Philip Douglas Jackson (born September 17, 1945) is a former professional basketball player, coach, and executive. As a power forward, he won NBA championships with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973.
RELATED: Lionel Messi’s Wife: The Enchanting Antonela Roccuzzo
Regarded as one of the greatest coaches, he led the Chicago Bulls to six championships (1989–1998) and the Los Angeles Lakers to five titles (1999–2011). Known for using the triangle offense, Jackson’s 11 NBA championships as a coach set a record. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and retired in 2011.
Table of Contents
Phil Jackson’s Net Worth
Phil Jackson has a net worth of $70 million. During his 9 years coaching the Chicago Bulls, he earned $9 million, leading the team to six championships. After a brief break, Jackson returned to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999 with a $30 million, five-year contract.
As President of the New York Knicks, he earned $11 million per year, totaling $60 million over three years before leaving in 2017. In real estate, Jackson purchased an ocean-view home in Marina Del Rey, California for $1.8 million in 1999.
Early life
Philip Douglas Jackson was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, to Charles and Elisabeth Funk Jackson, Assemblies of God ministers. Raised in a strict, austere environment, Jackson didn’t experience dancing or television growing up and assumed he would become a minister.
He attended Williston High School in North Dakota, where he excelled in basketball, leading the team to a state title, and also played football, baseball, and track. His athletic talent caught the attention of scouts, including future NBA coach Bill Fitch.
Career
Philip Douglas Jackson began his playing career in 1967 with the New York Knicks, winning a championship in 1973. After a brief stint with the New Jersey Jets, he retired in 1980. Jackson’s coaching career started in Puerto Rico and then with the Chicago Bulls in 1987.
He led the Bulls to six championships, utilizing Tex Winter’s triangle offense. After a brief retirement, Jackson coached the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five titles. In 2014, he became president of the New York Knicks, but left in 2017 after disappointing results.
Personal life
Phil Jackson married his first wife in 1967, but they divorced in 1972. His second marriage in 1974 also ended in divorce. One of his most notable relationships was with Jeanie Buss, daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, whom he met in 1999 and became engaged to in 2013, though they called off the engagement in 2016.
Jackson has five children and eight grandchildren. A proponent of the 60s and 70s counterculture, Jackson has admitted to using LSD, marijuana, and other drugs, expressing skepticism about marijuana legalization.
Why is Phil Jackson so important?
Phil Jackson is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. He served as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1998, leading the team to six NBA championships.
He then coached the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011, guiding the Lakers to five more NBA titles. Jackson’s success and leadership in both teams cemented his legacy as one of basketball’s most influential coaches.
Conclusion
Phil Jackson’s journey from player to coach to executive has been marked by success, innovation, and an unconventional approach to the game of basketball. His net worth of $70 million in 2023 is reflective of a career well-played and well-coached, establishing him not just as an NBA legend, but as a financial victor in the game of life.
FAQs about Phil Jackson’s Net Worth
- How did Phil Jackson make his fortune?
- Phil Jackson made his fortune through a successful career in the NBA as a player, coach, and executive, coupled with smart real estate investments.
- Has Phil Jackson been successful in his post-coaching career?
- Financially, yes. Despite a less successful tenure as an executive with the Knicks, he earned significant income from his contracts.
- What is Phil Jackson’s coaching philosophy?
- Phil Jackson is known for his implementation of the triangle offense and a holistic approach to coaching that includes elements of Eastern philosophy.
- How many NBA championships did Phil Jackson win as a coach?
- Phil Jackson won a record 11 NBA championships as a coach.
- Does Phil Jackson have any endorsements?
- Throughout his career, Jackson has had various endorsement deals, although specific details post-retirement are not widely publicized.
