Nikola Karabatic at a Glance
- Net Worth (2025): $14 Million
- Birthdate: April 11, 1984
- Birthplace: Niš, Serbia
- Profession: Professional Handball Player
- Nationality: French
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What is Nikola Karabatic’s Net Worth?
Nikola Karabatic has a net worth of $14 million. Widely regarded as one of the greatest handball players in the history of the sport, Karabatic built his fortune through elite-level contracts at Europe’s most dominant clubs. His wealth is the result of over two decades of professional play, combined with significant personal endorsements.
His financial success comes from playing for powerhouse teams like Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, and THW Kiel. Beyond his club salaries, Karabatic has maintained lucrative, long-term sponsorship deals with major athletic brands, most notably Adidas.
Nikola Karabatic has consistently been one of the highest-paid athletes in professional handball. During his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), he commanded one of the largest salaries in the sport, with reports placing his annual earnings well over €1 million. This financial peak followed similarly profitable contracts during his time winning championships with FC Barcelona in Spain and THW Kiel in Germany.
Early Life
Nikola Karabatic was born in Niš, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), into a handball family. His father, Branko Karabatic, was a professional handball player for the Yugoslavian national team. When Nikola was three years old, his family moved to Strasbourg, France, after his father accepted a coaching position. He and his younger brother, Luka, grew up immersed in the sport, and both eventually became French citizens and professional players.
Career
Nikola Karabatic’s professional career began in 2001 when he joined the senior team at Montpellier Handball. He quickly made an impact, leading the club to an EHF Champions League title in 2003, the most prestigious trophy in European club handball.
In 2005, he moved to the German Bundesliga to play for THW Kiel, where he cemented his status as a global superstar. During his time in Germany, he won four consecutive league titles and a second Champions League trophy in 2007. That same year, he was named the IHF World Player of the Year for the first time.
He returned to Montpellier from 2009 to 2013. His career faced controversy in 2012 when he was implicated in a match-fixing scandal, which resulted in a conviction for fraud and a suspended sentence, though he avoided jail time. Following a brief stint at Pays d’Aix, he joined FC Barcelona in 2013, where he won his third EHF Champions League title in 2015.
Karabatic then returned to France, signing with the ambitious, Qatar-backed Paris Saint-Germain project in 2015. Alongside his brother Luka, he dominated the French league, winning numerous domestic titles.
His career with the French national team is one of the most decorated in sports history. Karabatic is a three-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012, 2020), a four-time World Champion, and a four-time European Champion. His individual accolades include being named IHF World Player of the Year three times (2007, 2014, 2016), a record he shares. He retired from the sport in 2024.
