You know how some NBA legends turn their millions into empires? Guys like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James are household names even for people who don’t watch basketball. But while those names grab the headlines, there’s another man who’s been quietly making legends of his own. The name is Metta World Peace or if you’re old school, Ron Artest. He’s been stacking wins off the court for quite some time now. And now, he’s finally letting fans in on what he’s cooking next.

From auctioning off his 2009–10 championship ring to donate the money to mental health charities, to getting tangled in scandals that seemed to chase him everywhere, the man’s lived a life. Remember that infamous Malice at the Palace? Yeah, his fingerprints were all over that too. But here’s the part most folks don’t talk about: through all that noise, Metta’s been quietly stacking business moves like a true champion. And now, his $30 million empire’s about to hit another level.

Metta World Peace, the man once known as Ron Artest, has come a long way since his NBA days. On Friday, he opened up about his wild ride from basketball champ to entrepreneur during a panel at a Global Investment Summit. And that switch from athlete to business mogul wasn’t smooth at all. But Metta kept grinding. “I realized it would take me years to master business just like basketball,” he admitted. And that’s exactly what he did. He studied digital marketing and business analytics to get a grip on the corporate game. Fast forward to now, and he’s got companies operating in multiple countries, from Artest Management Group to X vs X Sports and more. But what really lit up the room was when Metta started talking about 37 Partners.

37 Partners is his brand lab and digital marketing company based in Hong Kong. The whole mission is to help athletes stop settling for sponsorship checks and start owning their brands. When the conversation turned to the booming China market, Metta didn’t hold back. “Chinese fans love the NBA, but athletes need to connect authentically,” he explained.

When asked about navigating business amid geopolitical tensions, Metta stayed true to form, calm and focused. “Life is a challenge, but I focus on the prize,” he said. With one foot planted in Hong Kong and plans to expand into mainland China and the U.S., Metta isn’t stressing over obstacles. He sees nothing but open lanes.

And honestly, with U.S.-China tariff tensions cooling down a little, this might be the perfect window for Metta to level up his empire. Because knowing how global geopolitics work, all it takes is one tweet to flip the whole script.

Metta World Peace and his 19-year-long NBA history

Metta World Peace once shared a story that still chills people to this day. “I remember one time, one of my friends, he was playing basketball and they were winning the game. It was so competitive, they broke a leg from a table and they threw it and it went right through his heart and he died right on the court.” Metta said. Coming from that kind of background, it’s no surprise he eventually changed his name to Peace. But the irony was that he never left the impression of a peaceful player.

To begin with, Metta was drafted 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1999. He spent three seasons there before making his mark with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Houston Rockets. While he was navigating through multiple teams, the real turning point came in 2009, when he joined Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, winning a championship in his first season.

After four years in L.A., Artest took a quick pit stop with the Knicks before heading overseas. He suited up for the Sichuan Blue Whales in China and Italy’s Pallacanestro Cantu, before returning to the Lakers for one last run. And then the day finally came when he officially retired from the NBA in 2017.  Wrapping up a 19-season career that saw him earn an All-Star nod and a championship ring.

But even after the arena lights dimmed, Metta never really left the game. He just switched courts. Now, he’s making plays in the business world and leaving a different kind of mark on his community. In short, Metta’s legacy isn’t one stuck in highlight reels; it’s alive, very much alive. It’s evolving with time and is still very much in the spotlight.