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Five times the most valuable player in the NBA and 12 times the All-Star. He was the center of the Celtics dynasty and won 11 NBA Championships during his 13-year career.  Bill Russell is a former American professional basketball player who played at the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969.

The Celtics’ dominance of the NBA during his career was largely due to his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense. Russell was just as remarkable for his fitness skills. He led the NBA in four rebounds, had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds, and finished second in both total rebounds and rebounds per game.

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Bill Russell Net Worth:

According to our sources, Bill Russell net worth by 2023 is estimated at $10 million. Most of their gross value is derived from their salaries as players and coaches.

During his career, Russell was one of the first major earners in NBA basketball. Bill Russell’s 1956 rookie contract value is $24,000.

In 1965, Russell received an annual salary of $100k. In addition, he received an additional $25,000 as a sports coach.

Bill Russell Early Life:

William Felton Russell, considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. His early childhood was marked by poor health, as the ailing Russell battled a variety of illnesses.

When Russell was 10, his father, Charlie, was fed up with trying to move to the racially charged South. Moved his family across the country to Oakland, California, where he worked as a shipyard.

In California, life turned out to be rocky for the Russell family. When Charlie got a good job, in 1946 his wife, Katie, became very ill with the flu and died.

Russell was saddened by the death of his mother. Who was his greatest lawyer, and forced him to work hard at school. After her death, he devoted himself to his studies.

Russell’s 6’9 inch frame also got a lot of attention. In the fall of 1952, he tried as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and received a scholarship.

Bill Russell Career:

In the 1956 NBA Draft, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach turned his attention to Russell. He thought that his defensive toughness and rebounding ability were the missing pieces the Celtics needed.

In the past, Auerbach’s ideas were unconventional. During this period, centers and forwards were praised for their aggressive output, and their ability to play defense was secondary.

During the same draft, Boston also produced Guard K. C. Jones, a former USF teammate of Russell. Thus, in only one night, the Celtics managed to draft the three best future Hall of Famers, Russell, Jones, and Heinsohn.

The Russell Draft Day trade was later called the most important trade in the history of North American sports. Bill Russell was the richest player of his time with a high net worth.

He had the option of skipping the tournament and playing for the Celtics all season. But Russel was determined to play in the Olympics event.

He later commented that if he had jumped into the hands of the basketball team. He would have taken part in the high jump.

Under his head coach Gerald Tucker, Russell helped a lot of the national team and win the gold medal in Melbourne by defeating the Soviet Union 89-55 in the final game.

In his career, Russell has won five regular-season MVP Awards (1959, 1961–63, 1965) – the second all-time tie with Michael Jordan after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s six awards.

Post-Playing Career:

After his retirement as a player, Russell became head coach of the Seattle Supersonics from 1973 to 1977 and the commentator Kings from 1987 to 1988.

None of the series was particularly successful. In addition to coaching, Russell became a vegetarian, played golf, and worked as a color commentator on CBS and TBS.

In 1979, he host a show “Saturday Night Live” in the ’90s. He did very few public exhibitions. He lived as a legend in Mercer Island, Washington.

In 2006, Russell was recognized as a member of the inaugural class of the National College Basketball Hall of Fame for his influence on college basketball. The following year, he received honorary doctorates from Suffolk University and Harvard University.

Personal Life & Wife:

From 1956 to 1973, Russell married his beloved college sweetheart. They had three children, a first daughter named Karen Russell and sons William Jr. and Jacob.

However, the couple became emotionally estranged and divorced. In 1977, he married the 1968 Miss USA Dorothy Anstett. But in 1980, they divorced.

The relationship was embroiled in controversy because the institute was white. In 1996, Russell married again to his third wife, Marilyn Nault.

Their marriage lasted until his wife’s death in January 2009. Russell is married to Jeannine Russell. She has lived on Mercer Island in Washington for four decades. His older brother was the famous playwright Charlie L. Russell.