On the court, LeBron James has earned four NBA MVP awards, four NBA championships, and 18 All-Star nods in his illustrious 19-year career. That stacked résumé has paid off big time – after agreeing to a two-year, US$97 million contract extension with the Lakers, he is set to become the highest-paid player of all time.
He is equally relentless off the court, signing a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike worth more than US$1 billion – a move that was so big it is more like the merger of two corporations.
As a result of his success on and off the court, James has amassed amazing cars and houses and still has time for his surprisingly ordinary family. King James also met his goal of becoming a billion-dollar athlete, currently worth US$1.2 billion, according to CNBC.
Check out how he spends his money below …
He will be the highest-paid NBA player of all time
LeBron James is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. He’s also one of the wealthiest. He has made US$387.3 million during his 19-year NBA career.
He signed a two-year, US$97 million extension with the Lakers in 2024-25, meaning he’ll earn US$141 million over the next three years, making him the highest-earning player of all-time, with US$532 million.
He has secured lucrative endorsement deals
LeBron James wearing Beats by Dre
But in addition to his NBA salary, James also made roughly US$90 million in endorsements off the court. He led all athletes with US$126.9 million in on- and off-court earnings in 2021. His endorsements include Walmart, Intel, Kia and he has a long-time sponsorship with Beats by Dre.
He also has a monster deal with Nike. The company signed him to a seven-year, US$93 million deal right out of high school. And in December 2015, Nike signed him to a lifetime deal that will go far beyond the standard shoe endorsement and is expected to be worth US$1 billion.
James used to have an endorsement deal with McDonald’s, but he gave up US$15 million in choosing not to renew it in 2017. Instead, he became a spokesman for Blaze Pizza, a company where he was a founding investor.
The basketball star is also very active on Instagram. It’s estimated that he makes about US$428,000 per sponsored Instagram post.
One of the ways he splurges on his own body is by using a controversial cryotherapy chamber to relieve pain and enhance muscle recovery. He also employs a former Navy Seal who serves as his biomechanist, a recovery coach, personal chefs and masseuses. And he apparently works out with Mark Wahlberg.
