LeBron James Net Worth Means He’s a Billionaire Baller

LeBron James is a baller on and off the court. kingjames / Instagram
NBA superstar LeBron James is incredibly rich. No surprise there. But just like on the basketball court, he’s accumulated his wealth in record fashion.
In 2021, LeBron James’ net worth reached $1 billion in career earnings, as he became the first active NBA billionaire player. His money is a mix of massive playing contracts and endorsements over the last 20 years, starting when the Cleveland Cavaliers made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.
While playing basketball has generated a fortune for LeBron, it’s not the only part of the four-time NBA champion’s financial empire. Here’s how he went from abject poverty as a child in Akron, Ohio, to becoming a billionaire.
An Elite Group of Athlete Billionaires

When LeBron James became a billionaire, he joined an elite group of athletes to earn $1 billion during their playing careers.
James was the sixth active athlete to hit the $1 billion mark. The other five billionaire athletes are some of the most recognizable sports figures of all time and represent a wide variety of sports — golfer Tiger Woods, boxer Floyd Mayweather, tennis player Roger Federer, and soccer players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Could Kevin Durant Be Far Behind?

Don’t be surprised if another NBA player hits the $1 billion mark in overall earnings before his career, specifically Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant.
Durant has reportedly earned $580 million through playing contracts and endorsements over his career and is owed another $168 million through his playing contract with the Nets and an endorsement deal with Nike by the end of 2024.
If Durant could play another five years — meaning he would have played 20 years in the NBA — he will likely hit $1 billion.
Trailing Durant in career earnings is Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, who has banked $430 million in his career.
How Much Has LeBron Made on the Court?

When LeBron James finishes his current contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, which will pay him $44.4 million in its final year in 2022-23, he will have earned $431.8 million in career earnings from just his playing contracts.
In 2021-22, LeBron made $41.1 million, which breaks down to approximately $284,000 per game.
Here’s how LeBron’s basketball salary has broken down by year:
How Much Has Lebron Made Off the Court?

LeBron James will have made almost a half-billion dollars playing basketball by the end of 2023. But that number pales in comparison to what he’s made off the court, where he’s become one of the most marketable athletes in sports history.
Since his rookie season, LeBron has made over $700 million in endorsements alone via lucrative deals with AT&T, Beats, Blaze Pizza, GMC, PepsiCo, Walmart and super-elite luggage line Rimowa. Those endorsement deals bring in a reported $100 million per year for LeBron.
The investment with Blaze Pizza showed an especially deft touch. Less than $1 million invested in 2011 turned into $25 million by 2017, and when LeBron’s contract with McDonald’s was up, he began doing commercials for the pizza chain.
That all pales in comparison to LeBron’s most lucrative endorsement contract — a relationship with Nike that dates back to his year in the NBA.