Moses Malone, a basketball legend, had a net worth of $5 million by the time of his passing. His career spanned two leagues, multiple records, and Hall of Fame honors.
Moses Malone stood as a professional basketball player whose net worth was assessed at $5 million. His athletic journey unfolded across the ABA and NBA, covering a career that stretched from 1974 until 1995. Widely celebrated as one of the NBA’s all-time greats, Malone secured three MVP titles, led the league in rebounds six times, and claimed the 1983 NBA championship. In 2001, he earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Sadly, Malone died on September 13, 2015, at age 60 following a sudden heart attack. Over the course of his career, Malone accumulated total earnings of $13.9 million from salaries. His peak annual income came during 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 household due to alcohol abuse when Malone was two. As a teenager, he attended Petersburg High School, where he starred for the Crimson Wave basketball team. During his final two high school years, Malone guided his squad to back-to-back undefeated seasons and state championships in Virginia. He received the National High School Player of the Year award in 1974. Although he committed to play college basketball for the University of Maryland, he ultimately chose to pursue a professional path instead. The Utah Stars selected Malone in the third round of the 1974 ABA draft, marking him as the first modern-era player drafted directly out of high school. He immediately showcased his talent, earning All-Star and All-Rookie honors in his debut pro season. His second campaign was cut short by a leg injury, and he played just 16 games before the Stars folded. Malone was then sold to the Spirits of St. Louis, with whom he finished the 1975-76 season. By the end of his first two pro seasons, he averaged 17.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per contest. After the 1975-76 season, the ABA merged with the NBA, but the Spirits of St. Louis were excluded from the merger. As a result, Malone was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA draft. However, Portland traded him to the Buffalo Braves before the start of the 1976-77 season. He appeared in just two games for Buffalo before being traded again. Malone’s defining era arrived with the Houston Rockets. In his initial season with the team, he set fresh NBA benchmarks with 437 regular-season rebounds and 15 postseason rebounds. Despite missing substantial action in 1977-78, he led the league with 380 rebounds and earned his first NBA All-Star selection. The 1978-79 season saw him shatter records once more, leading the NBA with 587 rebounds and posting a career-best shooting percentage of .540. That year, Malone was crowned NBA MVP. Though his production dipped slightly in 1979-80, he still steered the Rockets to the Conference Semifinals. During the 1980-81 campaign, Malone led the league with 14.8 rebounds per game and guided the Rockets to the NBA Finals. Despite averaging 22.3 points and 15.7 rebounds over six games, Houston fell short against the Boston Celtics. He spent one more season with the Rockets in 1981-82, capping his time there on a high note. That year, he posted career highs with 31.1 points per game and again topped the league in rebounds. For the second time, Malone was named NBA MVP. The Rockets returned to the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the Seattle SuperSonics. Malone continued his strong performances in 1983-84, once more leading the NBA in rebounds despite missing 15 games due to ankle injuries. In 1984-85, he captured a record fifth straight rebounding title while reaching the 15,000-point and 10,000-rebound milestones. The Sixers advanced to the Conference Finals, where they lost to the Celtics. During his final season with Philadelphia in 1985-86, he averaged 23.8 points and 11.8 rebounds over 74 games before a late-March orbital fracture ended his season prematurely. Malone was traded to the Washington Bullets in 1986. In his debut season with the Bullets, he posted averages of 24.1 points and 11.3 rebounds, and reached the 20,000-point mark. Washington made the playoffs in 1987 but were swept by the Detroit Pistons in the first round; they faced the same fate against Detroit in the opening round of the 1988 postseason as well. Before the 1988-89 season, Malone agreed to a three-year contract with the Atlanta Hawks. That year, he tallied 20.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while earning his 12th and final All-Star selection. In the playoffs, Atlanta was defeated in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks. The following 1989-90 season proved challenging for the Hawks, who finished 41-41 and missed the postseason. In 1990-91, Malone became the NBA’s all-time leader in free throws made with 7,695. He also surpassed 25,000 career points and 15,000 career rebounds. Atlanta returned to the playoffs in 1991 but were eliminated in the first round by the Pistons, marking Malone’s last postseason appearance. In 1991, Malone signed a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent. Despite his efforts, Milwaukee managed just a 31-51 record in 1991-92, tying for last place in the Central Division. He missed most of the 1992-93 season recovering from surgery for a herniated disc, and the Bucks finished last in their division once again. Malone had two sons, Moses Jr. and Michael, with his wife Alfreda. The couple divorced in 1992 after Alfreda filed for cruelty and adultery and obtained a restraining order against him. In early 1993, Malone was detained in Galveston, Texas, on allegations of stalking his former spouse, trespassing on her property, and threatening her life. 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 disease complications at a Norfolk, Virginia hotel. 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