined the Miami Heat for the 2003-2004 season, playing alongside rookie Dwyane Wade.
At the end of the season, Odom was part of a trade deal that sent Shaquille O’Neal to Miami, leading him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Odom’s career flourished in LA, where he played from 2004 to 2011. He won two NBA Championships (2009, 2010) and was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
Following his tenure with the Lakers, he played briefly for the Dallas Mavericks (2011-2012) before returning to the Clippers (2012-2013). Odom attempted an NBA comeback in 2014 but struggled with personal issues, leading to his departure from professional basketball.
Personal Life and Reality TV Fame
Odom was in a long-term relationship with Liza Morales, with whom he had three children:
- Destiny (born 1998)
- Lamar Jr. (born 2002)
- Jayden (born 2005, passed away in 2006 due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
In September 2009, Odom married Khloé Kardashian after just a month of dating. Their marriage was heavily publicized, and Odom became a reality TV star through appearances on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and their spin-off show, “Khloé & Lamar”, which aired for two seasons (2011-2012).
However, their relationship faced many struggles, particularly due to Odom’s substance abuse issues. In August 2013, he was arrested for a DUI and later sentenced to three years probation and a three-month alcohol treatment program. Khloé filed for divorce in December 2013, finalizing it in 2016.
In October 2015, Odom was found unconscious at the Love Ranch brothel in Nevada, suffering from multiple strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure due to drug overdose. He was placed on life support but made a miraculous recovery, crediting his survival to faith and the support of loved ones.
Post-NBA Ventures and Rehabilitation Efforts
In November 2019, Odom announced his engagement to Sabrina Parr, a health and lifestyle coach, but they later called it off in November 2020.
Since his health crisis, Odom has worked to turn his life around, focusing on addiction recovery. In April 2023, he launched Odom Wellness Treatment Centers, investing in rehabilitation facilities across California to help individuals struggling with substance abuse, inspired by his own experiences.
Real Estate and Financial Decisions
Odom has made several real estate investments. In 2003, he purchased an 8,557-square-foot mansion in Pinecrest, Florida, for nearly $3 million. After being traded from the Miami Heat, he rented the home for $20,000 per month. He later attempted to sell it multiple times, eventually listing it for $3.6 million in 2018.
In 2014, he and Khloé Kardashian sold their 8,000-square-foot home in Tarzana, California, for $5.499 million to actress Kaley Cuoco.