From an incredible run at Duke to an impressive but brief career in the pro basketball league, the former NBA player has worn several hats since then. Be it as an owner, a broadcaster, or a budding entrepreneur, the former NBA player has taken on every responsibility as well as challenges. As an avid philanthropist, he ensures to give back to the community too. But sometime in the past during his NBA career and while struggling through a tough time with his injuries, he realized that he needed to build something that would stand strong for years. And that was his inspiration to create the millions worth empire.

In his 13 year NBA career, the 7× NBA All-Star earned nearly $140 million in salary and a jaw-dropping $120 million from endorsements deals, as per Celebrity Net Worth. Cut to the present, he has an estimated net worth of $250 million. What became a full-fledged business for Hill after retirement actually began during his playing years. If only his knee injuries hadn’t stopped him, Hill might have played for a few more years and perhaps achieved even more accolades to his decorated resume.

However, apart from his NBA career, he continued to focus on the business side too. Back in 1997, Hill signed a record-breaking seven-year, $80 million shoe deal with Fila, which turned into a lifetime deal in 2018. The brand reportedly pays him nearly $10 million annually. Did you know that he never hired a sports agent during his career? He hired lawyers on hourly payments to help him with the deals. 

After his retirement in 2013, he stepped into the broadcasting world with NBA Inside Stuff on NBA TV, as a sportscaster for CBS, and more. Just two years later, he joined the ownership group led by Tony Ressler to purchase the Atlanta Hawks. The franchise is now valued at $3.8 billion. He also has a lifetime endorsement deal with Puma.  

The former NBA player is also involved in real estate and has started a private equity mezzanine fund, Penta Capital, to invest in well-capitalized and highly profitable businesses. Even after retirement, the Hall of Famer continues to inspire people.

He is a shining example of leaping from uncertainty to becoming one of the richest and most accomplished former NBA players. Earlier, when he came down to Wallace Wade Stadium for Duke’s 2025 Commencement Address, he had a lot to say about life and its meaning to the graduates looking up at him.

Grant Hill’s motivating message for Duke graduates

The former Detroit Pistons player was invited to the event, which was held on May 11. Addressing a crowd of 6,900 students, Hill didn’t talk about how he built his net worth or his massive business empire, including ownership in the Atlanta Hawks. Instead, he focused on what he himself had learned as a teenager from his mother.

His mother was a trustee emerita of Duke University from 2006 to 2021. She had taught the former NBA player to follow his passion. It has been more than two years since Janet Hill passed away, but her words remained with Hill as he poured his heart out in the speech.

“What made this community special … is that it’s made up of people … who don’t just write down their values but show up with them — who, over four fun but hard years, extended you respect, trusted you, included you, joined you in the joys of discovery and pursued excellence,” he said.

The day couldn’t have been any better, with people around the world celebrating Mother’s Day. During his time with the Duke Blue Devils, he helped lead the team to two back-to-back NCAA title wins in 1991 and 1992.

He alluded to the listeners that when one makes success the top priority, it might lead to a loss of integrity. This is when people forget to stay true to their values and that, he said, is the biggest challenge. He went on to advise the graduates to be careful in a world where there’s a gap between what people claim and what they actually do. While it may have gotten a bit serious, Hill ended his speech with one lesson from his mother, not to “fear failure.”