Photo Credit: YONG KIM / PHILLY.COM
Trevor Booker On His Way To China, But Also On His Way To Become A Billionaire
Trevor Booker is taking his talents to China and signed a contract with the Shanxi Brave Dragons. While he is happy about the new challenge and opportunity, Booker also is very confident that he’ll make it back to the NBA sooner than later.
Although I know I belong in the NBA, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be heading to China this upcoming season. The summer didn’t pan out as I hoped, but I assure you that I’ll be back on a NBA floor terrorizing people again soon enough.
— Trevor Booker (@35_Fitz) August 8, 2018
Now he can be a star for once. Ever since Booker has come into the league, he has been a good role player. After being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 23rd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Booker was traded to the Washington Wizards on draft night. He stayed in Washington for four years, making a name for himself with his old-school type play. After his four year stint in the capital, Booker signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Utah Jazz before joining the Brookly Nets prior to the start of last season. Earlier this season, Booker was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second-round pick, but was released on February 28. He then signed with the Indiana Pacers, before becoming a free agent this summer.
While most players make the move over to China for money, Booker most likely isn’t one of them. In his eight years being a pro baller, Booker has made over $34 million, which is enough money for various lives. But, not many people know that this amount only is peanuts to Booker. Trevor Booker has been building his empire since his college days. Together with his college roommate, Jonah Baize, he owns more than 12 companies, and has shared interest in a half-dozen more.
The Philly Inquirer’s Sarah Todd recently sat down with Booker and talked about his off the court business life. What started with a basketball academy, has now grown into a group of six private schools (Combine Academy). But that’s not even the beginning. Booker and Baize own real estate (residential and commercial) in multiple states, as well as a resort in Puerto Rico. From that point on, they started investing in whatever they thought would make money and have been fairly succesful. They have invested in all kinds of things from eco-friendly shampoo to the DC United Soccer team and they won’t stop until they reach their goal – become billionaires. When asked how long it was going to take him, Booker responded:
“Maybe 30-35 years. I know I can get there…”
That would make him a billionaire at the age of 60-65. Not too bad for someone many thought ‘only’ plays professional ball.
