Meadowlark Lemon, renowned for his time with the Harlem Globetrotters, left behind a net worth of $2 million at his passing. He was also known for his acting roles and ministry work.
Meadowlark Lemon, an American basketball player, actor, and ordained Christian minister, had a net worth of $2 million when he passed away. His fame stemmed largely from his role as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters exhibition basketball team. In acting, he appeared in multiple television programs, including "Sweepstakes," "Alice," and "Hello, Larry," as well as taking on the part of a reverend in the movie "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." Lemon was officially ordained as a minister in 1986 and later launched his own ministry, Meadowlark Lemon Ministries, in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1994. He was survived by his wife, Dr. Cynthia Lemon, and their ten children. Meadowlark Lemon died on December 27, 2015, at the age of 83. Born as Meadow Lemon III on April 25, 1932, in Wilmington, North Carolina, he completed his secondary education at Williston School in 1952. He then enrolled at Florida A&M University but was soon drafted into the U.S. Army, serving for two years in Austria and West Germany. (Photo by Charlie Ley/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images) Outside of his time with the Harlem Globetrotters, Lemon joined other exhibition teams that emulated the Globetrotters. His first such team was the Bucketeers, followed by the Shooting Stars. In the late 1980s, he formed his own group, Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem All Stars. Lemon began his acting career in the entertainment industry during the late 1970s. In 1979, he took part 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 appeared as Reverend Grady Jackson in the basketball comedy "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh," which featured several NBA stars. In the early 1980s, he made multiple guest appearances on the educational science program "3-2-1 Contact" and had a role on the CBS sitcom "Alice." Lemon also starred in some television advertisements during his career, including a 1978 spot for Burger King and a 1983 commercial for Charmin toilet paper. Among his additional media appearances, Lemon hosted the educational geography film "Meadowlark Lemon Presents the World" in 1979. Later that year, he recorded the song "My Kids," composed by Dalton & Dubarri. In 1982, he featured in the interactive educational video "Fun & Games," which was released on LaserDisc. A devoted Christian, Lemon was ordained as a minister in 1986. Two years afterward, he received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Vision International University in the San Diego, California area. In 1994, he founded Meadowlark Lemon Ministries in Scottsdale, Arizona. In the year 2000, Lemon was honored with the John Bunn Award, the highest recognition bestowed by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame apart from induction. Following his retirement in early 2001, he became one of three Harlem Globetrotters to receive a retired jersey number, alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Marques Haynes. Several years later, he was formally inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. From 1994 until his death at the end of 2015, Lemon was married to Cynthia. Together, they had ten children: Richard, George, Beverly, Donna, Robin, Jonathan, Jamison, Angela, Crystal, and Caleb. On December 27, 2015, Lemon died in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 83. © 2026 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved