Angel Reese Net Worth 2024: How The 'Bayou Barbie' Built A Multi-Million Dollar Empire Despite A Modest WNBA Salary

Angel Reese has rapidly cemented her status as one of the most commercially powerful athletes in professional sports today, with her net worth in late 2024 estimated to be between $1.5 million and $2 million. This impressive figure is a testament to her unprecedented success in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) space during her college career and her seamless transition into a WNBA star, even with the league's relatively modest rookie salary scale. Her financial story is a fascinating case study in modern athlete branding, where personal magnetism and social media influence often outweigh traditional sports contracts. The Chicago Sky forward, famously known as the "Bayou Barbie," has leveraged her immense popularity and a 2023 NCAA National Championship title to secure a portfolio of lucrative endorsement deals that continue to generate significant wealth. As of today, December 10, 2025, her income is primarily driven by these high-profile partnerships, dwarfing her initial WNBA rookie contract earnings and setting a new standard for how young female athletes can monetize their brand.

Angel Reese: Biography and Career Profile

Angel Reese is an American professional basketball player who has become a cultural icon both on and off the court. Her journey from college phenom to WNBA rookie sensation is marked by incredible athletic achievement and savvy business decisions.

• Full Name: Angel Reese
• Date of Birth: May 6, 2002
• Age (as of 2024): 22
• Place of Birth: Randallstown, Maryland, U.S.
• Parents: Angel Webb Reese and Michael Reese
• Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
• Position: Forward
• College Career: Maryland Terrapins (2020–2022), LSU Tigers (2022–2024)
• Professional Team: Chicago Sky (Drafted 7th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft)
• Nickname: Bayou Barbie
• Major Achievements: 2023 NCAA National Champion (LSU), 2023 Consensus First-Team All-American, 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Reese's collegiate career peaked at LSU, where she led the Tigers to their first-ever NCAA National Championship in 2023. Her dominant play and magnetic, polarizing personality catapulted her into the national spotlight, making her one of the most recognizable faces in college sports.

The $1.8 Million NIL Foundation: The Real Source of Wealth

The most significant contributor to Angel Reese's current net worth is the massive wealth she accumulated during the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era of college sports. Unlike athletes from previous generations, Reese was able to monetize her brand while still playing for LSU, creating a financial cushion that is unprecedented for a WNBA rookie.

Record-Breaking NIL Valuation

Before declaring for the WNBA Draft, Angel Reese's NIL valuation, according to On3, was approximately $1.8 million. This figure ranked her among the top college athletes in the entire NCAA, regardless of sport, and second only to a handful of peers in women's basketball. This valuation was based on her performance, her massive social media following, and her high engagement rate with fans, which brands found incredibly attractive.

A Portfolio of High-Profile Endorsements

Reese's success in the NIL space was built on a diverse and strategic portfolio of endorsement deals. These partnerships were not just simple one-off posts; many were multi-year agreements that offered substantial compensation. Key deals that contributed to her multi-million dollar net worth include:

• Reebok: In a landmark deal, Reese signed a multi-year NIL contract with Reebok in 2023. This partnership was later extended as she turned pro, with the massive announcement that she will be getting her own signature shoe debut in 2026, solidifying her long-term financial future with the brand.
• Reese's (The Candy): In a perfect, viral marketing alignment, the Chicago Sky star signed an endorsement deal with the Hershey's brand Reese's, becoming a "brand ambassador" for the iconic peanut butter cups.
• Beats by Dre: She signed a deal with the premium headphone brand in January 2024, further expanding her reach into the lifestyle and tech sectors.
• Airbnb: A partnership that capitalized on her travel and lifestyle appeal.
• Topps: A deal to produce trading cards, linking her to the world of collectibles and sports memorabilia.
• Other Entities: Her extensive list of college endorsements also included brands like Coach, Raising Cane’s, Sonic, and Xfinity, creating a steady stream of income that built her pre-WNBA fortune.

WNBA Salary vs. Endorsement Earnings: A Stark Contrast

Angel Reese's transition from the NCAA to the WNBA highlights the significant financial disparity between the NIL landscape and the current WNBA salary structure. This contrast is key to understanding why her net worth is so high for a rookie.

The Modest WNBA Rookie Contract

Following her selection as the 7th overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Reese signed a standard WNBA rookie contract. The details of her contract are as follows:

• Total Contract Value: $324,383 over four years.
• Average Annual Salary: Approximately $81,096.
• 2024 Rookie Salary: Approximately $73,439.

This salary structure is a major talking point in professional basketball. As Reese herself has acknowledged, the WNBA salary alone is not enough to cover the personal and professional expenses of a high-profile athlete. This situation makes her pre-existing NIL wealth and her continued endorsement power absolutely critical to her financial stability and net worth growth.

The Endorsement Gap

The $1.8 million she earned from NIL deals is roughly 5.5 times the value of her entire four-year WNBA rookie contract. This massive financial gap illustrates that for stars like Angel Reese, the majority of her net worth and annual income comes from her personal brand and endorsement marketing, not her professional basketball salary. Her ability to retain and sign new deals post-draft, such as the partnership with Reese's candy, ensures her net worth will continue to climb independent of the WNBA salary cap.

Future Financial Outlook and Topical Authority

Angel Reese's financial future is exceptionally bright, driven by her unique blend of on-court talent and off-court marketability. Her current net worth of up to $2 million is just the starting point for what could become a truly massive empire.

The Power of the Signature Shoe

The most significant long-term financial driver is the announcement of her upcoming signature shoe with Reebok in 2026. A signature shoe deal is a rare achievement for any athlete, particularly a female athlete, and it elevates her status to the highest tier of sports marketing. This type of deal typically involves royalties, which can generate passive, substantial income for years, dramatically increasing her net worth.

Social Media Monetization and "Bayou Barbie" Branding

Reese understands the importance of maintaining her "Bayou Barbie" brand identity and her massive social media presence. Her millions of followers across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) serve as a perpetual marketing engine, making her an attractive partner for brands looking to reach a young, engaged audience. This social media capital ensures her endorsement income remains high, providing topical authority on athlete branding and monetization. In conclusion, Angel Reese's net worth in 2024 is a powerful reflection of her ability to navigate the new financial landscape of sports. While her WNBA salary provides a professional foundation with the Chicago Sky, it is her estimated $1.8 million in NIL earnings and her current, lucrative endorsement deals with entities like Reebok, Beats by Dre, and Reese's that have built her multi-million dollar fortune. Her net worth is projected to grow significantly as she enters her prime and her signature shoe hits the market, solidifying her place as one of the wealthiest young athletes in the WNBA.