Charles Barkley has always been known for speaking his mind, and his latest remarks about health, wealth, and family are no exception.
The NBA Hall of Famer and longtime Inside the NBA analyst recently got candid during an appearance on the Steam Room podcast with Ernie Johnson, where the former Phoenix Suns star revealed his motivation for prioritizing health-and why his fortune won’t be left for anyone he sees as undeserving.
Now 62, Barkley has been vocal about his battle with weight gain and his efforts to get healthier following multiple surgeries and years of post-retirement struggles. His motivation? Not just longevity, but a desire to enjoy the millions he’s earned throughout his life.
“I want to get to 270 [lbs] because Dr. Andrews told me, ain’t no fat old people,” Barkley said. “If you’re fat and you’re old, you’re going to have a lot of health problems. So I don’t want that.
“Man, I just turned 62, and I want to be here because I got more money to spend. I don’t want to leave it for my freeloading relatives. I want to be here. So I got to spend some money.”
Barkley sheds pounds and expectations of inheritance
Barkley‘s weight has fluctuated significantly since retiring from professional basketball. At one point, following hip replacement surgeries, he reached 355 pounds.
Determined to take control of his health, he turned to weight loss medications-most notably Mounjaro and ZepBound-which helped him drop 40 pounds and return to a more manageable weight of 315 pounds.
Though he’s currently off the medication due to availability issues, Barkley credits the drugs with jumpstarting his transformation.
He also used the opportunity to promote his partnership with Ro.Co, an online health service that delivers weight-loss treatments to patients’ homes.
“What I really want to say, anybody out there struggling with your weight, go to Ro.Co. Listen, it’s an online service. They ship you your stuff to your house. I’m telling you, if you’re struggling with your weight, give it a go,” Barkley said. “Like I say, I got up to 355. I’m down to 315 now.”
Beyond the health benefits, Barkley‘s true goal is personal freedom – specifically, to enjoy the vast wealth he’s accumulated over decades in the NBA and on television.
His 10-year, $200 million deal with TNT and estimated $90 million net worth have secured his financial future, but he has no intention of handing over a fortune to distant family members who haven’t earned it.
Barkley has been married to Maureen Blumhardt since 1989, and together they share a daughter, Christiana Barkley, who works at PEOPLE Magazine.
Unlike his unnamed “freeloading relatives,” Barkley makes it clear that his wife and daughter are the primary recipients of his support and legacy.
Whether it’s trash talk on the court or straight talk off it, Barkley has always played by his own rules.
At 62, he’s just getting started on living life the way he wants-and making sure every dollar he earned goes to what matters most to him.
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