Meadowlark Lemon III, renowned Harlem Globetrotters player and multi-talented entertainer, left a net worth of $2 million at his passing.
Meadowlark Lemon III stood out as an American basketball player, actor, and ordained Christian minister whose estate was valued at $2 million when he died. His fame stemmed primarily from his role as a key member of the celebrated Harlem Globetrotters exhibition basketball team. On screen, he made appearances in television programs including "Sweepstakes," "Alice," and "Hello, Larry," and took on the character of a reverend in the motion picture "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." Lemon received ordination as a minister in 1986 and later created Meadowlark Lemon Ministries in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1994. He shared his life with his spouse, Dr. Cynthia Lemon, and together they raised ten children: Richard, George, Beverly, Donna, Robin, Jonathan, Jamison, Angela, Crystal, and Caleb. Lemon’s life concluded on December 27, 2015, when he was 83 years old. Meadowlark Lemon III entered the world on April 25, 1932, in Wilmington, North Carolina, as Meadow Lemon III. During his youth, he studied at Williston School and completed his education there in 1952. He continued his academic journey at Florida A&M University but soon received a draft notice into the United States Army. His military service spanned two years, during which he was stationed in Austria and West Germany. (Photo by Charlie Ley/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images) While not performing with the Harlem Globetrotters, Lemon competed with other exhibition teams modeled after the Globetrotters. Initially, he played for the Bucketeers, followed by the Shooting Stars. In the late 1980s, he launched his own squad, Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem All Stars. Lemon launched his acting career in the entertainment industry during the late 1970s. In 1979, he made his television debut with a role in an episode of the NBC anthology series "Sweepstakes" and portrayed himself in the second season of the sitcom "Hello, Larry." That same year, he took on the role of Reverend Grady Jackson in the basketball-themed comedy film "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh," which also featured several NBA players. In the early 1980s, Lemon guested on the educational science program "3-2-1 Contact" and landed a recurring role on the CBS sitcom "Alice." His acting portfolio also included appearances in television commercials such as a 1978 Burger King advertisement and a 1983 Charmin toilet paper promotion. Beyond acting, Lemon hosted the educational geography film "Meadowlark Lemon Presents the World" in 1979. He also recorded the song "My Kids," penned by Dalton & Dubarri, that year. In 1982, he appeared in the interactive educational LaserDisc release "Fun & Games." A dedicated Christian, Lemon was ordained as a minister in 1986. Two years later, he earned a Doctor of Divinity degree from Vision International University near San Diego, California. In 1994, he established Meadowlark Lemon Ministries in Scottsdale, Arizona. In 2000, Lemon was honored with the John Bunn Award, the most prestigious recognition bestowed by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame apart from induction. Following his retirement from professional play in early 2001, Lemon became one of three Harlem Globetrotters whose jersey numbers were retired, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Marques Haynes. Several years afterward, he was formally enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. From 1994 until his death at the end of 2015, Lemon was married to Cynthia. The couple had ten children collectively: Richard, George, Beverly, Donna, Robin, Jonathan, Jamison, Angela, Crystal, and Caleb. On December 27, 2015, Lemon died in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 83 years old. © 2026 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved