Lonzo Ball | Celebrity Net Worth 2026

Biography & Early Wealth Journey

A 6-foot-6 point guard known for his passing, defense, and court vision, Ball emerged as one of the country's top high school prospects before starring for one season at UCLA. The Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, beginning an NBA career that has included stops with the Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ball's career has been defined by both his considerable talent and an extraordinary series of injuries. After joining the Chicago Bulls in 2021 on a four-year, $80 million contract, he helped the team get off to a strong start before suffering a left knee injury in January 2022. What was initially expected to be a relatively routine absence ultimately kept him out of NBA games for more than 1,000 days and required multiple surgeries, including a cartilage and meniscus transplant. Ball finally returned to NBA action in 2024 and subsequently signed a two-year, $20 million extension with Chicago.

In July 2025, the Bulls traded Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro. Cleveland later traded him to the Utah Jazz in February 2026, and Utah waived him the following day. In September 2026, Ball sparked reports that he was retiring after discussing his basketball career on the "Ball in the Family" podcast, but he quickly clarified that he had not retired and was still hoping to continue his NBA career.

Outside basketball, Lonzo has been part of the high-profile Ball family alongside his father, LaVar, and brothers LaMelo and LiAngelo. The family launched Big Baller Brand and starred in the Facebook Watch reality series "Ball in the Family." Lonzo has also released rap music under the name Zo.

Early Life

Lonzo Anderson Ball was born on October 27, 1997, in Anaheim, California. His parents, LaVar and Tina Ball, both played college basketball, and Lonzo grew up playing the sport alongside his younger brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo.

Ball attended Chino Hills High School, where he developed into one of the country's most highly regarded basketball prospects. During his senior season, he helped lead Chino Hills to an undefeated 35-0 record and a California state championship. The team became nationally known for its fast-paced offense, and Ball received numerous honors, including the Naismith Prep Player of the Year award.

Lonzo enrolled at UCLA and played one season for the Bruins in 2016-17. He averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game while leading the nation in assists. UCLA went 31-5 and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Ball earned consensus first-team All-American honors and won the Wayman Tisdale Award as the nation's top freshman before declaring for the NBA Draft.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Ball with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. His arrival carried enormous expectations, fueled both by his success at UCLA and the relentless publicity generated by his father, LaVar.

Ball averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.9 rebounds during his rookie season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Injuries, however, quickly became a recurring issue. Shoulder and knee problems limited him to 52 games during his first season.

His second season was also shortened by injuries. Ball suffered a Grade 3 left ankle sprain in January 2019 and ultimately missed the remainder of the season. Over two seasons with Los Angeles, he showed flashes of the elite passing and perimeter defense that had made him such a coveted prospect but struggled to remain healthy and develop a consistent shooting game.

New Orleans Pelicans

In July 2019, Ball was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, multiple draft picks, and other assets also went to New Orleans.

Ball made significant improvements as a shooter during his two seasons with the Pelicans. After shooting just 31.5% from three-point range during his two Lakers seasons, he shot 37.5% from long range in 2019-20 and 37.8% the following season. In 2020-21, he averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game while making a career-high 172 three-pointers.

Chicago Bulls and Knee Injury

In August 2021, Ball joined the Chicago Bulls through a sign-and-trade agreement with New Orleans. His four-year contract was worth $80 million.

Ball quickly became an important part of a Bulls team that also featured Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vučević. He averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 42.3% from three-point range through his first 35 games.

Then, in January 2022, Ball suffered a left knee injury. He initially underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus, with the expectation that he could return within weeks. Instead, pain and discomfort persisted. Another arthroscopic procedure followed in September 2022, but Ball was unable to return during the 2022-23 season.

In March 2023, Ball underwent an unusual cartilage and meniscus transplant in his left knee after earlier procedures failed to solve the problem. The operation effectively ruled him out for another full season, meaning Ball did not play at all during either the 2022-23 or 2023-24 NBA seasons.

After more than 1,000 days away from NBA competition, Ball returned to the court during the Bulls' 2024 preseason. He subsequently appeared in 35 regular-season games during the 2024-25 season, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Although his workload was carefully managed, his surgically repaired knee held up well enough for Chicago to sign him to a two-year, $20 million extension in February 2025.

Cleveland, Utah, and Free Agency

In July 2025, Chicago traded Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro. The move gave Ball an opportunity to join a contender while providing Cleveland with another experienced playmaker and defender.

Ball appeared for Cleveland during the 2025-26 season, but in February 2026, the Cavaliers included him in a trade that sent him to the Utah Jazz. Utah waived him the following day, making him a free agent.

In September 2026, Ball caused widespread confusion when comments on the "Ball in the Family" podcast were interpreted as an announcement that he had retired from professional basketball. Ball subsequently clarified on social media that he was not officially retired and was "waiting for a call," leaving open the possibility of another NBA opportunity.

Contracts and Career Earnings

After being selected second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Lonzo signed a four-year rookie contract with the Lakers worth approximately $33.5 million.

His biggest contract came in August 2021, when he joined the Chicago Bulls on a four-year, $80 million sign-and-trade agreement. The deal paid him an average of $20 million per season even as his knee problems caused him to miss two full seasons.

In February 2025, Chicago signed Ball to a two-year, $20 million extension. Only the first season was guaranteed, with the second year structured as a team option. By the time he was waived by Utah in February 2026, Ball had earned more than $130 million in NBA salary during his career.

Big Baller Brand

Lonzo's early NBA career was closely associated with Big Baller Brand, the apparel and footwear company launched by his father, LaVar Ball, and family business associates. Rather than sign a traditional endorsement contract with Nike, Adidas, or another major sneaker company, Lonzo initially wore Big Baller Brand shoes.

In 2017, the company unveiled the ZO2, Lonzo's signature shoe, with an initial price of $495. The unconventional strategy generated enormous publicity and made Big Baller Brand one of the most talked-about athlete-backed apparel companies of the period.

Lonzo eventually distanced himself from the company. In 2019, he removed references to the brand from his social media accounts and covered a Big Baller Brand tattoo.

Alan Foster Lawsuit

The breakdown between Lonzo and Big Baller Brand occurred amid allegations involving family business associate Alan Foster. In 2019, Ball sued Foster, alleging that Foster had misappropriated approximately $1.5 million from his personal and business accounts.

Ball and his representatives sought more than $2 million in damages. The dispute accelerated Lonzo's separation from Big Baller Brand and ended his role as one of the company's most visible promoters.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Music and "Ball in the Family"

In 2017, Lonzo and his family began starring in "Ball in the Family," a reality series that originally aired on Facebook Watch. The show followed LaVar, Tina, Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo as the brothers pursued basketball careers and the family attempted to build Big Baller Brand.

Lonzo has also pursued music under the stage name Zo. He has released several singles, mixtapes, and albums, including "Born 2 Ball," which was released in 2018.

Personal Life

Ball met Denise Garcia while the two were students at Chino Hills High School. They later had a daughter together. Their on-again, off-again relationship was featured prominently on "Ball in the Family."

Lonzo is the oldest of the three Ball brothers. His younger brother LaMelo became the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and developed into an NBA All-Star. LiAngelo pursued professional basketball opportunities while also building a music career.

Real Estate

In 2017, shortly after being drafted by the Lakers, Ball paid $5.2 million for a large property in Chino Hills, California. The estate includes a roughly 16,000-square-foot main residence on about three acres and became closely associated with the Ball family during the height of "Ball in the Family" and Big Baller Brand.

The property includes a theater, library, swimming pool, cabana, and guest house. Rather than serving solely as Lonzo's personal home, it became something of a family compound and headquarters for the Ball family's various activities.

Ball also owned a commercial property in downtown Los Angeles that was used as a distribution facility for Big Baller Brand. His LLC purchased the approximately 14,600-square-foot industrial building for $3.5 million in 2017 and sold it for $4.365 million in 2019.

In March 2022, Ball paid $7.25 million for a newly renovated mansion in Sherman Oaks, California. The approximately 6,200-square-foot home sits in a private cul-de-sac and features six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, an open-plan living area, a bar, a swimming pool, and expansive views of the surrounding city and mountains.

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