
via Imago
Apr 14, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during warmups before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

via Imago
Apr 14, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during warmups before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Jarred Vanderbilt doesn’t drop 30, doesn’t sell sneakers, and couldn’t care less about your fantasy team. He’s not throwing up heat checks or demanding double-teams. And yet, he’s walking around with a $48 million contract like he dropped 50.
In a league where players go viral for doing too much, Vanderbilt’s gone and done the impossible — got rich doing the stuff nobody wants to do. Forget dunks and dance moves — he’s cashing in on closeouts, box-outs, and switch-everything defense.
And no, this isn’t a one-time fluke. This is the league finally putting respect on the name of a guy who treats guarding your favorite player like it’s his personal vendetta.
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Jan 25, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (left) defends against Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (right) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Let’s talk about the bag and how he finessed it with nothing but grit, hustle, and elite glue-guy energy.
What Is Jarred Vanderbilt’s Net Worth as of 2025? What’s His Contract With the Lakers?
As of 2025, Jarred Vanderbilt holds an estimated net worth of $10 million. That might not sound like max-player territory, but let’s be real — for a guy who rarely scores in double digits, that’s elite-level efficiency
Jarred Vanderbilt and the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a four-year, $48 million contract, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz tell @ShamsCharania.
The deal is fully guaranteed with a player option in the fourth year. pic.twitter.com/CgswN2dBHP
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 15, 2023
What’s your perspective on:
Is Jarred Vanderbilt's $48 million contract a sign that the NBA finally values defense over flash?
Have an interesting take?
The big leap came in September 2023, when Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. Fully guaranteed. No “team option” escape hatch, no “only if you average 15 a game” clauses — just straight-up “we need you” money.
Here’s the year-by-year cash flow:
2024–25: $10.7 million
2025–26: $11.6 million
2026–27: $12.4 million
2027–28: $13.3 million (player option)
That last year? All up to Vando. If his value’s still rising, he can bounce and get an even fatter deal. If not, no worries — he’s still cashing $13.3 million while playing All-NBA level defense and barely shooting jumpers.
And don’t forget, the Lakers learned the hard way what life without Vanderbilt looks like. He played just 29 games in the 2023–24 season due to a foot sprain, and the defense tanked faster than a team trying to draft Victor Wembanyama. With Vanderbilt on the court, the Lakers had teeth — they could switch, contest, and close out. Without him? The defense had more holes than a Krispy Kreme dozen.
What Are Jarred Vanderbilt’s Endorsements as of 2025?
Vando isn’t pulling LeBron-level endorsement checks — yet. But don’t let the low profile fool you. He’s playing it smart, steady, and strategic. His biggest brand link so far? Beyond Meat. Yep, the man’s promoting plant-based hustle while other players are pushing sugar-loaded drinks and overpriced sneakers (Except the Kobe 6, that’s some G.O.A.T. stuff).
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Also? He signed with Klutch Sports. You know, the same agency that reps LeBron, AD, and pretty much everyone else getting paid in L.A. That wasn’t luck — that was a chess move. Klutch doesn’t just get deals; they get power. And Vanderbilt just positioned himself right in the middle of the Lakers’ inner circle.
So no, you won’t see him fronting a nationwide campaign anytime soon — but when those calls do come, he’ll be ready with a gritty highlight reel and a squeaky-clean rep.
In today’s NBA, where highlights dominate and defense gets lost in the scroll, Jarred Vanderbilt stands out by doing the exact opposite. He wins without flash, cashes in without fanfare, and proves that effort still pays the bills. His skill set may not sell jerseys in every state, but it wins games — and in his case, earns $48 million.
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In a league where flash gets the likes and offense gets the bag, Jarred Vanderbilt found a third lane — and dominated it. He didn’t chase buckets, didn’t need no mixtapes. He just turned the hustle into capital.
He guards like it’s Game 7 every night, and now he’s getting paid like it. That’s not just rare — that’s a blueprint. So the next time someone tells you defense doesn’t pay, just hit ’em with this: $48 million, guaranteed. No jumper required.
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Is Jarred Vanderbilt's $48 million contract a sign that the NBA finally values defense over flash?