Crypto once promised a new way to build wealth, and celebrities rushed in. It’s siren song lured stars from Shaq to Messi. Scottie Pippen joined the ride, too, but in his own style. Interestingly, he made a claim that ended up surprising the whole crypto world! His bombshell: In 1993, Pippen says, he shook hands with Bitcoin’s phantom founder. That raised a few eyebrows, considering Bitcoin didn’t exist yet.
Here’s what happened: last year, Pippen surprised the crypto world with his wild claim. He claimed a ‘good relationship’ with Satoshi. However, this was not the only claim he had made involving Satoshi. Days ago, he wrote on X, “Satoshi Nakamoto visited me in my dream last night and predicted that #Bitcoin would be at $84,650 on November 5, 2024. Not financial advice.” Naturally, fans and crypto users were skeptical. Some called it a scam, while others just laughed it off. But Pippen stood firm, saying his crypto story was only beginning.
Recently, Scottie Pippen interviewed with Forbes, where he discussed his newest plans as he decides to get deeper into his crypto pursuits. Even Michael Saylor warned him off invoking Satoshi. Turns out MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor once pulled him aside and advised him to stop talking about the creator of Bitcoin. “I’m gonna try to keep my mouth closed and follow Michael’s lead,” Pippen said with a laugh. While his tone was lighter, the earlier damage had already been done. Many fans felt disappointed or confused by the claim.
Jan 12, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Former NBA player Scottie Pippen in attendance during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Undeterred by backlash, Pippen doubled down on crypto ventures. He recently launched a project called $BALL, centered around the basketball used in the Bulls’ 1991 championship game. According to him, real-world objects can carry cultural value across generations, especially on the blockchain.
According to Azeem Khan, Pippen’s team told him, “Ball is a language. Everybody speaks it. We just needed to put it onchain.” While his claims cannot be verified for now, it is clear that he plans to leave his mark in the crypto world. But will it work out? Or is he going to face another disappointment?
Fraud advisor and tough contracts cost Scottie Pippen millions after NBA success
A six-time champion, Pippen once commanded superstar money, so why is he now chasing crypto ghosts? Despite earning over $100 million during his career, his current net worth is a fraction of that. Here’s where things went wrong for the 7x NBA All-Star.
Pippen’s problems started early. He signed one of the NBA’s most criticized contracts—an 8-year deal worth just $18 million. At the time, he prioritized financial security over future earnings, fearing injury could cut his career short. By the time the Bulls dominated the league, the salary cap had doubled, and Pippen remained underpaid.
But the worst blow came after his retirement. In one of the most damaging setbacks, Pippen trusted a financial advisor who turned out to be a fraud. By the time the fraud was uncovered, the damage was done—Pippen had lost nearly $20 million. The advisor was later jailed, but that didn’t recover the money.
Legal troubles didn’t stop there. In 2023, a court ordered him to split half of his Bulls retirement funds with ex-wife Larsa Pippen as part of their divorce settlement. That covered nearly two decades of marriage, from 1997 to 2016. Combine that with child support for his eight children, and things became even harder for him.
Even with these setbacks, Pippen hasn’t given up and is trying his hand at different ventures. And now he is taking a shot at the crypto world. He’s also working on a documentary and continues to make appearances, slowly trying to rebuild. His story reflects how even the brightest stars can face major financial challenges, especially when bad contracts and poor guidance collide. Will he be able to get things turned around for himself? Only time will tell.
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