Kobe Bryant was smart about his money, and what he did with his first paycheck is a timely reminder of how important it is to understand the value of a dollar.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated’s Kids reporter Max Bonnstetter on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, the former Los Angeles Lakers legend revealed how he spent his first NBA paycheck.
“I bought nothing actually, I put it in a bank and I saved it,” the Black Mamba said, much to Bonstetter’s astonishment.
[Starts at 2:15]
Bryant inked his first professional contract with the Lakers in 1996 and was an overnight millionaire with a three-year, $3.5 million deal. He was 17 at the time.
According to The Players’ Tribune, he wrote a letter to himself in which he outlined the importance of money. “When your Laker dream comes true tomorrow, you need to figure out a way to invest in the future of your family and friends,” he penned. “I said INVEST. I did not say GIVE.”
There you have it, Bryant knew the value of money at a relatively young age. And that spoke volumes about the steady head he had even before he worked his way up to become an icon and a wealthy one at that.
Kobe Bryant Stressed On Using Hard-Earned Money On Investing Rather Than Providing Handouts
In the very same letter he wrote, Bryant stressed the need to help people, not just donate money, rather he hoped that people could empower the needy with the right resources.
“Use your success, wealth, and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose,” he said. “Put them through school, set them up with job interviews, and help them become leaders in their own right. Hold them to the same level of hard work and dedication that it took for you to get to where you are now, and where you will eventually go.”
Bryant was a philanthropist. He started the Kobe Bryant China Fund which would help in raising money for education and health for the needy. With his wife, he also founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF). Quite simply, it goes on to show that he practiced what he preached, and that’s another life lesson one can take away from the Mamba.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
