Phil Jackson Net Worth and Professional Basketball Player

American Philip Douglas Jackson is a former CEO, coach, and professional basketball player. He spent 12 successful seasons playing power forward, but his coaching career is what has made him most famous today. He was listed as one of the top 10 basketball coaches in history and inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame.

He was Known as one of the greatest coaches of all time. From 1989 to 1998, Jackson guided the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles as their head coach. During his tenure as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011, the team won five league titles.

In addition to these two records, he is the coach with the most postseason wins (229) and NBA Conference titles (13). Jackson listed one of the main impacts on his life as Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Phil Jackson Net Worth 2024

Phil Jackson’s net worth is estimated to be $70 million as of 2024. The well-known basketball coach and former NBA player Phil Jackson, popularly known as "Zen Master". After completing his twelve-year NBA career, he became head coach of the Chicago Bulls and guided them to six NBA titles.

He had a long coaching career before becoming an executive and joining the Knicks in 2014. He left the team in 2017.

For the fourth time in his career, he became the highest-paid athlete in the world, with an estimated earnings of $260 million during the previous 12 months. Ronaldo made $200 million this season from his deal with Al Nassr.

Biography and Personal Life

Jackson is the father of five children and grandpa of eight. He married Maxine, his first wife, in 1967. In 1972, they got divorced. In 1974, he wed June for the second time; however, the couple separated in 2000.

He dated Jeanie Buss, whom he met in 1999. He happens to be the daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss. In 2013, the two got engaged. In a shared statement on Twitter, they confirmed their engagement would end on December 27, 2016.

He owned Bannockburn, Illinois, while coaching the Chicago Bulls. When he was the Los Angeles Lakers' coach, he moved to Playa del Rey, Los Angeles. He then moved to Midtown Manhattan, New York City, as the New York Knicks' president of basketball operations. At the moment, he lives in Montana's Flathead Lake.

Early Life

Phil Jackson was born in Montana on September 17, 1945. He grew up in a deeply religious family; his parents were weekly speakers for the Assemblies of God. He grew up with two brothers and a half-sister, and neither dancing nor watching television was allowed for the kids. Like his parents, Jackson originally wanted to become a minister.

When he started playing basketball in high school, his team went on to win the state title. As basketball was about the only activity Jackson could play with other kids, he developed a strong passion for it. He was gifted in almost every activity he did and was active in the baseball and football teams. Several scouts from professional baseball and basketball companies took notice of this.

After high school, he was convinced to apply to the University of North Dakota, where he could play basketball for head coach Bill Fitch. Fitch taught Jackson many things about the game while he played for the Fighting Sioux. Later in life, the event would affect his NBA coaching and playing careers.

Professional career

New York Knicks (1967–1978)

The New York Knicks selected him in the second round of the 1967 NBA Draft. With his extremely long arms and strong all-around speed, he was limited offensively but made up for it with protective skill and devotion.

Coaching Career

Jackson didn't take long to start his coaching career. He eventually made a name for himself in the professional league in Puerto Rico. When he joined the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach in 1987, his NBA career officially got started. Two years later, he was promoted to head coach.

Jackson, however, had a change of heart and coached the Lakers from 1999 to 2004. He had an impact on the team's victory in his first year. He won two additional titles with the Lakers during this time. Conflicts among the players ended up being the Lakers' restoring, and they were beaten by the Pistons in the 2004 title game.

Playing Career

He started his playing career after being selected by the New York Knicks in the 1967 NBA Draft. He was a substitute who saw very little playing time, but his hard ethic won him over the fans. He eventually played with the Knicks, who were the 1973 NBA Winners.

Many important players left the Knicks after they won the NBA title. As a result, Jackson was able to make the jump in the starting lineup. This remained until Jackson's two-season stay with the New Jersey Jets in 1978. Jackson gave up playing basketball professionally in 1980.

Phil Jackson Accomplishments:

• Jackson's eleven beat Red Auer Bach’s previous record of nine NBA titles.
• In addition to these two records, he is the coach with the most postseason wins (229) and NBA Conference titles (13).
• In the seven years prior, he had coached 574 games and won 414 of them, with only 160 losses.
• At that point, his win-loss percentage was 72.1%, the highest of any coach on the list.
• He was in his eighth year of coaching. In his later career, he continued his success; when looking at his total career wins and losses, he still holds the record for the highest win-loss percentage of any coach on this list, with 70.4%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What was Phil Jackson's salary?

On March 18, he signed a $60 million, five-year contract to become the Knicks' president.

Q. Is Phil Jackson an NBA player?

Jackson was a power forward who spent 12 seasons in the NBA, where he won two titles with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973.

Q. Which coach has the most NBA rings?

The most NBA titles that a former head coach has ever won. Phil Jackson of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers amount to eleven.