Arthur Agee, Jr. was born on 22 October 1972, in Chicago, Illinois USA, to nurse Sheila, and Arthur ‘Bo’ Agee Sr., an ordained minister, of African-American descent. He is a former basketball player, but best known for appearing in the 1994 Kartemquin Films documentary “Hoop Dreams”.
So just how rich is Arthur Agee at present? According to sources, Agee has established a fortune of over $250,000, as of mid-2017, earned largely through his involvement in basketball, as well as by starring in “Hoop Dreams”.
Arthur Agee Net Worth $250,000
Agee grew up in Chicago, along with his sister. His father, a crack addict- turned-church minister, was murdered in a robbery attempt in 2004. After his grammar school matriculation in 1987, Agee was discovered by talent scout Earl Smith, who encouraged him to enroll at St. Joseph’s High School in Westchester, Illinois, where he became a part of a remarkable basketball program. However, as the school was far from his home and required tuition which Agee’s parents couldn’t afford, he was forced to leave the school and transfer to Chicago’s inner-city school John Marshall High School. He joined its basketball team, the Marshal Commandos, helping them to capture the 1991 Public League Championship title, and finishing third for the State Championship during his senior year.
Agee then attended Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri, for two years, and spent the next two at Arkansas State University, starring as the team’s starting point guard. He graduated from Arkansas in 1995 with a degree in Radio and Television. However, despite playing at a Division I school, Agee never managed to reach the National Basketball Association, but he did play semi-professionally for the Florida Sharks in the United States Basketball League, and for the Winnipeg Cyclones in the International Basketball Association; he briefly dabbled in Slamball in 2002. His involvement in basketball still enabled him to earn a considerable net worth.
Agee came into national spotlight in 1994, starring in the Steve James documentary for Kartemquin Films, “Hoop Dreams”. Following the lives of two African-American students coming from poor Chicago neighborhoods from eighth grade to their freshman year in college, the documentary is centered on their struggle to improve their athletic skills and become professional basketball players. Through representing the common American dream of underprivileged youth searching for an escape through sport, it also deals with the issues of race, class, education and economic division in the modern society. Upon its release, the film became a great hit, achieving both critical and commercial success, grossing over $11 million. It became a pop-culture phenomenon and one of the most influential American films ever released, receiving a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing, and winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary. Aside from making him famous, its success greatly contributed to Agee’s net worth.
In 1996 he was offered a contract with the Continental Basketball Association’s Connecticut Pride, to take a role in the TV film “Passing Glory”, also directed by James. However, he declined the offer, which he later regretted.
In 2004 Agee started a clothing line named after the movie “Hoop Dreams”, with the slogan “Control Your Destiny”, which has served as another source of his wealth.
When it comes to his private life, Agee was married to Sheila until 2004, and they have five children. His family resides in Chicago.
He is involved in philanthropy. Back in 1995, he started the Arthur Agee Role Model Foundation, focused on helping underprivileged kids in learning that their role models are not professional athletes, but their parents. He works as a motivational speaker for inner-city youth.
