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Leah Simpson

He’s considered one of the best NBA players of all time, up there with fellow billionaire basketball legend Michael Jordan, but LeBron James is the first star in the sport to have a net worth of a billion dollars or more before he’s even retired.

In 2014, James told GQ, “If it happens. It’s my biggest milestone. Obviously I want to maximise my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray!”
The father-of-three can now go ahead and cheer. His history-making feat also means the future looks bright for his eldest son Bronny James, 17, who could even be drafted into the NBA before his dad retires.
But just how did James make that billion?
He’s got Adele’s boyfriend to thank

The athlete, 37, attended the wedding of fellow basketball pro Kevin Love in June. There, he and his wife of nine years, Savannah James, posed with British singer Adele and her boyfriend – and James’ agent – Rich Paul.
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The Rolling in the Deep hitmaker has been seen attending LA Lakers games with Paul, who started Klutch Sports Group in 2012. The services of an agent are vital in securing the best contract when it comes to maximising both on-court action and lucrative endorsement deals that keep the money rolling in when you are off-court or in retirement.
He earned US$385 million playing ball

The 205.7cm (6ft 9in) athlete from Akron, Ohio, played with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat before moving to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, and has earned the moniker “King James” for his feats over a record-breaking career. Today, he’s a four-time NBA champion with two Olympic gold medals.
“I go from US$10 in my pocket to US$100 million. In high school,” he recalled to GQ in that same 2014 interview. In 2020, he signed an US$85 million, two-year contract extension to stay with the Lakers until 2023, and in his final season is expected to earn US$11,299 per minute played. To date, he has earned more than US$387 million in salary in his career, according to Spotrac.
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But he made US$900 million when he wasn’t on the court

Despite earning that huge sum from playing, the largest portion of James’ earnings has actually come from endorsements. At just 18 years old in 2003, the basketball star turned down offers from the likes of Adidas and Reebok to sign a seven-year deal with Nike. He took home US$90 million from the contract, which was extended in 2010 and became a lifetime deal in 2015. GQ reported in 2014 that he was generating US$300 million from his LeBron 11 trainers alone. Although James was offered more cash to go elsewhere, his decision to stick with the Nike relationship was clearly a smart call.
He earned US$121.2 million in 2021

James is among the biggest earners in sports, but his income last year wasn’t quite as much as that earned by footballer Lionel Messi, who raked in US$130 million. His US$1 billion fortune also doesn’t yet match up to basketball and original Space Jam star Michael Jordan, who has a net worth of US$1.7 billion, according to Forbes. Professional golfer Tiger Woods is estimated to be worth US$1 billion, placing him third behind Jordan and James, with the trio being the only athletes in the world to reach 10 figures in earnings. Forbes recently reported that James had made US$1.2 billion in all from this career before tax.
He built his fortune through smart investments

Like a true billionaire, James has several homes. This includes a US$37 million Beverly Hills mansion bought in 2020, a (slightly) more modest eight-bedroom home in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighbourhood bought for US$23 million in 2017, and a home he built near his hometown of Akron, Ohio, with a value of more than US$9 million, according to Architectural Digest.
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James also has a stake in Fenway Sports Group worth US$90 million. The group has baseball’s Boston Red Sox, their home Fenway Park, and English football team Liverpool FC under its umbrella – which might explain James’ enthusiasm for the latter on social media. Additionally, a 10 per cent share of the Blaze Pizza franchise has grown 30-fold from the less than US$1 million he invested in 2012.












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James also has US$300 million in the Springhill Company development and production business he started with sports marketing businessman Maverick Carter. Under Springhill is the entertainment company behind his movie Space Jam: A New Legacy, as well as a marketing agency named Robot Company. Nike and Epic Games bought in, giving Springhill a US$725 million valuation.

A further US$500 million reportedly went to smaller investments, which included Beats by Dre (Dr Dre’s headphones brand, which was sold to Apple for US$3 billion in 2014) and sports nutrition company LeBron, co-owned with Arnold Schwarzenegger, which was acquired by BeachBody in 2020. The diversity of his portfolio is what’s believed to have helped him get so rich.
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Fame and celebrity

How did LeBron James become the first active NBA billionaire? The Lakers and Space Jam star made it with a little help from Adele’s boyfriend Rich Paul … and a lifetime deal with Nike

LeBron James is a legendary NBA star – and has raked in millions too. Photo: @kingjames/Instagram

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during a game against the Phoenix Suns earlier this year. Photo: AP

From right, LeBron James and wife Savannah, with Adele and her boyfriend Rich Paul. Photo: @kingjames/Instagram

Rich Paul and LeBron James. Photo: @richpaul/Instagram

LeBron James broke a number of NBA records in the 2021-22 season despite his team, the LA Lakers, finishing a disappointing eleventh in the Western Conference. Photo: Los Angeles Times/TNS

LeBron James is certainly doing it. Photo: @kingjames/Instagram

Lots to smile about: LeBron James does an interview during a media day ahead of the 2021-22 season. Photo: Los Angeles Times/TNS

Cast member LeBron James attends a premiere for the film Hustle in Los Angeles, in June. Photo: Reuters

LeBron James posted this from English football team, Liverpool FC, a club in which he has a stake thanks to an investment in Fenway Sports Group. Photo: @kingjames/Instagram

LeBron James wearing Beats by Dre. Photo: LeBron James/Facebook

10 richest golf stars of 2022 – net worths, ranked: Tiger Woods is the sport’s first billionaire, but how do Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson tee up?

Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlory and Phil Mickelson are some of the richest golf stars of 2022. Photos: @gary.player, @shark_gregnorman, @tigerwoods, @rorymcilroy, @philmickelson/Instagram

Fiji’s Vijay Singh. Photo: @vijaysinghgolf/Instagram 

South Africa’s Ernie Els. Photo: @ernieelsgolf/Instagram

Three-time major-winner Jordan Spieth. Photo: @jordanspieth/Instagram

Pro golfer Fred Couples. Photo: @sons_of_italy/Instagram

Rory McIlroy. Photo: @rorymcilroy/Instagram

Former golf pro Gary Player. Photo: @gary.player/Instagram

Phil Mickelson. Photo: @philmickelson/Instagram

Legendary retired golfer Jack Nicklaus, aka “The Golden Bear”. Photo: @jacknicklaus/Instagram

Australian former pro golfer Greg Norman. Photo: @shark_gregnorman/Instagram

Golf’s first billionaire, Tiger Woods. Photo: @tigerwoods/Instagram

Meet Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Biaggio Ali Walsh: unlike the boxing legend, the American footballer debuted with his first MMA match this month, and once modelled for Versace with Irina Shayk

Biaggio Ali Walsh (right) is the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali (left). Photos: AP, @biaggioaliwalsh/Instagram

Rasheda Ali (left) cheers for her son Biaggio Ali Walsh (centre) at his game. Photo: @rashedaali1/Instagram

Biaggio Ali Walsh joined University of California’s university American football team. Photo: @rashedaali1/Instagram

Biaggio Ali Walsh’s brother, Nico. Photo: @nicoaliwalsh/Instagram

Biaggio Ali Walsh won Gatorade’s Player of the Year for the Vans US Open of Surfing in 2015. Photo: @rashedaali1/Instagram

Biaggio Ali Walsh is currently working with Next Models. Photo: @rashedaali1/Instagram

Biaggio Ali Walsh modelled alongside Irina Shayk (right) for Versace’s 2020 holiday campaign. Photo: Versace

Biaggio Ali Walsh currently trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Photo: @biaggioaliwalsh/Instagram

Biaggio Ali Walsh’s grandfather and boxing legend, Muhammad Ali. Photo: TNS

Has Floyd Mayweather blown a US$1.2 billion fortune? Jake Paul claims the boxer is ‘broke’, after he splashed out on multiple Rolls-Royces, Mercedes, Lamborghinis, Porsches, mansions and private jets

Legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather has made more than a billion from his career in the ring  – but can he have already spent it all, like Jake Paul says? Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Floyd Mayweather at the Parade of Champions as he joins the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2022. Photo: AP

Floyd Mayweather relaxing at home. Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Floyd Mayweather’s wine cellar in his Beverly Hills castle. Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Floyd’s preferred way to fly: his Gulfstream G650, christened Air Mayweather. Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Mayweather in characteristically flashy designer duds. Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Rely on boxer Mayweather to bring the bling. Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Handbags and glad rags aplenty at the Mayweather maison. Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

The natural instinct of a man who is himself a brand? Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Mayweather often eats more at night, after training hard in the day. Photo: @floydmayweather/Instagram

Floyd Mayweather getting a haircut from his personal barber. Photo: @Icedoutbarber/Twitter

Floyd Mayweather signs gloves at the opening of the Mayweather Boxing + Fitness gym in Torrance, California in 2019. Photo: Reuters

10 richest tennis stars of 2022 – net worths, ranked: from Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams’ Nike deals to Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray’s Adidas gigs – but which retiree earned over a billion?

(left to right) Photo: @rafaelnadal/Instagram; Michel Euler/AP Photo; @serenawilliams; @rogerfederer/Instagram; Alux.com/YouTube

Tennis players Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Ion Țiriac
have made millions, and some billions, during their time on-court. Photos: @rafaelnadal, @serenawilliams, @rogerfederer/Instagram; AFP; Alux.com/YouTube

Novak Djokovic of Serbia playing at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London, on June 29. Photo: Kyodo

Britain’s Andy Murray (pictured) lost to John Isner of the US in the second round of the men’s singles at this year’s Wimbledon. Photo: AFP

Andy Murray sporting an Andy Murray x Castore sports shirt. Photo: Castore

Former tennis star Andre Agassi of the US with his wife and fellow tennis pro Steffi Graf of Germany. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

US tennis legend Andre Agassi at an exhibition match in Tokyo, in November 2014. Photo: AFP

Steffi Graf during the women’s singles quarter final at the 1996 US Open. Photo: AP

US tennis player Pete Sampras with the 1995 Wimbledon Men’s Singles trophy after beating Boris Becker. Photo: AP

Maria Sharapova of Russia in Abu Dhabi, in December 2019. Photo: AFP

Maria Sharapova launched her own brand, Sugarpova, in 2012. Photo: @mariasharapova/Instagram

Spain’s Rafael Nadal at The Hurlingham Club in London, in June. Photo: PA via AP

Students at Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, Spain. Photo: @rafanadalacademy/Instagram

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic at the French Open tournament in May. Photo: AFP

Serena Williams at the Eastbourne International tennis tournament, played just ahead of Wimbledon, on June 22. Photo: AP Photo

Tennis pro Serena Williams is also interested in fashion and has her own clothing and jewellery lines. Photo: @serenawilliams/Instagram

Roger Federer has been ranked the world’s best tennis player for a total of 310 weeks over his career. Photo: @rogerfederer/Instagram

Roger Federer’s collaboration with sports brand On. Photo: @rogerfederer/Instagram

Ion Țiriac from Romania during the 1973 British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth, UK. Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Romeo Beckham and Mia Regan: the next Posh and Becks? Inside the Gen Z model and athlete’s romance – and their fashion-football similarities with Victoria and David

Romeo Beckham and Mia Regan have been reportedly dating since 2019. Photo: @mimimoocher/Instagram

Romeo Beckham and Mia Regan got matching tattoos on their little fingers. Photo: @mimimoocher/Instagram

Romeo Beckham’s post about his anniversary with Mia Regan in May 2020, which read, “Happy one year mooch love u so much.” Photo: @romeobeckham/Instagram

Romeo Beckham and Mia Regan became Instagram official in late 2019. Photo: @romeobeckham/Instagram

Romeo Beckham was training to become a professional tennis player, until he found new interest with football. Photo: @romeobeckham/Instagram

Romeo Beckham plays football for Inter Miami CF. Photo: @romeobeckham/Instagram

Mia Regan is a Gen Z fashion icon. Photo: @mimimoocher/Instagram

Mia Regan has a creative side, and even has a separate Instagram account for her film photography. Photo: @mimimoocher/Instagram

Mia Regan seems to be integrating well into the Beckham household. Photo: @mimimoocher/Instagram

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Basketball legend Michael Jordan was the first sports star to make 10 figures, but made most of it since retiring, while golf’s Tiger Woods is the only other billionaire athlete
Only Lionel Messi made more money last year, but James has invested wisely with three houses and stakes in Beats by Dre and Fenway Sports Group, who own Liverpool FC


The Lakers and Space Jam star has a lifetime Nike deal, stakes in everything from Liverpool FC to Beats by Dre, and Adele’s boyfriend Rich Paul as an agent
