Friday, August 21, 2026

Kobe’s Hall of Fame Career in Business

  • Kobe Bryant will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame posthumously on Saturday.
  • The five-time NBA champion left a legacy that transcends sports.
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame posthumously on Saturday and he leaves a legacy that transcends sports. 

Kobe earned just over $323 million during his 20 seasons in a Lakers uniform, providing the 18-time All-Star with resources to build a remarkable business portfolio.

  • He founded Bryant Stibel & Co., a VC firm that invested in more than 40 businesses including Epic Games. 
  • Launched Granity Studios, an Academy Award-winning multimedia company. 
  • Co-founded sports drink brand BodyArmor, which generates more than $1 billion in sales and plans to overtake Gatorade as the No. 1 sports drink by 2025.
  • Co-founded Art of Sport, a line of body and skincare products made for athletes. The company has an exclusive deal with Target. 

Kobe’s business legacy continues with what appears to be the imminent debut of a Mamba sneaker and apparel brand.

Vanessa Bryant and Kobe’s estate failed to reach an agreement on a new contract with Nike last month, ending an 18-year relationship with the company.

Michael Jordan and Vanessa Bryant will present Kobe for induction in a Hall of Fame class that includes Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Tamika Catchings.

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