
How backup freshman guard struck it rich on social media, can retire already
USA TODAY
South Carolina freshman backup guard Eli Ellis has a huge social media following that he's used to become independently wealthy at age 20
One of the most popular men’s basketball players in the Southeastern Conference recently bought a million-dollar lake house in North Carolina and has gotten so wealthy from his name, image and likeness he could retire from work now if we wanted, according to his father.
But this particular player isn’t a top NBA prospect like Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff or big Tennessee forward Nate Ament.
Instead, he’s a short freshman bench player on the 14th-place team in the league.
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His name is Eli Ellis, a guard for South Carolina who has more than 2.1 million followers combined on social media, ranking him No. 5 nationally in Division I men’s college basketball, more than double of any other player in the SEC, according to NIL marketplace company Opendorse.













