Born on May 6, 1985, in Lewisville, North Carolina, Chris Paul grew up in a tight family. Although as a child he played football, Paul later took his older brother's lead and became a basketball standout. Following a high school stint as a star, he was recruited to Wake Forest University, where he became a key part of the team's effort to rebuild.
Paul and his wife, Jada, whom he met at Wake Forest, have two children: a daughter, Cameron Alexis; and a son, Christopher Emmanuel II. Paul's family nicknamed him CP3 because he, his father and brother all share the same C.P. initials. He is an avid bowler and owns a franchise in the Professional Bowlers Association league.