NBA Legend LeBron James Becomes a Billionaire

LeBron “The King” James, has officially hit a net worth of $1 billion according to Forbes.

The move makes him the first active NBA player to hit the billionaires list with a reported $1.2 billion in pretax earnings.

James, 37, whose business ventures and investments include Lobos tequila, Uninterrupted and Spring Hill Entertainment — earned $121.2 million in 2021, when he was named by Forbes as the second-highest-earning athlete in the world.

Endorsements and other lucrative brand deals off the court with Nike, AT&T, PepsiCo and Walmart, all contributed to the Lakers player’s 2021 earnings.

His recent film, “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” which he starred in and produced, earned $163 million globally last summer. His other investments include the Blaze Pizza chain, smart gym-maker Tonal and ride-share giant Lyft.

He had earned upwards of $900 million in income from endorsements and other business ventures, according to Forbes. James has made $385 million in salary from the Cavaliers, Heat and his current Lakers team as the NBA’s highest-paid active player.

“It’s my biggest milestone,” said the four-time NBA champion about becoming a billionaire in a 2014 cover story with GQ. “Obviously. I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I’m gonna be excited.”

Michael Jordan is the only other NBA player to hit the $1 billion threshold, but did so after he retired.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.