LeBron James is an American professional basketball player and entrepreneur. Since his NBA debut in 2003, James has built an empire with help from big contracts, endorsements, sponsorships, equity deals, and investments.
James’ net worth is currently estimated to be around $1.5 billion, including this upcoming season’s salary.
LeBron James key facts
| Name | LeBron James |
| Birth date | December 30, 1984 |
| Net Worth | $1.5 Billion |
| Birthplace | Akron, Ohio |
| Education | St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (never got a college degree) |
| Known for | Being one of the greatest professional basketball players |
| Marital status | Married high school girlfriend, Savannah Brinson and has three children |
Lebron James’ net worth
According to Forbes, James joined the billionaire club in 2022, becoming the first active NBA player to do so. In 2023, he was fourth on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes, behind soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé.
At the time, he made $44.5 million from his contract with the Lakers and about $75 million from off-court earnings.
Following his recent two-year, $104 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bloomberg Business put James’ net worth at $1.5 billion. Though the 39-year-old signed the most lucrative contract for anyone his age in NBA history, most of his wealth comes from off-court ventures.
For instance, James has a lifetime deal with Nike that pays more than $30 million annually.
James also has endorsement deals with AT&T, Beats, GMC, Crypto.com and many other top brands. After the end of his two-year contract with the Lakers, he would have made more than $530 million during his NBA career, the first in the league’s history to surpass the $500 million mark.
Early life and career
James was born on Dec. 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, to Gloria Marie James, who was only 16. His mother gave him a miniature hoop and basketball when he was an infant, and soon, basketball became James’ life.
James attended St. Vincent-St Mary High School, where he became the youngest person ever to join the USA Today All-USA first team. He was also named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball three times after leading his school to three Ohio state championships in his four years on the team.
James was also named the Gatorade National Player of the Year in his junior year, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Around the same time, he earned the nickname “King James.”
James was soon selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. He also signed a deal worth $90 million with Nike even before playing a professional game. Along with the Cavaliers, he also played for the United States Olympic basketball team, winning bronze and gold medals in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, James signed with the Miami Heat, helping the team reach the NBA finals in his first year and winning the championship in his second year with the team. He returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers after three seasons with the Miami Heat and eventually joined the Los Angeles Lakers after playing in 2017–18 for the Cavs.
James played 11 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and four seasons with the Miami Heat. He was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013.
In September 2013, James married his high school girlfriend, Savannah Brinson. The pair now have three children.
Real estate investments
Following are some notable real estate investments from James so far:
- In November 2010, he paid $9 million for a home overlooking Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, Fla. In October 2014, he listed the home for sale for $17 million and eventually sold it for $13.4 million in August 2015.
- In November 2015, he paid $21 million for a 9,350-square-foot mansion in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood, the highest price for a home. In September 2021, he sold it for $19.6 million.
- Bought a $23 million mansion in Brentwood in November 2017.
- In September 2020, he paid $36.8 million for a mansion in Beverly Hills but demolished it in 2023 to build his dream home on it.
- James owns one of the most expensive homes in the Cleveland area, valued at $9.5 million. Located in Bath Township, the home has 20 rooms and 30,000 square feet of living space. He bought the property in 2003 when he was just 18.
James’ business ventures
James is not just a skilled basketball player but a shrewd businessman as well. He has invested in many of the brands with whom he works. Some of his most lucrative investments are as follows:
- James was an early investor and ambassador of the headphones brand Beats by Dre. He reportedly made millions when Apple acquired the company for $3 billion in 2014.
- James was the leading brand ambassador and one of the founding investors of Blaze Pizza. He reportedly turned down a $15 million endorsement deal from McDonald’s to invest in this pizza chain. Forbes estimates James’ stake in the made-to-order pizza chain, which has stores all across the U.S. and Canada, to be around $30 million.
- James co-founded the production company SpringHill Entertainment with business partner Maverick Carter in 2020. In 2021, the company sold a minority stake to a group of investors at a valuation of about $725 million, valuing James’ stake in the production company at about $300 million, according to Forbes. The production company has backed several projects, including the film Space Jam: A New Legacy, a talk show called The Shop: Uninterrupted on YouTube, and Adam Sandler’s Netflix film, Hustle.
- In 2011, James acquired a minority stake in the Fenway Sports Group, the parent company of the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC and other sports teams. This is James’ most notable investment, and its value skyrocketed when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2018 and Liverpool FC captured the Premier League title in 2020.
- He co-founded Uninterrupted, a platform that allows athletes to share their stories, in 2014.
- In 2018, invested in Ladder, a health and wellness company that offers supplements and other products. The company was acquired by Beachbody in 2020.
- In 2004, he founded the LeBron James Family Foundation which aims to positively impact the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational initiatives. The foundation is credited with creating the I Promise School.
James’ other notable achievements off the field include:
- In 2009, he published a memoir – Shooting Stars – about his high-school standout years.
- Plays himself in Judd Apatow’s comedy Trainwreck (2015).
Appeared in the live-action/animated Space Jam: A New Legacy in 2021.
Final words
James, 39, is still playing at a high level for the most glamorous franchise in the NBA. His wealth comprises his NBA salary, sponsorships, real estate investments, and equity stakes in several ventures, solidifying his status as one of the wealthiest athletes in history.
James’ recent two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers puts him closer to achieving two of his long-held goals—playing with his son Bronny James Jr., 19, who was recently drafted by the Lakers, and becoming a majority owner of a professional sports team.
