Let’s be real for a second. For years, the internet treated LiAngelo Ball like the "other" brother. While Lonzo was the second overall pick and LaMelo was busy becoming a flashy All-Star with a signature style, Gelo was the guy stuck in the middle. Most people assumed his bank account looked pretty slim compared to his brothers’ massive NBA contracts.
But if you think LiAngelo Ball net worth is just a fraction of his family’s wealth, you’re actually wrong. Honestly, the dude has pulled off one of the most interesting pivots in recent sports history. As of early 2026, experts and financial analysts place LiAngelo’s net worth at approximately $12 million to $14 million.
Wait, how? He isn't even in the NBA right now.
It’s a fair question. While he hasn't signed those $100 million max contracts like LaMelo, Gelo has been playing a different game. He stopped trying to force the NBA dream and started leaning into the "Ball" brand and a surprising new career that most people didn't see coming.
The Music Pivot: That $13 Million Surprise
If you haven't been on TikTok lately, you might have missed it. LiAngelo—now recording under the name G3 Gelo—dropped a track called "Tweaker" in 2025 that went absolutely nuclear. We’re talking viral dances, millions of streams, and a massive charting success that nobody expected from a Chino Hills hooper.
This wasn't just a hobby. In early 2025, Shams Charania actually broke the news that LiAngelo signed a massive record deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group.
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Check out the numbers on this:
- Total Value: Up to $13 million.
- Guaranteed Money: $8 million upfront.
- Ownership: He kept his masters and his own label, Born2Ball Music Group.
Basically, he secured a "bag" that rivals many mid-level NBA salaries without having to dive for loose balls on a Tuesday night in Greensboro. This single deal alone effectively doubled his net worth overnight. It changed the narrative from "undrafted free agent" to "music mogul in the making."
The Betr Investment: Betting on Himself
Gelo isn't just spending his money on jewelry and cars—though he definitely has a few "whips," as he told Speedy Morman in a recent interview. He’s been getting smart with equity.
In late 2025, LiAngelo and his older brother Lonzo joined Jake Paul’s Betr as equity partners. This wasn't just a "pay me to post a photo" deal. They are actual owners in the sports betting and media company. They moved their podcast over to the Betr platform, which is currently valued at around $375 million.
When you have equity in a company that’s disrupting the gambling space, your net worth isn't just about the cash in your vault; it’s about the future valuation. By positioning himself as a "cultural icon" (as Betr’s Head of Media Mike Denevi put it), Gelo is ensuring that his wealth grows even when he isn't on a court.
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What Happened to the Basketball Money?
Let's look at the "hoop" side of the LiAngelo Ball net worth equation. It’s been a bumpy road.
- Lithuania: He and LaMelo went over there in 2018. It was more about the reality show than the salary.
- JBA League: Playing for his dad’s league likely didn't pay much in actual cash, but it kept the hype alive.
- The G-League Stint: Playing for the Greensboro Swarm (the Hornets' affiliate) usually pays a base salary of around $40,000 to $100,000 depending on the year. It’s decent money for a normal person, but peanuts in the Ball family.
He officially retired from professional basketball in August 2025. Honestly, it was a smart move. Why grind for a 10-day contract in the NBA when you have an $8 million guaranteed check from Def Jam sitting on your kitchen table?
The Big Baller Brand Factor
We have to talk about BBB. At its peak, LaVar Ball claimed the company was worth a billion dollars.
Narrator: It wasn't.
While the brand faced massive lawsuits and internal drama (shoutout to the Alan Foster situation), LiAngelo remains a face of the company. Even though Lonzo and LaMelo distanced themselves to sign with Nike and PUMA, Gelo stayed loyal.
Does BBB add much to his net worth today? Probably not a ton in liquid cash. The brand is more of a boutique apparel line now than a global powerhouse. However, the family still owns the intellectual property, and that has some "nostalgia value" that keeps the merch moving.
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Why Most People Get the Numbers Wrong
Most "net worth" websites are notoriously bad at updating their data. You’ll see sites claiming LiAngelo is worth $800,000. Gelo himself laughed at that during a Complex interview, saying that was probably his net worth back in high school.
When you factor in:
- The $8 million guaranteed from his music deal.
- His equity stake in Betr.
- His long-term social media deals (Boost Mobile, AIDAN, and others).
- Real estate investments in California.
The math starts to look a lot more like $12M+ than the sub-million figures people like to throw around. He’s been a professional athlete and a reality TV star since he was a teenager. That's a lot of time to stack checks.
Practical Steps to Understand This Type of Wealth
If you’re looking at LiAngelo’s path and trying to figure out how to evaluate your own "brand" or career pivot, here’s how the Ball family actually does it:
- Diversify early: Don't let one failure (the NBA) define your financial future.
- Ownership is king: Gelo’s music deal is valuable because he owns the label. In 2026, the "Middleman" is being cut out of every industry.
- Leverage the "L": Gelo used the "failed basketball" narrative to build an underdog rap persona. It worked. People love a comeback story.
LiAngelo Ball is currently living proof that you don't need an NBA jersey to have an NBA-sized bank account. He found a way to win by stopping the comparison game with his brothers and starting his own.
To track his growth from here, keep an eye on his music streaming numbers and any further funding rounds for Betr. Those are the real drivers of his wealth moving forward.