Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth (2024)
Lifestyle | Bio | Facts [UPDATED]
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Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth, Biography & Lifestyle: Born Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, popularly known today as Hakeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association and have played before for Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. After leading the Rockets to a back-to-back championship, he became an all-time star and got inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and FIBA Hall of Fame.
Hakeem Olajuwon’s net worth is $200 million.
Today, we’re going to be diving deep into Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon career, and we’ll be looking at:
Table of Contents
Given Hakeem’s net worth, he is regarded as one of the richest NBA players in the world, along with other NBA players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Now, let’s get going!
Who Is Hakeem Olajuwon?
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<a href="https://bouncemojo.com"><img src="https://bouncemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hakeem-Olajuwon-Quick-Overview.webp" alt="Hakeem Olajuwon"></a>| Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth: $200 million |
| Source of Wealth: Endorsements, Entrepreneurial projects |
| Spouse/ Relationship: Wife – Dalia Asafi – Married |
| Date of Birth: January 21, 1963 |
| Place of Birth/Nationality: Lagos, Nigeria Nigerian-American |
| Children: Rahma Olajuwon, Aisha Olajuwon, Abdullah Olajuwon and Abdul Olajuwon |
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired NBA player who once belonged to NBA teams, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. His NBA career is astonishing as he is one of the best NBA defensive players of all time.
Wanna know an insane fact?
When he was fifteen years old, Hakeem’s height was 6ft and 9 inches or 206 cm, which got him his first center position for a Nigerian national team.
Not only did he rise to mainstream success…
But also an international stardom playing center positions for two leading teams during his time, the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors!
NBA History – Houston Rockets
Hakeem was inducted into the final list for the 1984 NBA draft by Houston Rokers under head coach Guy Lewis. Hakeem’s lineup included iconic players like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton.
Well, too much for an NBA rookie, aye?
Moving on…
He was also partnered with Ralph Sampson, whose height is 7 feet and 4 inches or 224 cm, to become the NBA team’s defense tower, aka ‘Twin Towers Offense.’
It was a success, though!
The two managed to get the team into the 1986 NBA Finals. However, the team faced multiple losses against the Boston Celtics. Hakeem remained in the team while Sampson was traded to the Warriors team in 1988, but that didn’t stop Hakeem as he successfully led the team in back-to-back wins in his first NBA Championship throughout the 80s to 90s.
A reigning player indeed!
Fact: He played basketball for straight 18 years!
In case you should know…
Hakeem Olajuwon earned a massive profit of $16.7 million during his tenure with the Houston Rockets!
Career Milestones
First-ever non-American NBA player to win these awards below:
How Old Is Hakeem Olajuwon?
Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 21, 1963, which makes him 61 years old today.
Hakeem Olajuwon Height & Weight
Hakeem Olajuwon stands 7 ft or 2.13 meters and weighs 116 kilograms or 255 pounds. Other basketball players who have the same height as Jakoboeltl of the San Antonio Spurs, and Shaquille O’Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers
Other Quick Facts:
How Much Is Hakeem Olajuwon Worth?
Hakeem Olajuwon’s net worth is $200 million as a former NBA player.
Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth Year By Year
| Year | Earnings $ |
| 2011 | $100,000 |
| 2012 | $900,000 |
| 2013 | $135 million |
| 2014 | $155 million |
| 2015 | $174 million |
| 2016 | $187 million |
| 2017 | $189 million |
| 2018 | $192 million |
| 2019 | $198 million |
| 2020 | $200 million |
Hakeem Olajuwon Book
Living the Dream: My Life and Basketball
The star of the Houston Rockets chronicles the cross-cultural journey from his Nigerian childhood to the heights of fame with the NBA, discussing his life on and off the court, rivalry with other players, confrontations with owners and referees, and religious faith
Clothing Line – DR34M
Little did you know that Hakeem Olajuwon is also a fashion guy, and so he built his own clothing line, DR34M which refers to the nickname he got during his basketball years, ‘The Dream.’
Hakeem designs his own clothes, and even as a rookie, he would select fabric from fabric stores and plan out what he wanted to build with it. As he mentioned on Chron, his favorite fabrics are linen and cashmere, but he doesn’t use them in his clothing line because cotton is more breathable.
The Young Hakeem Olajuwon
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<a href="https://bouncemojo.com"><img src="https://bouncemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hakeem-Olajuwon01.webp" alt="Hakeem Olajuwon"></a>In Lagos, Nigeria, Hakeem Olajuwon was born to his cement business-owner parents, Salim and Abike Olajuwon. He has eight siblings, and he was the third child.
Hakeem thanked his parents for the values he grew up in and said, “They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves.”
During his entire childhood, Hakeem used to be a soccer goalkeeper who helped him develop his footwork and agility.
Did you know?
…That when a coach asked him to dunk, he couldn’t? And he had to use a chair to dunk even when he was instructed not to use it.
Well, that didn’t stop him there!
Hakeem once said, “Basketball is something that is so unique. That immediately, I pick up the game and, you know, realize that this is life for me. All the other sports just become obsolete.”
Hakeem Olajuwon High School
Hakeem Olajuwon studied in Muslim Teachers College back in his home country, Lagos, Nigeria.
Hakeem Olajuwon University
After getting through many obstacles during his early years in high school, he faced an even more challenging time entering the University of Houston.
Truth be told…
Hakeem is not a highly recruited student in the university and seldom gets a chance to be invited to a coaching game. Not only that, but Hakeem also recalled a time when he arrived at the airport for a school visit, and no one from the university cared to greet or pick him up.
Fast forward from the hardships…
He decided to change his gameplay as he was often a bench player when he was in college, which led him to meet one of the best NBA players at the time, Moses Malone.
Moses trained Hakeem Olajuwon, which led to a drastic change in his skills as an NBA rookie. Olajuwon said, “The way Moses helped me is by being out there playing and allowing me to go against that level of competition. He was the best center in the NBA at the time, so I was trying to improve my game against the best.”
It gets better…
As all Hakeem’s hard work paid off, and when he came back to show off his new skills, the old Hakeem who couldn’t dunk effortlessly dunked a ball which left the coach speechless and described his performance as something ‘like a dream.’
Fact: From that moment, Hakeem was nicknamed “The Dream.”
He graduated from the University of Houston with a Physical Education major degree.
Hakeem Olajuwon Family & Relationships
Hakeem Olajuwon Wife – Dalia Asafi
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<a href="https://bouncemojo.com"><img src="https://bouncemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hakeem-Olajuwon02.webp" alt="Hakeem Olajuwon"></a>Olajuwon got married to Dalia Asafi on August 8, 1996. The pair gave birth to Rahma, Aisha, Abdullah, Abdul, and Abike Olajuwon.
Hakeem Olajuwon Kids
Abdullah & Abdul Olajuwon
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<a href="https://bouncemojo.com"><img src="https://bouncemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hakeem-Olajuwon03.webp" alt="Hakeem Olajuwon"></a>Abi Olajuwon
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<a href="https://bouncemojo.com"><img src="https://bouncemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hakeem-Olajuwon04.webp" alt="Hakeem Olajuwon"></a>And coming up shortly – we’re going to be taking a deep dive into how Hakeem Olajuwon spends his money – houses, cars, jets, and how generous he is with charity… etc.
But first, let’s look at his career and career earnings and some scandals and controversies.
Hakeem Olajuwon Career
After spending 18 years in the NBA, Hakeem Olajuwon retired to being a top player for blocks, scoring, rebound, and steal.
Check out his complete achievements during his tenure in NBA below:
Hakeem Olajuwon Controversies
Houston Rockets / David Robinson Dispute – When he accepted an eight-year deal with the Rockets in 1986, he was set to generate more than $23 million; however, Hakeem recognized his potential and sought to restructure his contract in 1988 after finding that David Robinson was earning more as a rookie than Hakeem would receive in his sixth year.
In 2001, he turned down a three-year agreement with the Rockets at $13 million in lieu of a three-year deal with the Raptors worth $18 million, although he only played for one year before retiring due to a serious back injury.
How Hakeem Olajuwon Spends His Money
Olajuwon spends his money mainly on the Houston real estate market, buying his properties with cold cash. It is due to his Islamic law, which forbids any person to pay on an installment basis.
Hakeem Olajuwon Houses
North Houston Home
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<a href="https://bouncemojo.com"><img src="https://bouncemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hakeem-Olajuwon05.webp" alt="Hakeem Olajuwon"></a>Olajuwon resided in the 7,271-square-foot house at 2902 Pine Lake Trail for several years after being specifically built-in 1983.
Olajuwon lived in this house with four bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms. It includes a three-car garage, a large lagoon pool with a spa and waterfall, a summer kitchen, a wine cellar, a guest house, a game room, and an exercise room, among other amenities.
Outside, there’s also a basketball hoop, which is perfect.
Hakeem Olajuwon Philanthropy
Big Man Camp
Olajuwon launched his first Big Man Camp, where he coaches young frontcourt players on how to perform in the position. Olajuwon has never indicated an interest in managing a team, but he does want to give back to the game by assisting younger players.
When questioned if the NBA had become more guard-oriented, Olajuwon answered, “Big men are getting de-emphasized. Maybe for a large player who is just big. However, if you play with speed and agility, this is not the case. If the big man plays a game correctly, it’ll always be a big man’s game. The big man can rebound and block shots on defense. He attracts double teams and provides opportunities for attack. He can make a significant contribution that will benefit the entire team.”
He is a volunteer who operates the program for free. Olajuwon has worked with a couple of NBA stars for his camp, notably center Yao Ming and power forward Emeka Okafor.
Fun Facts About Hakeem Olajuwon
5 Lessons We Can Learn For Financial Freedom From Hakeem Olajuwon
- Always pay in cash if you can; if you don’t, just wait until you are ready to pay for it.
- Save time and money.
- Never entrust your money to others other than you and your family.
- Help with what you can afford.
- Avoid unnecessary expenditures.
Top 3 Quotes From Hakeem Olajuwon
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Did Hakeem Olajuwon Change His Name?
Olajuwon became a more practicing Muslim after taking an active interest in religion. “I’m not changing the spelling of my name; I’m correcting it,” he said on March 9, 1991, when he changed his name from Akeem to the more traditional spelling of Hakeem.
Where Is Hakeem Olajuwon Residing Now?
While he has numerous homes worldwide, Hakeem Olajuwon and his family relocated to Houston permanently in September 2019.
What Teams Did Hakeem Olajuwon Play For Before Retiring?
Hakeem Olajuwon played for Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors before officially retiring from basketball.
Conclusion: Hakeem Olajuwon Net Worth, Bio, Lifestyle
So there you have it, I’m sure you’ll agree, Hakeem Olajuwon has had a hell of a career. I liked that Hakeem has a strong sense of faith in his religion, and that still kept him on track despite numerous failed attempts during his early years in basketball.
That’s also what we need, some spiritual drive to keep holding on and praying to God Almighty that we can do things if we pray and work hard for it. Let’s all be like Hakeem!
If you’re interested in other basketball players and their net worths, check out Tracy McGrady and Lebron James Net Worth, Biography & Lifestyle on our site, Bouncemojo.com!
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