Moses Malone, an iconic basketball player, accumulated a net worth of $5 million over his legendary career. He passed away in 2015 at age 60 after suffering a heart attack.
Moses Malone was a celebrated professional basketball player whose net worth stood at $5 million. Active from 1974 to 1995, he competed in both the ABA and NBA, earning three MVP awards, six rebounding titles, and an NBA championship in 1983. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 during his first year of eligibility, Malone tragically passed away on September 13, 2015, at just 60 years old due to a heart attack. Throughout his career, Malone earned a total of $13.9 million in salary, with his peak annual earnings coming in the 1990 season while playing for the Atlanta Hawks. Born on March 23, 1955, in Petersburg, Virginia, Malone was primarily raised by his mother after his father was removed from the home for alcohol-related issues when Malone was two. As a standout athlete in high school at Petersburg High School, he played for the Crimson Wave and led the team to two consecutive undefeated seasons and state championships in his final two years. Recognized as the National High School Player of the Year in 1974, Malone initially committed to the University of Maryland but chose to turn professional instead. In the 1974 ABA draft, Malone was selected by the Utah Stars in the third round, becoming the first modern player to jump directly from high school to the pros. His rookie season was impressive, earning him ABA All-Star and All-Rookie honors. However, his second year was cut short by a leg injury, and the Stars folded mid-season. After the team’s collapse, Malone was traded to the Spirits of St. Louis, where he finished the 1975-76 season, averaging 17.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. When the ABA merged with the NBA after the 1975-76 season, the Spirits of St. Louis were excluded from the NBA. Consequently, Malone was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, who then traded him to the Buffalo Braves before the start of the 1976-77 season. He played only two games for the Braves before being traded again. Malone’s career flourished with the Houston Rockets. In his first season with the team, he shattered NBA records with 437 regular-season rebounds and 15 playoff rebounds. Despite missing significant playing time in 1977-78, he led the league in rebounds with 380 and earned his first NBA All-Star selection. The following season, 1978-79, he set a new rebound record with 587 boards and posted a career-best .540 shooting percentage, earning NBA MVP honors. Though his production dipped slightly in 1979-80, he still guided the Rockets to the Conference Semifinals. During the 1980-81 season, Malone topped the league with 14.8 rebounds per game and led the Rockets to the NBA Finals, where they faced the Boston Celtics. Though he averaged 22.3 points and 15.7 rebounds in the six-game series, the Rockets fell short. He remained with Houston for one more season in 1981-82, delivering a career-high 31.1 points per game while leading the NBA in rebounds again. For the second time, he was named NBA MVP, but the Rockets were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Seattle SuperSonics. In 1983-84, Malone again led the league in rebounds despite missing 15 games due to ankle injuries. He extended his rebounding dominance by capturing the title for a record fifth straight season in 1984-85, reaching 15,000 NBA points and 10,000 rebounds. The 76ers, his new team, advanced to the Conference Finals but were defeated by the Celtics. In his final year with Philadelphia during the 1985-86 season, he played 74 games, averaging 23.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game before a facial injury ended his season prematurely. Malone was traded to the Washington Bullets in 1986. In his debut season with the Bullets, he averaged 24.1 points and 11.3 rebounds, reaching the 20,000-point mark. The Bullets reached the 1987 playoffs but were swept by the Detroit Pistons in the first round, a fate they would repeat in the first round of the 1988 playoffs. Before the 1988-89 season, Malone signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Hawks. That year, he posted averages of 20.2 points and 11.8 rebounds, earning his 12th and final NBA All-Star selection. The Hawks, however, were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks. The team struggled in the 1989-90 season, finishing with a 41-41 record and missing the postseason entirely. In 1990-91, Malone became the NBA’s all-time leader in free throws made with 7,695, adding his 25,000th career point and 15,000th rebound. The Hawks returned to the playoffs but were defeated by the Pistons in the first round, marking Malone’s final postseason appearance. In 1991, Malone signed a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent. Despite his efforts, the Bucks finished with a 31-51 record in 1991-92, tied for last in the Central Division. He missed most of the following season due to surgery for a herniated disc and the team again finished last in its division. Malone had two sons, Moses Jr. and Michael, with his wife Alfreda, though their marriage ended in 1992 after Alfreda filed for cruelty and adultery charges and obtained a restraining order. In early 1993, Malone was arrested in Galveston, Texas, for allegedly stalking his ex-wife, trespassing on her property, and making threats to kill her. Later in life, he was in a relationship with Leah Nash, with whom he had a son named Micah. On September 13, 2015, Malone died from heart-related complications at a hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. He had been scheduled to participate in a charity golf tournament that day but was found unresponsive in his room, reportedly wearing a heart monitor. © 2026 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved