NBA star James Harden recently revealed a piece of life-changing financial advice he received from the late Kobe Bryant, which has significantly contributed to his wealth. During an interview on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, Harden shared how Bryant’s guidance altered his approach to finances and led to a substantial windfall.
Bryant advised Harden to set aside $5 million and use it to invest in opportunities as they arose.
“Kobe told me, ‘Let’s put aside $5 million. Anytime an opportunity comes up—whether it’s $200,000 or $500,000—we’ll pull from this pot and invest,'” Harden recounted.
Taking Bryant’s advice to heart, Harden invested $500,000 in the sports drink brand BodyArmor, a company Bryant had already invested in. This investment paid off handsomely when Coca-Cola acquired BodyArmor in 2021 for $5.6 billion, turning Bryant’s initial investment into a staggering $400 million and providing Harden with a significant return on his investment.
Harden has continued to follow Bryant’s teachings, building an impressive portfolio that includes part ownership of the Houston Dynamo (MLS) and Houston Dash (NWSL), as well as investments in companies like Therabody. Harden feels a strong responsibility to carry on Bryant’s legacy and has taken on a mentorship role, passing on what he’s learned to younger players.
“Carrying on Kobe’s legacy is really hard because he was truly one of a kind,” Harden said. “But I try to contribute creatively and keep things moving forward.”
Kobe Bryant told James Harden to invest in Body Armour with him & it payed off:
“I put 500 grand into Body Armor and got me a good amount of money back” 👀
Body Armor was later sold for $5.8 BILLION 🤯
🎥 @EarnYourLeisure
pic.twitter.com/ggCrJonbgs— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) November 22, 2024
