What was Dikembe Mutombo's Net Worth?
Dikembe Mutombo was a beloved professional basketball player who had a net worth of $75 million. Dikembe Mutombo is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. The 7'2″ center from the Democratic Republic of the Congo played 18 seasons in the league from 1991 to 2009. Mutombo was renowned for his shot-blocking ability, leading the NBA in blocks for three consecutive seasons and ranking second all-time in total blocks.
He played for six different teams during his career, most notably the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, and Houston Rockets. Mutombo was an eight-time All-Star and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times. His signature move was emphatically wagging his finger at opponents after blocking their shots. Mutombo's impact on the game was recognized with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. His career averages of 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game underscore his defensive dominance and rebounding prowess.
Off the court, Mutombo was known for his humanitarian work, particularly in Africa. He established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his home country. Mutombo's humanitarian efforts earned him the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001 and 2009, and in 1999, he was elected as one of 20 winners of the President's Service Awards, which is the nation's highest honor for volunteer service. Unfortunately, Dikembe died on September 30, 2024, at the age of 58, after a battle with brain cancer.
Career Earnings
During his playing career, Dikembe Mutombo earned a little over $143 million in salary before taxes. He earned tens of millions more from endorsements and continues to appear in national commercials decades into retirement. His biggest contracts were a five-year, $56 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 1996 and a four-year, $65 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001. His highest-paid season was 2001-02 when he earned $16.25 million with the 76ers.
Early Life
Dikembe Mutombo was born on June 25, 1966, in Léopoldville, now called Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is one of 10 children of Biamba and Samuel and is a member of the Luba ethnic group. As a teen, Mutombo attended Boboto College, where he planned his studies with the intention of pursuing a medical career. When he was 16, he decided he was also interested in becoming a professional basketball player.
Dikembe in 1990 (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Collegiate Career
In 1987, Mutombo moved to the United States to enroll at Georgetown University on a USAID scholarship. Although he initially planned to become a doctor, he was recruited to play basketball by the school's coach, John Thompson. Mutombo became an almost immediate success with the Georgetown Hoyas, establishing his reputation as a mighty shot blocker. In both 1990 and 1991, he was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Mutombo graduated from Georgetown in 1991 with degrees in diplomacy and linguistics.
Denver Nuggets
Mutombo entered the NBA in 1991 when he was selected with the fourth overall pick by the Denver Nuggets. Once again, his shot-blocking skills made him an immediate success; he was named to the All-Star team in his rookie year. By the 1993-94 season, Mutombo had become the lynchpin of the Nuggets, helping the team finish with a 42-40 record to qualify for the playoffs. He then helped the Nuggets win a huge playoff upset over the Seattle SuperSonics, during which he posted a record 31 blocks across the five-game series. However, the Nuggets ultimately fell to the Utah Jazz in the playoffs' second round. For the 1994-95 season, Mutombo was named to his second All-Star game and was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He had his final season with the Nuggets in 1995-96, after which he became a free agent.
Atlanta Hawks
In 1996, Mutombo signed a five-year, $55 million free-agent contract with the Atlanta Hawks. On the team, he continued his success, leading the Hawks to consecutive seasons of 50-plus wins. Moreover, he won two more Defensive Player of the Year honors. In his final season with the Hawks in 1999-00, Mutombo averaged 11.5 points and a league-high 14.1 rebounds per game.
Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
Philadelphia 76ers
Mutombo was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in February of 2001 and had perhaps his strongest professional season. He won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year honor and helped the Sixers to the playoffs, where they defeated the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks. The team advanced to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers and pulled off an upset to win Game 1. However, the Sixers were no match for the Lakers overall, losing the subsequent four games.
Nets, Knicks, and Bulls
Although Mutombo was traded to the New Jersey Nets in 2002, he spent the majority of the season with an injury that limited his playing to only 24 games. In the Nets' run in the Finals, he served as a sixth man. Following the season, the team bought out the two remaining years on Mutombo's contract. He subsequently signed a two-year deal with the New York Knicks in 2003. In 2004, Mutombo was traded to the Chicago Bulls, which then traded him to the Houston Rockets just before the 2004-05 season.
Houston Rockets
With the Rockets, Mutombo partnered with fellow player Yao Ming to form one of the most productive center combos in the NBA. During the 2007-08 season, he recorded one of his greatest streaks when he averaged double digits in rebounding as a starter after Yao suffered a broken bone. Mutombo went on to help the Rockets complete a 22-game winning streak, which was a team record at the time. In January of 2008, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA player with the second-most career blocked shots. After considering retirement, Mutombo had his final professional season in 2009 as the oldest player in the league. He helped the Rockets make it to the playoffs but suffered a knee injury in Game 2 that resulted in him being carried off the court. Mutombo announced his retirement shortly thereafter.
Geico Commercial
In 2013, Dikembe starred in a now-iconic commercial for the insurance company Geico, where he callously blocked people who were doing things like tossing laundry:
Humanitarian Work
Beyond basketball, Mutombo is highly regarded for his humanitarian work. In 1997, he launched the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve quality of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Later, in 2004, he participated in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program to help bolster infrastructure in Africa. Mutombo is also a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics, serving as a global ambassador and member of the international board of directors.
One of Mutombo's most notable humanitarian projects was the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, which opened in 2007. The $29 million, 300-bed facility was the first modern medical facility to be built in the Kinshasa area in almost 40 years.
Personal Life & Death
During a 1995 visit to his hometown of Kinshasa, Dikembe met a woman named Rose. They married the following year and remained together until his death in September 2024. He had seven children.
Unfortunately, Dikembe died on September 30, 2024, at the age of 58, after a battle with brain cancer.
Real Estate
In 2002, Dikembe paid $6.06 million for a 13,000-square-foot mansion in Sandy Springs, Georgia. He listed this home, which features 11 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, in May 2023 for $6.8 million. In 2013, Dikembe paid $4.95 million for an apartment in New York City. Located in the Trump Place building, he sold this unit at a loss in August 2023 for $3.495 million.
