Lakers’ LeBron James becomes first billionaire in NBA while still playing
LeBron James is one of the most prominent NBA players of all time, but his reach extends well beyond the realm of basketball.
Off the court, James has been involved in numerous matters that have seen his brand prosper. The latest was the release of the anticipated “Space Jam: A New Legacy” film, which marked the first movie James starred in.
The movie topped Marvel’s Black Widow in the box office department during its first weekend, illustrating the popularity of James and the impact he has.
Earlier this year, James became a part-owner of Fenway Sports Group along with longtime business partner, Maverick Carter. James had a small stake in the English Premier League club Liverpool F.C. — run by FSG — for several years, but he turned that in for a larger role with more teams operated by FSG.
James also has partnerships with Nike, Blaze Pizza and several more. All of his earnings have combined to exceed $1 billion, via Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico:
“Since being drafted in 2003, James has earned $330 million in playing salary—net of recent escrow deductions—and another $700 million off the court from endorsements, merchandise, licensing and his media business. Current endorsement partners AT&T, Beats, Blaze Pizza, GMC, Nike, PepsiCo, Rimowa and Walmart help James earn more than $100 million annually. The latest addition is Epic Games, where Fortnite players will have access to a pair of James-themed outfits or “skins.”
James is the first player in a U.S. team sport to hit the three-comma club.”
James is the first NBA player in history to reach this milestone while still playing. Michael Jordan couldn’t hit the mark while playing, but his total earnings to this day are over $2 billion.
At 36 years old, James is at that stage where skills tend to decline for most players. But James isn’t like most players and has even said he would like to play up to four-to-seven more years with the Lakers.
Other active NBA players near the same bracket as James financially include Kevin Durant ($580 million) and Stephen Curry ($430 million).
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