Wilt Chamberlain was a legendary basketball player known for his outstanding performance and work ethics. His real name is Wilton Norman Chamberlain but people love to call him by his nickname “The Big Dipper”. So, let us know his journey of life with ups and downs.
Personal Basic Information
| Full Name | Wilton Norman Chamberlain |
| Nick Name | The Big Dipper, Wilt the Stilt, Goliath, Chairman of the Boards |
| Father’s Name | William Chamberlain |
| Mother’s Name | Olivia Ruth Johnson |
| Date of Birth (Born) | August 21, 1936 |
| Birth Place | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Current Age | Age: 89 years, 8 months, and 14 days as of today. Time left for next birthday: 3 months and 17 days. |
| Height | 7 feet 1 inch (216 cm) |
| Weight | 275 pounds (125 kg) |
| Net worth | Approx. $25 million |
| Marriage Status | Never Married |
| Wife Name | N/A |
| Kids Name | N/A |
| High school | Overbrook High School in Philadelphia itself |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Current Team Name | He passed away in 1999 |
Wilt Chamberlain’s Net Worth
As per some media sources his net worth was approx. $10 million dollar when he passed away in the year 1999 and these earnings were from various sources some of which are mentioned below:
- He got his first contract in 1958 with the Harlem Globetrotters and he got a big amount of $50,000 USD Dollars. Next year he joined the Philadelphia Warriors and signed a contract for $30,000 USD dollars. After joining the Los Angeles Lakers, this contract was increased to $250,000 per year and he became the highest-paying player in the history of the NBA.
- Endorsements: He signed various deals including American Express, Volkswagen, and Foot Locker but the earning was not publicly disclosed.
- Acting and Production: He got a good role in Conan the Destroyer movie but has also done a few TV serials. Later, he started his own film production company but earnings from there were not publicly disclosed.
- Real Estate: He was also investing in real estate but again earnings were not specified.
- Nightclub Ownership: He was also an owner of a popular nightclub in Harlem but there is no specific amount mentioned publicly from here.
- Stock Market: He was also used to investing in the stock market which definitely helps to increase his net worth portfolio.
Wilt Chamberlain’s Early Life and Childhood
Wilt Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in a middle-class family and he was the sixth number of nine children in his family. His father William Chamberlain was working as a welder as well as a handyman and his mother Olivia Ruth Johnson was working as a domestic worker.
In his childhood, Wilt was usually sick and near to die because of pneumonia. But soon he recovered from his illness and he quickly became a towering figure with a height of 6 feet.
Wilt took admission in Overbrook High School in Philadelphia itself and start playing basketball there. Till this time his height goes up to 7 feet 1 inch and because of his height he people start calling him “The Big Dipper“.
Education and the Beginning of Sports Career
He took admission to Overbrook High School in Philadelphia and started playing basketball on the school team. He quickly improved his skills and led his high school team to multiple championships. He made his identity as the most dominant high school player in the country.
After completing his schooling, in 1955 he went to the University of Kansas (KU). Now here under the guidance of coach Phog Allen, he has improved his basketball skills where he was playing for the Kansas Jayhawks and led the Jayhawks team to the 1957 NCAA championship game.
Finally, In 1959 Chamberlain entered into professional basketball by joining the Philadelphia Warriors (now Golden State Warriors) and this was a big move in life.
NBA Career
1959–1965: He was first selected by the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors team and in 1960, he won the two titles of NBA Rookie of the Year and NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 1962, The Warriors team moved to San Francisco and he played there until 1965.
1965–1968: In 1965, Wilt signed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers and played till 1968. In 1966, 1967, and 1968, he won the title of NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
1968–1973: He again made a decision to sign a deal with Los Angeles Lakers in 1968 and he played with the stars like Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. He Won his second NBA championship in 1972.
Finally, in 1973 he retired from the professional basketball career as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer at the time.
Achievements / Awards / Medals
Wilt Chamberlain was a great professional basketball player and got several titles/awards during his journey in the NBA Career. Here is a list of some of them:
NBA Achievements
- 1967, 1972: First time in 1967, he won the title of NBA Champion with the Philadelphia 76ers and second time with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.
- 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968: He was four times winner of the title Most Valuable Player (MVP).
- 1972: He won the title of Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player).
- 1960–1969, 1971–1973: He was the 13-time winner of the title NBA All-Star.
- 1960: He is also a winner of NBA All-Star Game MVP (Most Valuable Player).
- 1960–1963, 1966–1969, 1971–1973: He is an eleven-time Rebounding Champion.
These are the major achievements in his NBA career as a professional basketball player.
Married Life and Family
Chamberlain never married but he accepted in his autobiography, “A View from Above” that he slept with over 20,000 women and because of this he never settled down with a long-term partner or wife.
And also there is no official record about the children of Wilt Chamberlain and he himself denied having any children. Few individuals have claimed to be his offspring but they failed to prove to be his biological children.