Julius Caesar (deceased)
$1 Billion
Charles Oakley’s net worth is estimated at $12 million, accumulated over a 19-year NBA career as one of the league’s premier power forwards and enforcers, supplemented by post-retirement business investments and coaching. Known as “Oak” during his playing days, he was the backbone of the New York Knicks defensive identity throughout the 1990s.
Updated March 2026: According to ESPN historical records and business reporting, Charles Oakley’s net worth is currently estimated at approximately $12 million. His post-playing income from car wash businesses, steakhouse investments, and coaching roles has supplemented his NBA earnings, though an ongoing legal dispute with Madison Square Garden has generated significant legal fees.
Charles Oakley was born on December 18, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended John Hay High School in Cleveland before pursuing collegiate basketball at Virginia Union University from 1981 to 1985. At VUU, a Division II program in Richmond, Virginia, he became one of the most dominant big men in college basketball at any level — leading the NCAA Division II in rebounding as a senior and earning NABC Division II Player of the Year honors. Virginia Union honored him again in March 2026 ahead of a ceremony celebrating his contributions to the program, per VUU Athletics.
Oakley was selected 9th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1985 NBA Draft and immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he spent three seasons (1985–88) alongside a young Michael Jordan. In 1988, the Bulls dealt Oakley to the New York Knicks in exchange for Bill Cartwright, and it was in New York that his legend was forged. For a decade (1988–98) he anchored the Knicks defense, making the 1994 All-Star Game and earning NBA All-Defensive First Team honors that same year. He appeared in one NBA Finals with New York in 1994. The Knicks traded him to the Toronto Raptors in 1998, where he mentored a young Vince Carter for three seasons. His subsequent stops included the Washington Wizards (2002–03), a brief return to Chicago (2001–02, alongside Jordan again), and Houston Rockets (2003–04) before retiring with 1,282 career games, 9.7 points per game, and 9.5 rebounds per game, according to ESPN. After his playing career he served as assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats (2010–11) and has been an active BIG3 head coach since 2017.
Charles Oakley married Angela Reed on July 30, 2016. Angela Oakley became a prominent public figure in her own right when she joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 16 in 2025, where the couple’s relationship — including the 2017 Madison Square Garden ejection and its aftermath — was addressed publicly. Together they have a daughter, Arleigh, born around 2018. Oakley also has a son, Charles Oakley Jr., from a prior relationship, and Angela brought children Amari and Aven from her previous relationship, creating a blended family, per Bravo.
Charles Oakley’s net worth is estimated at $12 million as of 2026, according to multiple sports financial trackers including EssentiallySports. While his NBA career earnings were substantial, significant portions went to taxes, legal fees, and business investments. His current wealth is supported by his car wash businesses, restaurant partnerships, and coaching income.
Charles Oakley’s wife is Angela Oakley (née Reed), whom he married on July 30, 2016. Angela Oakley joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 16 in 2025, using the platform to discuss her marriage and personal life. The couple has a daughter, Arleigh, together.
Charles Oakley was born on December 18, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio, making him 62 years old as of March 2026. He played in the NBA from 1985 to 2004, spanning five different teams over 19 seasons.
Charles Oakley stands 6 feet 9 inches tall (2.06 m), according to his official NBA profile. His height, combined with an aggressive rebounding style, made him one of the league’s most physically imposing power forwards throughout his career.
In February 2017, Oakley was forcibly ejected and arrested at a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden after a confrontation near Knicks owner James Dolan’s seats. Criminal charges were later dismissed. Oakley then sued MSG and Dolan for defamation and excessive force. As of November 2025, a judge ordered Oakley to pay $642,000 in legal fees to MSG, according to the New York Post. The case remains one of the most high-profile NBA alumni legal disputes of the decade.
Yes. Charles Oakley has a son, Charles Oakley Jr., and a daughter, Arleigh (born approximately 2018), whom he shares with wife Angela Oakley. Angela also brought children Amari and Aven into their blended family. Charles Oakley Jr. has maintained a low public profile.
Over his 19-year career, Charles Oakley played for the Chicago Bulls (1985–88, 2001–02), New York Knicks (1988–98), Toronto Raptors (1998–2001), Washington Wizards (2002–03), and Houston Rockets (2003–04). He is most closely associated with the Knicks, for whom he played a decade and became one of the franchise’s most beloved figures.