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What is Vanessa Bryant's net worth after Kobe's death? Billionaire wins $16M in compensation from LA County

She had sought damages for emotional distress and mental anguish caused by 8 LA County Sheriff’s Department deputies who took graphic photos of the crash

Update: A jury awarded $16 million to Vanessa Bryant on August 24 in her lawsuit against Los Angeles County over the sharing of photos of human remains from the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband and NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and her daughter Gianna, along with seven others.

She was awarded the damages for invasion of privacy after photos of her dead husband and daughter's bodies were taken and shown to others. Sheriff's deputies and firefighters who rushed to the scene of the January 2020 smash took pictures of the carnage and the victims. 

She will now donate the $16 million in compensation she won from LA County into a foundation that Kobe promoted, namely the  Mamba & Mambacita Foundation.

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Legendary basketball star Kobe Bryant met his tragic death in a helicopter crash that killed him, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others on January 26. One of the many people who were devastated by the incident was Kobe's wife Vanessa Bryant.

Months after his death, Vanessa is now making headlines for suing the LA County sheriff for taking photos of Kobe's plane crash and leaking them. She has sought damages for emotional distress and mental anguish caused by eight LA County Sheriff’s Department deputies who took graphic photos of the victims and shared them with unauthorized people. While she claims damages, it is worth pondering how much her current net worth is. 

Vanessa Bryant's net worth

Venessa's net worth cannot be calculated without mentioning the NBA star. Venessa and Kobe met at the young age of 17 and 21 respectively. After few months of dating, the pair got married in 2001. IB Times reported that Kobe’s estimated net worth before his tragic passing was around $600M. Since the couple had no prenuptial agreement, Vanessa's net worth is also believed to be the same, which is nearly $600M, the site states. 

This has been primarily due to the wealth and fortune earned by Kobe. Black Enterprise reported that in December 2018, Kobe ranked second among the list of 25 highest-paid NBA players of all time. Further, his highest-paying single-season salary had been $30.5M during the 2013 to 2014 playing season. Though he retired in 2016, his annual salary with his team Los Angeles Lakers was the highest in the NBA in the final six months of his 20-year-long career, the site reported. 

Since Kobe’s death, Venessa had been filing lawsuits and is engaged in a legal battle. For instance, on February 25, Vanessa’s lawyers filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter that was crashed in the accident. The complaint was filed against Island Express Helicopters, Island Express Holding Corp, and the estate of the pilot, Ara Zobayan.

Now that she has sued the LA County sheriffs, the Internet is alleging that she is running behind taxpayer's money despite being a billionaire. May feel that ordinary taxpayers might have to cover for damages she is seeking while others stood in solidarity with Venessa. An enraged user wrote, "So billionaire Vanessa Bryant is going to sue Los Angeles County taxpayers for all she can get. This despite the fact that those are the same taxpayers who helped Mr. Bryant make those same billions. Nobody cares about the photos. Let it go!"

A user felt the tabloid headline must read differently. "The headline should read ‘Vanessa Bryant is suing Los Angeles County taxpayers’." Others feel that taxpayers might have to cover for damages she is seeking. "Good for Vanessa Bryant. Sheriff Villanueva is quick to call others out for accountability, but not his own sheriffs. The taxpayers will have to cover this. When will it hit the pensions of deputies or officers instead? Would encourage them to hold each other accountable." Others want her to move on in life. "Vanessa Bryant needs to move on from this accident and get a life, she owes it to her kids. She's not punishing sheriffs, she is punishing taxpayers for their cavalier attitude."

However, many came in support of her after she sued the LA sheriffs. "I will not tolerate any Vanessa Bryant slander." Some in solidarity wrote, "Vanessa Bryant has been through so much in the span of one year. I admire her strength and grace. Her mother does not deserve an ounce of forgiveness for what she did. Parents are supposed to support you and protect you not slander you in your most difficult time or sell you out."