NBA champ Kyle Kuzma calls out rich athletes who say $40M is nothing after taxes: 'Nobody told you to live like a king.'

For years, professional athletes — from Grant Williams (1) to Cam Newton — have pushed back against the idea that signing a massive contract automatically makes them rich. Between federal and state "jock (2)" taxes, agent commissions, league fees and other expenses, many argue that a $100 million contract looks much smaller once everyone else takes their cut.

But 2020 NBA champ Kyle Kuzma thinks that conversation misses the real issue.

Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one

JPMorgan still sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. Learn more with a free guide from Priority Gold

The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028 — and experts say most people won't act in time. What to do before the window closes

"It's exhausting hearing athletes break down how their millions 'aren't really millions' after taxes and fees," Kuzma wrote on X (3). "40M after taxes is still 40M.

"The real issue isn't the system, it's lifestyle creep. Nobody told you to live like a king, buy 5 cars, or move with a 10-person entourage. Modest is allowed."

His comments sparked debate online, but they also touch on one of the most common financial traps facing people at every income level: lifestyle inflation.

While few Americans will ever earn an NBA salary, many experience the same pattern after receiving a raise, bonus or promotion. As income rises, spending often rises with it, leaving little room to build long-term wealth.

One of the simplest ways to avoid lifestyle inflation is to increase your investments whenever your income increases.

Professional athletes offer an unusually visible example of what can happen when spending outpaces long-term planning.

While some of the oft-cited claims that most retired NBA players go broke have been challenged by more recent research (4), Stanford (5) studies have found that former professional athletes remain disproportionately likely to experience serious financial difficulties after retirement compared with the broader population. Researchers studying retired NFL players (6) found bankruptcy filings begin soon after retirement and continue rising for years, despite many players earning millions during their careers.

Instead of allowing every dollar to disappear into the aether of bills, it's typically better to assign a job to any money that comes your way. After all, every team needs specialists, whether point guard or quarterback.

That's not to say you can't have some 'fun' money, if that's what you want. But approaching wealth like a series of tasks to delegate will help you grow your riches well into the future.

Getting a little breathing room is all about making sure your income is geared toward your future comforts, not your creature comforts.

One way to ensure your future stability is by investing a portion of every paycheck before you even have the chance to spend it. Over time, consistent investing can help turn higher earnings into long-term wealth. Investing in a low-risk index fund that tracks America's best and brightest companies is one way to do so.

Small amounts grow over time with tools like Acorns , which automatically invests your spare change.