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. Known for his defensive skills, Artest played for six NBA teams and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010. Artest also gained notoriety for numerous controversial on-court incidents, including the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004, which led to an 86-game suspension, the longest in NBA history for on-court behavior.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Ron Artest Jr. was born in 1979 in the Queensbridge projects in Queens, New York. He has two younger brothers, Daniel and Isaiah. Artest attended La Salle Academy in Manhattan, where he played high school basketball. He then attended St. John's University, playing for the Red Storm from 1997 to 1999. In his sophomore year, he led the team to a 14-4 record in the Big East Conference and to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division 1 Tournament.
Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers
Ron Artest was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 NBA draft. During his nearly three-year tenure with the team, Artest primarily started, averaging 12.5 points per game over 175 games. Midway through the 2001-2002 season, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers.
While with the Pacers, Artest's combative nature came to the forefront. In early 2003, he engaged in a heated exchange with Pat Riley, the Miami Heat's head coach, accompanied by an obscene gesture towards the audience, resulting in a four-game suspension. The climax of his controversial streak occurred in November 2004 when he was central to a massive brawl during a game between the Pacers and the Detroit Pistons. The altercation, involving players and fans, halted the game less than a minute before its end. Artest was subsequently suspended for the rest of the season, including playoff games, missing a total of 86 games.
Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets
In 2006, Artest was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Peja Stojaković. Artest quickly made an impact, leading the team to a 14-5 record early in his tenure. However, he 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 later eliminated in six games.
In 2008, Artest joined the Houston Rockets. He played a pivotal role in helping the team advance past the first playoff round for the first time in 12 seasons. Nevertheless, his aggressive tendencies resurfaced, resulting in ejections during Games 2 and 3 for flagrant fouls.
Los Angeles Lakers
Artest's career peaked with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he signed a $33 million, five-year deal in 2009. His game-winning buzzer-beater in the 2010 Western Conference Finals and his 25-point performance in Game 6 against the Suns helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals. They ultimately defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games, with Artest scoring 20 points in the decisive game.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
During his final years with the Lakers, Artest changed his name to Metta World Peace. In 2012, he was suspended for seven games after a flagrant elbow to the head of James Harden. Injuries also plagued him, including a tear in his left knee's lateral meniscus, which required surgery in 2013.
Knicks, Blue Whales, and Pallacanestro Cantù
After leaving the Lakers, Artest signed a two-year contract with the New York Knicks in July 2013 but was waived by February 2014. He then joined the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association and played 15 games. In 2015, he signed with Italy's Pallacanestro Cantù, concluding the season with an ejection in a foul-riddled game.
Return to the Lakers
Ron Artest returned to the Lakers in September 2015. He made his comeback debut in a 104-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. In April 2017, he contributed significantly to the Lakers' longest winning streak in four years with a 108-96 win against the Pelicans.
Career Earnings
Throughout his NBA career, Ron Artest earned a total of $77 million in salary.
Television and Media Appearances
Beyond his basketball career, Ron Artest has appeared in various television shows. He competed in the 13th season of "Dancing with the Stars," was a panelist on Nickelodeon's "Figure it Out," and portrayed a newscaster on Comedy Central's "Key and Peele." In 2018, he participated in "Celebrity Big Brother." Artest also released a rap album titled "My World" in 2006, featuring guest artists such as P. Diddy, Mike Jones, Juvenile, and Big Kap.
Personal Life
Ron Artest began a relationship with Kimsha Hatfield when he was 15 and she was 14. They had their first child, Sadie, in 1997, followed by Ron III and Diamond. The couple married in 2003 and divorced in 2009. Artest also has a son, Jeron, with his former high school girlfriend, Jennifer Palma. Currently, he is married to Maya Sandiford.
