Ron Artest Net Worth - Pulptastic
What is Ron Artest’s net worth and salary?
Ron Artest, also known as “Metta World Peace” and “Metta Sandiford-Artest,” is a retired American professional basketball player with a net worth of $30 million. He played for six NBA teams and was known for his defensive skills, winning an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010. However, Artest was also involved in several controversial incidents on the court, including the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004 for which he was suspended for 86 games.
Ron Artest Jr.’s Background and Education
Ron Artest Jr. was born in 1979 in the Queensbridge projects in Queens, New York. He has two younger brothers, Daniel and Isaiah. As a teenager, Artest played high school basketball at La Salle Academy in Manhattan.
In college, Artest played for St. John’s University’s Red Storm from 1997 to 1999. During the latter year, he led the team to a 14-4 record in the Big East Conference, and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 1 Tournament.
Behavior Issues Plague Artest’s Early Career
Ron Artest was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1999 and played 175 games with the team, averaging 12.5 points per game. However, halfway through the 2001-2002 season, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers where his often volatile behavior began to surface. In 2003, he was suspended for four games after a verbal altercation with Pat Riley and a profane gesture towards the audience. In 2004, he was at the center of a large fight during a game between the Pacers and the Detroit Pistons, resulting in the longest suspension for an on-court incident in NBA history.
Ron Artest’s Time with the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets
In 2006, Ron was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Peja Stojaković. He led the team to a 14-5 run early on, but was suspended from Game 2 of the team’s first-round series against the Spurs for elbowing Manu Ginóbili in the head. The Kings were eventually eliminated in six games.
Two years later, he was traded to the Houston Rockets. During the playoffs, he helped the team advance past the first round for the first time in 12 seasons. However, his abrasive behavior resurfaced and he was ejected twice, once for an aggressive outburst in response to an offensive foul and again after another foul in Game 3.
Success with the Lakers and Name Change
Ron Artest found his greatest success with the Los Angeles Lakers, signing a $33 million, five-year deal in 2009. In the 2010 Western Conference Finals, he made a game-winning buzzer-beating shot and subsequently made it to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. The Lakers defeated the Celtics four games to three in the finals, with Artest scoring 20 points to clinch the victory. During his final years with the Lakers, he went by the name Metta World Peace.
Injuries and Suspension
In 2012, World Peace received a flagrant foul for elbowing James Harden in the head, resulting in a seven-game suspension. However, it was a series of injuries that stymied him during the ensuing years. In early 2013, he suffered an injury to his right leg and right arm. A little later, he tore his left knee’s lateral meniscus, and underwent surgery that sidelined him for about two weeks. Despite the injuries, he managed to average his most points in four years, with 12.4 per game.
Waived by the Lakers
Following his injuries, World Peace was waived by the Lakers via the amnesty clause.
Ron Artest’s Post-Lakers Career
After leaving the Lakers, Ron Artest signed a two-year deal with the New York Knicks in July 2013. However, he was waived in February 2014. Artest then played 15 games with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Sichuan Blue Whales. In 2015, he signed with Italy’s Pallacanestro Cantù, but was ejected from a game and charged with five fouls at the end of the season.
Ron Artest’s Return to the Lakers
Ron Artest rejoined the Lakers in September 2015 and played his first game in November, helping the team secure a 104-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. In April 2017, Artest played a crucial role in the Lakers’ longest winning streak in four years by leading the team to a 108-96 win against the Pelicans.
Ron Artest’s NBA Earnings
During his NBA career, Ron Artest earned a total of $77 million in salary.
Television and Music Career
Ron Artest has made several television appearances outside of basketball, including competing on “Dancing with the Stars” and being a panelist on “Figure it Out.” He also played a newscaster on “Key and Peele” and was a contestant on “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2018. In 2006, Artest released a rap album titled “My World,” featuring guest artists such as P. Diddy, Mike Jones, Juvenile, and Big Kap.
Ron Artest’s Personal Life
Ron Artest had an off-and-on relationship with Kimsha Hatfield when he was 15, and they had a child named Sadie in 1997. They later got married in 2003 but divorced in 2009. They also had two more children, Ron III and Diamond. Artest had another son named Jeron with his former high school girlfriend, Jennifer Palma. Currently, he is married to Maya Sandiford.
