For professional athletes, financial success isn’t just about signing big contracts or landing endorsements—it’s about making smart decisions that turn short-term earnings into long-term wealth.
In this series, I interview athletes and entertainers about how they’ve navigated the financial highs and lows of their careers—learning from the big paydays, the unexpected setbacks and the strategies that helped them build something lasting.
I recently caught up with former NBA All-Star Metta World Peace, who played 17 seasons in the league and won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers.
From working a shift at Circuit City during his rookie year to managing his growing portfolio of investments, Metta’s journey reminds us that building wealth starts with building the right foundation.
Evan Vladem: You were a math major at St. John’s and led the team to the March Madness Elite Eight as a sophomore before NIL deals even existed. As you decided to enter the NBA Draft, what were the people around you saying about going for the money?
Metta World Peace: Some people were excited, some were just like, “Wow, you’re going to make a lot of money.” I was just thinking about basketball.
EV: You signed a four-year, $5.3 million rookie deal with the Chicago Bulls … and then seriously applied for a job at Circuit City! You even showed up to a shift—and you were able to take advantage of the employee discount. … All to keep you grounded. At 19, how did you handle suddenly having money in a big city?
MWP: It was a little shocking, but it also let me help my family. I didn’t buy flashy things—mostly homes and things for my family. Mindset and how you were raised determine how you feel when that first check comes.
EV: How tough was it to say no to people asking for help?
MWP: No is not the hard part—the hard part is not wanting to help. Currency runs the world, and you have humanity. If you didn’t come from a large amount of wealth or if you came from struggle, you’re always thinking about helping your friends. I think more than saying, ‘no.’ it’s about helping others.
EV: Did you have a support system in place early on? How did you build your professional team?
MWP: I always had support back home. But when you make it, new people show up—people who understand how to grow wealth or bring you opportunities.
You end up having different support systems—your family, friends and your support to help you grow wealth. And there is a fourth—the one you probably got wrong—every athlete is different but you probably didn’t assess who should be on your team enough. It’s a struggle [evaluating] the professional support system and people who say they understand how to manage capital. You can either get that right or you can get that wrong.
EV: Experience teaches you. What did you learn about building the right team?
MWP: Sometimes you can get it wrong with those that are definitely not friends. Those would be called “hanger-on-ers.” I think I got that one right. But what I think I got wrong [early on] was a catered group to me and mistaking managers for partners.
A rookie NBA athlete today is a family office. You’re building it from day one. You need partnerships, not just managers. Imagine if someone convinced Zuckerberg not to build Facebook. You need people who push your vision, not just collect checks. Look at LeBron—he empowered his circle into real partners. That’s critical thinking athletes need more of—using your own equity to build your empire.
EV: When did you start investing seriously?
MWP: 2014.
EV: Not during your playing days?
MWP: Before 2014, I invested arrogantly and emotionally, thinking I knew it all without doing real analysis. Post-2014, I shifted to investing with a mission, not just emotion, mixing DNA with logic.
EV: Before that shift, where were you putting money?
MWP: Mostly real estate. High-yield accounts. Some indexes.
EV: Did you have advisors helping you early on?
MWP: Midway through my career, yes. I hired a great business manager, and that changed everything. Before that, basketball was my focus. Later, I started thinking about cash flow and long-term savings.
EV: After the Malice at the Palace in 2004, you experienced one of the longest suspensions in NBA history. The time away from the game during that suspension was without pay. … Did that change your financial approach?
MWP: Absolutely. It happened fast—no more income overnight. I did not expect that—the same day—nothing else [coming in cash]. That was really surprising. I even considered looking for a job again. It put real perspective on cash flow.
EV: When you won a championship with the Lakers, you gave an emotional postgame interview, thanking your psychologist live on air. You later auctioned your 2010 championship ring for $651,000 to benefit mental health charities, including your nonprofit. In your experience, how much does mental health affect money decisions?
MWP: Money gives you access. Everything you could dream of, you can get. How you handle that emotion matters. Every aspect of spending triggers something inside you. If your decisions aren’t grounded in humanity or mission, you must address them.
EV: I know you will expand on that more at a multi-day entrepreneurship event you’re hosting this July in LA, entitled Test Your Greatness with your company AMG. One of the featured panels is Financial Therapy, followed by learning sessions on sports financing, logistics, consumer brands, sports tech, healthcare and art. What was the biggest money lesson you learned?
MWP: You can multiply it. When you’re young, you don’t really think you can own a skyscraper; that’s just so foreign. But when you get older, it’s like “Oh, I could actually own [a skyscraper].” It’s the lesson of the possibilities and being able to start somewhere.
EV: What is the best financial advice you can give to an NBA rookie?
MWP: Make decisions based on a mission, not emotion.
EV: After retiring, you launched Artest Management Group (AMG), investing in startups and consulting for dozens of companies. Then, you started Tru Skye Ventures, a fund aiming to raise $100 million for early-stage investments. Was there a turning point where you knew: this is what I’m doing next?
MWP: I wanted to build something. I took digital marketing and analytics courses at UCLA Extension. I knew I had to learn operations. I realized my face wasn’t worth much unless I added operational value. I added value to my face, where now I’m managing 40 portfolio companies. That’s value.
EV: Talk about AMG’s model.
MWP: AMG mixes consulting, advising and services. I have equity in sports, a service business for cash flow and diversified investments. In the beginning, I turned down a lot of appearance money just to stay focused on building out the operations.
EV: Now with Tru Skye leading funding rounds, how big is the vision?
MWP: Tru Skye’s goal is to raise $100 million for consumer sports tech and brands. AMG aims for $1 billion. We’re picking sectors where our services can add real value.
EV: Last year, you invested in BARCODE, the hydration drink that Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama also backed. Why that brand?
MWP: Mubarak Malik, a former Knicks trainer turned entrepreneur, is behind it. I also trained under him when I was with the Knicks. Having an opportunity to support a new founder, putting in a lot of work, is great. … It’s also a great product. It fits our thesis under the fund.
EV: What does your family office structure look like today?
MWP: We don’t outsource anymore. We do it all in-house—including our accounting firm, Intrinsic. We’re building a true multi-family office, one side providing the services and another providing private equity management. That’s phase one. We’re already planning phases two and three.
EV: Ultimate business goal?
MWP: The goal is to be a part of the private equity ecosystem, not someone who wants to show up to sign autographs. Someone who wants to create partnerships and commercialize.