A Peek Inside The Brilliant Business Mind Of Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has had a successful career in the NBA with many accomplishments including a MVP in 2017, 9 All-Star appearances and a probable first ballot Hall of Famer when his career is all finished. Westbrook in the back end of his career and it seems that he has plans on what to do after basketball. Not every former NBA player can say they figured their retirement plans and possibly go broke. Instead of waiting for retirement to decide what to do after basketball, he is getting a head start right now. His smarts on the court have translated into the business world as well.
According to Forbes, Westbrook's net worth is a total of $59 million. He earned $44 million during the 2021-22 NBA season, meaning he has possibly made more through his investments and other business ventures. Last year, he made $63 million investment with the digital platform Varo Bank. They stated their mission is to assist people who are haven't been properly treated by the American financial system and are in need of affordable banking. Westbrook said, "I am excited and ready to work with Varo to be a part of an economic revitalization for those who never had the access they deserved."
In June 2021, Westbrook formed a partnership with Hennessy to form a project called the "Make Moves That Start Movements." It is intended to elevate the NBA's Unfinished Business program, which was started to help out minority small business owners that got affected during the pandemic. Through this business relationship, he is also using it as a way to spread the word of his fashion Honor The Gift. He said on a Hennessy commercial, it's to inspire "inner city" and "under served communities" through fashion as that's one of one his biggest passions outside of basketball.
Westbrook said his business relationship formed with Hennessy due to him resonating with their motto "never stop, never settle." It's a message that he applies to whatever he does whether it's playing basketball, fashion or other ventures that he is passionate about. When he discovered what Hennessy was doing in unprivileged areas, he wanted to utilize this collaboration opportunity to make positive changes in those communities.
Russell Westbrook has been associated with car dealerships for the majority of his NBA career. His first few years in the league when he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he would do commercials with local car owner Bob Nouri. Over the years, the years they started to bond and the light heart commercials transitioned into a serious business move. When Nouri relocated his business to California, Westbrook bought it and gave the store a twist that only a NBA player could think of. He installed a basketball hoop and Nouri said, "you’d be amazed how many customers, after they make their deals [and] while they’re waiting to finance, go there and start shooting basketball." In total, Westbrook owns 10 car dealerships in the Southern California area.
It is the name of the production company Westbrook launched in order to give a platform for black storytellers to tell their truth. This year, he has produced two projects through Zero World Media. One titled Why Not? showcases the disadvantages that the youth in Crenshaw, Los Angeles deal with in a world that has become more on dependent technology. This film illustrates these realities by focusing on a high school basketball who no longer can play and finds a alternate route to make an impact on his community.
The second release Tulsa Burning is documentary about the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, which was an attack orchestrated by white supremacists on black people. Westbrook said "this is one of many overlooked stories of African Americans in this country that deserves to be told." He added that he was never taught about the massacre when he went to school. The documentary accomplished an incredible feat by receiving three Emmy nominations for writing on a nonfiction piece, music in a documentary and sound editing.
On his company's website it states "Russell Westbrook Enterprises brings together Russell's relentless work ethic and his earnest pursuit to positively impact his communities. RWE works to inspire and uplift global communities through investments and strategic partnerships." Recently Westbrook along with Casual IQ teamed up the form a new advertising venture called RW Digital. They have an impressive set of clients as a new member of the industry with companies like PepsiCo, American Airlines Group , At&t and A + E Networks. Westbrook may become another NBA star that earned more outside of their basketball career as he slowly transitions into the next phase of his life.
Sources: Afro Tech, Sport Techie, Hype Beast, Cheat Sheet, Westbrook Enterprises, Adage, Deadline
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