Lamar Odom, a former NBA player and media personality, has built a remarkable career despite facing significant challenges. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated at $30 million, with career earnings totaling $115 million before taxes. At 44 years old, Odom remains a prominent figure, not just for his basketball skills but also for his resilience in overcoming personal struggles.
How Did Lamar Odom Start His Career?
Lamar Joseph Odom was born on November 6, 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York. He had a troubled childhood, losing his mother to colon cancer at age 12 and being raised by his grandmother, Mildred, due to his father’s struggles with heroin addiction.
Odom attended three high schools—Christ The King Regional High School, Redemption Christian Academy, and St. Thomas Aquinas High School—where he became a star basketball player. His impressive performances earned him national recognition, including being named Parade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American in 1997. Initially, he committed to UNLV but lost his scholarship due to academic concerns and a legal issue. He then played for the University of Rhode Island, where he shined for one season before declaring for the 1999 NBA Draft.
What Were His Major Achievements in the NBA?
Odom was selected as the fourth overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1999 NBA Draft. His rookie season was impressive, leading to a spot on the 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team. After four seasons with the Clippers, he joined the Miami Heat in 2003, playing alongside Dwyane Wade. His stint in Miami lasted just one season before he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004 as part of the deal that sent Shaquille O’Neal to Miami.
With the Lakers, Odom played a crucial role in their back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010 alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. His most lucrative season came in 2008-2009, earning $14 million. After seven years in Los Angeles, he played briefly for the Dallas Mavericks (2011-2012) and then returned to the Clippers (2012-2013).
Odom later signed a two-month contract with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia in the Spanish League in 2014 but was sidelined due to a back injury. He ended his professional career with a short-lived return to the New York Knicks in 2014.
How Did He Contribute to Team USA?
Beyond the NBA, Odom played for Team USA, winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He later contributed significantly to the U.S. national team’s gold medal victory at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
What Happened in His Personal Life?
Odom was in a long-term relationship with Liza Morales, with whom he shares three children: Destiny (born 1998), Lamar Jr. (born 2002), and Jayden (born 2005). Tragedy struck in 2006 when Jayden passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
In September 2009, Odom married Khloé Kardashian after a whirlwind one-month romance. Their high-profile marriage was heavily featured on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and they even had their own reality show, Khloé & Lamar, from 2011 to 2012. However, their relationship deteriorated, leading to Khloé filing for divorce in 2013, which was finalized in 2016 after Odom’s health crisis.
What Led to His Near-Death Experience?
In October 2015, Odom was found unconscious at the Love Ranch, a legal brothel in Nevada, due to a drug overdose. He suffered multiple strokes and heart attacks, leading to kidney failure and a coma. Remarkably, he survived and underwent a long rehabilitation process. Khloé Kardashian temporarily halted their divorce to support his recovery, but they eventually finalized their split.
Odom later became engaged to Sabrina Parr in 2019, but they called off the engagement in 2020.
What Are His Business Ventures and Investments?
In April 2023, Odom made headlines for investing in rehab centers in California to help people struggling with addiction. His company, Odom Wellness Treatment Centers, focuses on addiction recovery, inspired by his own experiences with substance abuse.
What Is Lamar Odom’s Real Estate Portfolio?
Odom has made several real estate investments over the years:
- In 2003, he purchased an 8,557-square-foot mansion in Pinecrest, Florida, for nearly $3 million. He later attempted to sell the property multiple times, eventually listing it at $3.6 million in 2018.
- In 2014, he and Khloé sold their 8,000-square-foot home in Tarzana, California, for $5.499 million. The buyer was actress Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory.
What Is Lamar Odom Doing Now?
As of 2024, Odom continues to focus on his business ventures and advocacy for addiction recovery. His Odom Wellness Treatment Centers aim to provide resources for those struggling with substance abuse, reflecting his commitment to using his past experiences to help others. He remains an inspirational figure in sports and recovery circles, proving that resilience can lead to a second chance at life.
